CUBAN TASTE TEST: COHIBA & DAVIDOFF NOT THE SAME

cgr pix-ecj summer cover 150x214Los Angeles, August 30, 2010 – One sure sign that a magazine is in sync with its readers is an article which speaks directly to a subject on the minds of both parties. So it is with the Summer issue of the European Cigar Journal, which reviewed the controversial comment of a retired Cuban cigar roller who is reported to have said that the Davidoff and Cohiba brands - both made at the El Laguito factory outside Havana - were the same blend.

The intrepid Colin Ganley set out to find the truth and since the famed El Laguito chief, Avelino Lara, had passed away in 2009, he set up a tasting at the Davidoff of London shop with owner Edward Sahakian and his son, Eddie.

It was no problem for the Sahakians to procure the relevant cigars from the period: three Davidoff No. 1s (7 1/2 inches by 38 ring) from 1986 and the identically-sized Cohiba Lanceros from the same period, and he threw in a third lot of Cohiba Lanceros from the year 2000 to see if the blend had changed appreciably over time.

The results? Ganley wrote that "We found it very unlikely that the same blend was used in both the Davidoff and the Cohiba Lanceros. . . .While it is difficult to determine the original blends of the cigars, especially with their storage in different packagings, we were fairly certain that these cigar’s blends were originally different. Smoking them today, there was no mistaking one for other."

That's just one of the highlights of a highly-entertaining issue, which also included:

  • The tasting in this issue was unique in that the Journal asked 15 tobacconists from 10 countries to name the cigars they would prefer to smoke, and then checked out the 55 top vote-getters from the 165 nominees! Rare five-star ratings were posted by seven cigars in the trial:

    • (1) Cohiba Maduro 5 Genios (Cuba; 5 1/2 inches by 52 ring)
    (2) Davidoff Maduro Robusto (Dom. Rep.; 5 x 52)
    (3) Davidoff Special Series Entracto (Dom. Rep.; 3 1/2 x 43)
    (4) Fuente Fuente Opus X Perfecxion X (Dom. Rep.; 6 1/4 x 48)
    (5) Zino Platinum Scepter Master Edition 2010 (Dom. Rep.; 5 1/4 x 50)
    (6) Oliva Serie V Figurado Special (Nicaragua; 6 x 60)
    (7) Padron 1926 Serie No. 2 Maduro (Nicaragua; 5 1/2 x 52)

    There were also nine others which earned 4 1/2 stars, but the notoriously-tough ECJ grading panel also had scores as low as two stars.

  • An excellent cover-story profile of lawyer-turned-cigar star Rocky Patel noted that in addition to his cigar juggernaut, new accessories and clothing line and 15 Rocky Patel-themed lounges (with more to come), he is also discussing the production of a high-end Rocky Patel Rum with several producers, and working on a men's fragrance.

  • Marc Andre offers an in-depth article on insects that are attracted to cigars, including the fairly harmless grocery mite and the much-hated tobacco beetle, and what to do about both.

    • It's another excellent issue and there's plenty more, on smoking in Marrakesh, the development of the Yamasa wrapper to critical in Davidoff's Puro de Oro and a basic course on what exactly goes into which part of the cigar to make it work. All of the text is in both German and English, right down to the picture captions and at 43 Swiss Francs for a year's subscription (about $42 U.S.), it's a bargain.
    ~ Rich Perelman

    < Prev   Next >
    cigarschool

    Site Login