We recently reviewed the Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos which left us impressed and definitely wanting more! I could hardly wait to sit, smoke and review the Cohiba Maduro 5 Genios; the largest of the three Maduro 5 sizes at 140mm x 52 ring gauge. The construction of the Genios is also tip-top and the defiant dark shade certainly enhances the cigars appeal. This special dark colour and texture is obtained through a natural, five year process that apparently is chemical free. The traditional Cohiba ring adorns the Genios with the addition of a black band along the bottom featuring “Maduro 5″ in gold type. The anticipation of a great Cuban cigar prompted me to open a bottle of the delicious 2005 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon. 

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This new release from Montecristo is the little brother of the reknown Montecristo Edmundo. The Montecristo Petit Edmundo measures 110mm in length with a ring gauge of 52. The Petit Edmundo is classified as a petit robusto and measures exactly an inch shorter than the Montecristo Edmundo. Hoyo de Monterrey released the Petit Robusto in 2004 which was the first release of this size. This vitola is consistent with the current trend of thicker gauged and shorter Cuban cigars. The concept being a full, complex smoking experience in a shorter amount of time. It guess that’s the way of the world! Partnering the Petit Edmundo for the review was the equally creamy Kilkenny Irish Ale.

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The Cohiba Maduro 5 incorporates a new concept for Habanos as it utilises the highest grade Cuban grown maduro wrapper leaf. With a stunning dark shade the character of this tobacco is achieved during its five year aging process. This unique colour and texture is obtained through a process that is chemical free. This of course can’t be said for many of the non Cuban maduro brands. The tobacco used in the making of all Cohiba cigars comes from the five best tobacco farms of the Vuelta Abajo region. In addition Cohiba is the only Cuban brand in which two of the three types of leaves used to make them (seco and ligero) are given a third fermentation.

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In the early 1830’s at the age of thirteen Don José Gener y Batet left Spain immigrating to Cuba and began working on his uncles tobacco plantation in Vuelta Abajo. Some twenty years on he opened his own cigar factory  in Havana and produced the La Escepción line of cigars. In 1865 Don José Gener y Batet then acquired one of the best tobacco farms in Vuelta Abajo and registered a cigar range named Hoyo De Monterrey. Literally translating to “the hole of Monterrey” this reflected the concave terrain sought by growers of premium Cuban tobacco. Today it’s commonly acknowledged by many Habanos aficionados that Vuelta Abajo is the region where the best tobacco leaf is grown.

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