Cohiba Serie M was the first Cohiba-brand cigar to be made in the United States. The Original Cohiba Serie M was a Toro (6 x 52) released in 2021, but a more recent Corona Gorda vitola (6.5 x 48) was subsequently released in April 2022. Both are limited edition cigars made at the El Titan de Bronze Cigar Factory in Miami, and both use the same tobaccos consisting of a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper, two Nicaraguan binders, and a blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. Both sizes also feature a closed foot and triple cap with signature fan, both are individually packaged in cello along with a strip of cedar, and both have a retail price of $29.99 per cigar. For more information, please refer to the press release.
The sample Cohiba Serie M Corona Gorda cigar began with a very rich and complex flavor consisting of earth and leather, along with hints of cedar and spice. The smoke was medium-to-full bodied. After about 10-15 minutes, the cigar became a bit creamier and was very enjoyable. At the 45-minute mark, leather started to become the predominate flavor, along with an accompanying cedar taste. Beyond this point, the flavor remained pretty much consistent until the end. I enjoyed the first half of this cigar more than the second half, but overall, it still deserves a superior rating.
As anticipated, the taste of the Serie M Corona Gorda was similar to the original Serie M Toro, but not exactly the same. In fact, it was a notch more enjoyable, especially during the first half of the cigar. A narrower cigar having a smaller ring gauge derives more of its flavor from the wrapper (and the binder), and less from the filler. The wrapper is usually the most expensive and flavorful tobacco leaf of the cigar, but the entire blend must work together, like a mixed drink or cocktail. Two finished products that include a blend of the exact same ingredients can result in slightly different flavors if the proportions are not the same.
All else being equal, a smaller ring gauge also results in a lower volume of smoke with each puff. However, other factors also affect the draw of a cigar. Despite the Corona Gorda having a smaller ring gauge than the Toro, it still had a very good draw, held a long ash, and burned perfectly even, almost all the way down to the very end. Only one minor touch-up was applied to even out the burn, with just two inches of the cigar still left (this is the point where I usually stop smoking most cigars). Since the Cohiba Serie M cigar was still pretty good, I wasn't finished just yet. It took me a total of 85 minutes to smoke the entire Corona Gorda down to only 1½ inches remaining. During that time, one relight was required about 50 minutes from the start (and then the one touch-up near the end).
The Cohiba Serie M Corona Gorda is a super premium cigar that deserves a superior rating of 4.25 points on a 5-point scale. Although I enjoyed the first half more than the second half, I still enjoyed this vitola more so overall than the original Toro. If you enjoyed the original Cohiba Serie M Toro, then I strongly recommend trying the more recent Corona Gorda size. Yes, sometimes size does matter!
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer.
