Origin : Cuba
Format : Robusto
Size : 140 x 20.64 mm (5.5 x 52)
Ring : 52
Wrapper : Maduro aged 5 years
Box code : STA AUG 09
Hand-Made
Price : ~$20 each
I have tried the smaller Secretos version of the Maduro 5 previously, but not its big brother, the Genios until now. Most of the reviews I’ve read on the Genios have been positive, so I was hoping to have the same luck, though I wasn’t terribly impressed with Secretos. I enjoyed this with a nicely aged cabernet sauvignon, which paired pretty well.
Appearance : Rating: 
This was a very rustic looking cigar with a sloppy cap, lumpy feel, and big veins. It looked more like a Padron than a Cohiba. It had an earthy/leathery smell at cold.
Construction : Rating:
The draw was a little tight for my taste, but wasn’t plugged by any means. The burn was straight the 1st 2/3 of the cigar then became crooked.
Flavor : Rating:
This cigar started with an earthy and leathery taste with some cedar flavors on the finish. It wasn’t very smooth at this point, and didn’t really taste much like a conventional Cuban cigar. However, at the midpoint the cigar hit its stride. Some coffee flavors developed and the Genios started to become more balanced and smooth. Finally this cigar tastes Cuban! This was short lived though, as it became harsh toward the end and lost most of its flavors.
Value : Rating:
I find it tough to justify these at over $20 a piece. However, I’m a cheapskate and think that Cohibas are overpriced in general (even though I do like them).
Overall Rating : Rating:
Overall I enjoyed this cigar despite its inconsistencies. If the whole thing tasted like its 2.5″ sweet spot I would have thought it was great and rated it higher. There was just too much harshness at the beginning and end for me to overlook given its exorbitant price. However, I did think it was better than the Secretos and would consider trying another to see how the experiences compare.
