2. Cohiba Spectre CS19
General Cigar Co.
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Factory: General Cigar Dominicana
- Wrapper: Nicaragua (Jalapa)
- Binder: U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)
- Filler: Brazil (Mata Fina) & Nicaragua (Estelí & Jalapa)
- Length: 6 Inches
- Ring Gauge: 49
- Vitola: Toro
- MSRP: $90 (Box of 10, $900)
- Release Date: Nov. 20, 2019
- Number of Cigars Released: 180 Boxes of 10 Cigars (1,800 Total Cigars)
- Original Score: 93
Cohiba is General Cigar Co.'s flagship brand, Spectre is the brand's flagship release. And for the flagship release, General rolls out all the stops. A barrel-aged high priming wrapper with sherry-aged fillers, every cigar was rolled by a single pair, packaging that has won our packaging awards two years in a row and a $90 per cigar price.
The first release wasn't bad, but the sophomore release really feels like General has worked out some of the kinks. This was one of the most decadent cigars of 2019 with a profile that is as rich from the first puff to the final one. One thing that is a bit interesting is that some of the cigars have a sweet-tip. Some of us tasted it, others didn't and I actually didn't taste on the first two cigars reviewed, but found it on the final sample. And what's perhaps more interesting: I think it might have helped the cigar.
This cigar missed out on the top spot by a mere .015 points, the closest finish we've ever had for our #1 cigar of the year. At $90, the price is steep, but so is the ranking. — Charlie Minato.
