The Unique Composition Of Martell Cohiba
by Jen Shek Voon
@ 10 Jun 2016
I met with Jacques Menier, Heritage Director, and Jeremy Oakes, International Heritage Ambassador, both of Martell & Co., at the Bar@Pernod Ricard Singapore at their Great World City West Tower Office on 20 April 2014, where I was introduced to the senses of the nose and palate at the introduction of Martell Cohiba, the soft worldwide launch of which was made in 2002.
As Messrs. Menier and Oakes explained The House of Martell honours its Cuban kinship with Cohiba cigars with its Martell Cohiba. Conjured from the island’s exceptional soil by the genius of its creator, Don Eduardo Rivera, this sublime “Puro” was adopted by Fidel Castro in 1963 for his personal enjoyment. Three years later the cigar was renamed ‘Cohiba’ from the native term for tobacco before the arrival of Christopher Columbus, but it was not made available for purchase until 1982. Since then, the circle of aficionados has grown steadily. Today, no other “Habano” cigar can rival its reputation for excellence. All it lacked was an ideal companion. To answer this need, Martell created the Cohiba Cognac in conjunction with the maker of this most famous and prestigious Habano cigars.
Martell Cohiba is a unique composition of old eaux-de-vie from the Grande Champagne growth area. In the glass, there is a rich amber hue with golden highlights and slivers of mahogany and an intense aroma on the nose. On entry, the Martell Cohiba yielded a complex power and depth, spiciness and subtlety, and, finished off with a rounded, smooth and sweet vibrancy, and a liquorice aftertaste and recall of a slight nutty note. Martell Cohiba is also an excellent match with chocolates that were also presented at the tasting.
