I just had to piggy back onto James' nice review. As I type, I am finishing up a Cubao #6 (5 1/2x 52.) Wow, this is a
very good cigar. Right out of the cello this thing smelled like a chocolate bar--heavy, heavy chocolate. At ignition I was hit with the typical Sumatra profile--what I like to call kind of a "maduro lite:" creamy, spicy, coffee like flavor. Leather & cocoa for the first half, then a distinct bread, raisin & spice developed midway, like a cinnamon raisin bagel. Copious, heavy smoke that would settle down around me, not unpleasant smelling. Perfect draw, superb burn (mine's been resting at about 68/60 for 2-3 months,) firm white ash. Sweet finish, with a leather/woody aftertaste. Full bodied, but medium strength. Smoked mine with water, but I think just about any of my typical cigar drinks (port, lager, stout, root beer) would be a nice accompaniment.
Compared to the 601 line, I'd put this well above the black and about on par with the blue. Haven't had the red or green, so I can't compare. I think it cost me about $6 pre-SCHIP, so I'd say the Cubao was a better value than those.
Definitely a
cigar.