Cohiba cigars are the flagship brand of Habanos, renowned worldwide as the pinnacle of Cuban cigar excellence. Created in 1966 exclusively for President Fidel Castro, Cohiba cigars were originally crafted at the now world-famous El Laguito factory. For years, they were reserved only as diplomatic gifts for visiting dignitaries and heads of state. It wasn’t until 1982 that Cohiba became available to the wider market, cementing its reputation as the most prestigious of all Cuban cigars.
The name Cohiba comes from the ancient Taíno Indian word used to describe the bunches of tobacco leaves first observed by Columbus in Cuba—the earliest known form of a cigar.
What sets Cohiba Cuban cigars apart is the unrivalled quality of their tobacco. The leaves are the “selection of the selection” from the five finest Vegas de Primera in San Juan y Martínez and San Luis, in the legendary Vuelta Abajo region. Unique to Cohiba, up to three filler leaves—seco, ligero, and the rare medio tiempo—undergo a third fermentation in wooden barrels, creating the distinctive aroma and flavour found only in Cohiba.
Cohiba encompasses four celebrated líneas (lines):
Línea Clásica (1966–1989): Six vitolas, offering medium to full-bodied flavours.
Línea 1492 (1992): Created to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in Cuba, this line includes the famous Cohiba Siglo VI, introduced in 2002. A medium-bodied blend with refined elegance.
Línea Maduro 5 (2007): Three vitolas wrapped in dark Maduro leaves aged for five years, delivering rich, medium to full-bodied flavours.
Línea Behike (2010): The most exclusive line of Cohiba, featuring the rare medio tiempo leaf in its blend for unparalleled richness. Considered one of the finest full-bodied Cuban cigars ever created.
Cohiba has continued to innovate, becoming the first Habanos brand to release a Reserva cigar in 2002 and a Gran Reserva in 2009, both made from tobaccos aged for a minimum of three and five years, respectively.
Through constant dedication to innovation, tradition, and quality, Cohiba cigars stand as the ultimate expression of Cuban craftsmanship and remain the benchmark for cigar aficionados around the world.
