Description
Cohiba is the flagship brand of Habanos S.A.
It was created in 1966 for President Fidel Castro himself. It was made at the then top secret, but now world famous, El Laguito factory. At first, it was only seen outside Cuba as gifts for heads of state and visiting diplomats.
In 1982 Cohiba was made available in limited quantities to the open market.
The name is an ancient Taino Indian word for the bunches of tobacco leaves that Columbus first saw being smoked by the original inhabitants of Cuba. That is the earliest known form of the cigar.
The leaves for Cohiba are the “selection of the selection”. Taken from the five finest plantations in the San Juan y Martinez and San Luis districts of the Vuela Abajo zone.
Uniquely amongst Havanas up to three of Cohiba’s filler leaves, the seco, ligero and the rare medio tiempo, undergo an extra fermentation in barrels. This adds smoothness to the blend.
Cohiba encompasses four different ‘Lineas’ or Lines. The Linea Clasica, the Linea 1492, the Linea Maduro 5 and finally the Linea Behike.
The Siglo I is from the Linea 1492. Five sizes of which were launched in 1992 to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of Columbus’ arrival in Cuba. A further size, the iconic Siglo VI, was added in 2002.
Through such constant innovation, Cohiba has held its position at the leading edge of the cigar world. It was also the first Havana brand to offer a Reserva cigar in 2002 and a Gran Reserva in 2009 made with tobaccos especially aged for a minimum of three and five years respectively.
All Cohiba sizes are ‘totalmente a mano, tripa larga’, – long filler, totally hand made.
