Cohiba Exquisitos

Cohiba is the flagship brand of Habanos, originally created in 1966 for President Fidel Castro. Produced at the once-secret, now world-renowned El Laguito factory, it was initially reserved as gifts for heads of state and visiting diplomats. Since 1982, Cohiba has been available to the public, though only in limited quantities.

The name "Cohiba" comes from an ancient Taino Indian word referring to the bundles of tobacco leaves that Christopher Columbus observed being smoked by the native inhabitants of Cuba—the earliest known form of a Habano.

The tobacco used for Cohiba is the "selection of selection" from the finest five Vegas de Primera in the San Juan y Martinez and San Luis districts of the Vuelta Abajo zone. What sets Cohiba apart from other Habanos is that up to three of its filler leaves—seco, ligero, and the rare medio tiempo—undergo an additional fermentation in barrels, which imparts a unique aroma and flavor exclusive to the brand.

Cohiba comprises four distinct lines or "Líneas": Línea Clásica, Línea 1492, Línea Maduro 5, and the prestigious Línea Behike range. Through continuous innovation, Cohiba has maintained its place at the forefront of the cigar world. It was also the first Havana brand to introduce a Reserva cigar in 2002 and a Gran Reserva in 2009, using tobaccos aged for a minimum of three and five years, respectively.

Every Cohiba cigar is "totalmente a mano, tripa larga"—long filler and entirely handmade.

This cigar is ideal for the morning, offering plenty of flavour to awaken the palate. It was the favourite size of Emilia Tamayo, the former director of El Laguito and the first woman ever to manage a Havana factory.

STRENGTH : 3 OUT OF 5

VITOLA : SMALL PANATELLA

LENGTH : 5”

MIN SMOKING TIME : 30-40 MINUTES

RING GAUGE : 33 

ORIGIN : CUBA