This year marks the 60th anniversary of a borderline-mythical name in the world of luxury Cuban cigars, and there are few birthdays where it is perhaps more appropriate to open up your humidor and light an exquisite cigar.
The name Cohiba and its iconic yellow, black and white packaging have been synonymous with the very best cigars for six decades, to the point that the name is often the first that comes to mind for people as far away as possible from enjoying its elegant flavours.
The best way to celebrate the occasion is with a Cohiba cigar, of course. But which one should you try?
To try and answer this, we will explore the amazing origins of Cohiba, what makes their particular cigars so special, and reveal our top five favourites from such a special name.
Why Did Cohiba Start Making Cigars?
Part of what makes Cohiba so special is its history, one that is impossible to separate from by far its most famous smoker, Fidel Castro.
The history of Cohiba is inherently interconnected to Mr Castro, and coincides with the rise of Cuba as a communist state following the 1959 Cuban Revolution, the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961, and later attempts by the CIA to assassinate him via exploding cigars.
The origin of Cohiba was a gifted cigarmaker named Eduardo Rivera. He supplied cigars to one of Fidel Castro’s bodyguards, who then shared them with the leader of Cuba himself.
He loved it so much that he requested a special supply be made for himself and the leading members of the Cuban Government. He set up a factory, learned the blend of tobacco he used, the wrappers and everything else that made it special and from that rose Cohiba in 1966.
Mr Castro was not the only revolutionary who loved Cohiba cigars; famed revolutionary Che Guevara also claimed he had never smoked a better cigar.
Why Are Cohiba Cigars So Special?
Che Guevara once claimed that a good smoke is a “great companion to the solitary soldier”, and some early pictures of him with a cigar in his mouth are believed to be of early Cohiba prototypes, but what makes it such a desirable cigar?
Part of it is the history, mythmaking and exclusivity; it is impossible to look at a Cohiba and not think of it as a symbol of the inner circle of the Cuban Revolution, as well as one of the most desirable diplomatic gifts of the 1960s and 1970s before they were sold to the general public in 1982.
Another major part is the tobacco itself, specially selected from the finest available in Cuba and renowned for both its aroma and smoothness, the latter the result of a triple fermentation process that adds a characteristic refinement.
Which Cohiba Cigars Should You Try To Celebrate?
Cohiba cigars are renowned for their exclusivity, even over half a century later, but if you want to buy a very special cigar to celebrate such a momentous milestone, here are five of our personal favourites.
Cohiba Panetelas
A favourite of Fidel Castro, a fan of longer, thinner cigars, Cohiba’s Panetelas is an excellent place to start, and it is often considered to be the peak of cigar excellence.
A smooth balance of cedar and cream, the notes of coffee, earth and spice are intensified by the narrower cigar profile, providing a smooth but sometimes rather intense package of flavours.
Cohiba Exquisitos
One of the first cigars to be produced following Cohiba’s commercial expansion in 1982, the Exquisitos is considered to be one of the greatest Cuban cigars you can buy today, with a completely uncompromising mix of tobacco, grass and bean flavours.
Cohiba Robusto
A thicker, more robust take on the Cohiba formula, the Robusto is full-bodied, with a particularly complex flavour profile that keeps providing pleasant surprises throughout its entire burn.
Cohiba 55 Aniversario
Cohiba 55 Aniversario Cigar (2021 Limited Edition) – Single
In Stock
A 2021 tribute to Cohiba’s legendary reputation, the 55 Aniversario provides the epitome of everything that defines Cuban cigars.
The layers of intense flavour, the complexity, the refinement, the full body and the gradually building strength are all taken to the next level, and even five years later, there are few more fitting tributes to what Cohiba means to the cigar world.
Cohiba Majestuosos 1966 Humidor
Probably the most famous and desirable cigar ever made, the initial batch of 1966 cigars is the only realistic way to try the original Cohiba cigar that Fidel Castro fell in love with today.
With an extremely limited handmade production, a vintage design and a complex flavour that pays tribute to half a century of tradition, they are perhaps the most fitting tribute to celebrate Cohiba.
