Cuban cigar house Habanos is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its flagship brand Cohiba, widely considered the most prestigious in the premium cigar sector.
The milestone commemorates six decades of the cigar brand’s illustrious history, built on a combination of tradition and innovation.
Originally created as an exclusive diplomatic gift, Cohiba has become an international symbol of Cuban tobacco and its craftsmanship.
Cohiba was first produced in the 1960s through the careful selection of premium tobacco leaves and expert hand-rolling under master roller Eduardo Rivera. The decade also saw the founding of the Escuela de Torcedoras (School of Cigar Rollers), where an elite group of women were entrusted with crafting these Habanos.
Crafted at an eclectic-style mansion in El Laguito, the tobacco set the standard for craftsmanship and consistency that still defines Cohiba today.
This approach to production, combining careful leaf selection and skilled craftsmanship, helped establish Cohiba’s reputation for quality.
Cohiba later expanded into international markets and established itself as a leading name in premium cigars.
Named by Celia Sánchez, Cohiba come from the Taíno word for the tobacco leaves Columbus saw in 1492, reflecting Cuba’s tobacco roots.
Each vitola is crafted from carefully selected leaves from Vuelta Abajo, one of the key tobacco regions in Cuba.
Cohiba’s distinctive production method uses seco and ligero leaves, with an additional fermentation to develop the brand’s signature aroma and flavour.
Each Habano is entirely hand-made through the tripa larga (long filler) technique.
Cohiba distinguishes itself by introducing the rare Medio Tiempo leaf into its most exclusive line. This scarce leaf, found at the top of sun-grown tobacco plants, is produced in very limited quantities.
For 60 years, Cohiba has built a reputation for quality and innovation, with special editions Reserva (2002) and Gran Reserva (2009) establishing new standards in tobacco selection and ageing.
Cohiba currently has four key lines, each representing a facet of the brand’s character:
- Classic Line: The foundation of the Cohiba style, distinguished by its balance and signature fermentation process.
- 1492 Line: Launched in 1992 to commemorate the discovery of Cuba, this line features a refined and balanced profile, becoming an essential reference point with its renowned Siglo vitolas.
- Maduro 5 Line: Introduced in 2007, this line was the first to incorporate a mature wrapper that undergoes an extensive five-year fermentation process, giving these Habanos a distinctive dark tone and a unique appearance within the brand.
- Behike Line: Since 2010, the line has exemplified premium tobacco worldwide. Highly prized by experts and collectors, it is characterised by the inclusion of the rare Medio Tiempo leaf in its blend, with the BHK 58 as its most recent addition.
Habanos Operational Marketing Department Managers Beatriz Garrido and Álex Fernández-Blanco Barrero said, “The secret of Cohiba’s success over these six decades has been the perfect combination of tradition and innovation, with a common denominator: the pursuit of excellence.” ✈
