Cohiba

Cohiba: Cuba's Crown Jewel

Cohiba stands as the undisputed pinnacle of Cuban cigar making — a post-Revolution brand that Habanos S.A. classifies as their Global flagship. Established in 1966, it commands premium pricing and holds a dominant position in the worldwide Habanos market. No other Cuban marque carries quite the same weight of prestige and exclusivity.

The Tobacco and Blending

Cohiba draws exclusively from the finest leaf grown in the Vuelta Abajo region, Cuba's premier tobacco-growing territory. What sets the brand apart from every other Cuban cigar is the exclusive third fermentation applied to its Seco and Ligero filler leaves — a closely guarded process that no other Habanos brand employs. This additional fermentation round smooths the tobacco's natural intensity while developing layers of complexity impossible to achieve through conventional methods.

Production Lines

The brand encompasses four distinct ranges, each with its own character. The Classic Line (Línea Clásica) and Maduro 5 series deliver medium-to-full strength profiles. The celebrated 1492 Line (Línea Siglo) offers a more approachable medium strength experience. The Behike range, the newest and most exclusive addition, pushes into full strength territory with the incorporation of the rare Medio Tiempo leaf.

Standard Production

The brand's commercial journey began in 1984 when three vitolas were made available to the public for the first time. These original sizes were retroactively designated as the Classic Line in 1989. The Línea 1492, commonly known as the Siglo series, was conceived in 1992 to mark the 500th anniversary of Columbus's arrival in the Americas and reached retail shelves in early 1994. The darker, bolder Maduro 5 collection arrived in 2007, while the ultra-premium Behike series debuted in 2010.

Special and Limited Editions

Cohiba's program of special releases launched in 1996 with the 30 Aniversario Humidor and Jar. In the decades since, the brand has produced a remarkable succession of commemorative editions, aged reserves, regional releases, and collector humidors — each commanding significant attention and premium prices at Habanos festivals and among collectors worldwide.

The History of Cohiba

The Cohiba story begins in 1963, not in a factory but in the hands of a single torcedor. A skilled roller crafted a personal cigar — known as a "fuma" — that found its way to Fidel Castro. The Cuban leader was immediately captivated, and by 1964 a small, dedicated workshop had been established to produce these cigars exclusively for him. Production eventually relocated to the now-legendary El Laguito factory in Havana's Miramar district.

The original cigar bore no name and was known simply by its factory designation: Laguito No. 1. By 1967, two additional formats had been added — the Laguito No. 2 and Laguito No. 3. It was not until 1966 that the brand received its official name: Cohiba, derived from the Taíno indigenous word for the rolled tobacco leaves that Columbus observed the native people smoking upon his arrival in the New World.

In 1969, the three cigars received their commercial names and the distinctive packaging and band designs were finalized. For the next fifteen years, Cohiba remained unavailable to the general public — produced solely for diplomatic gifts and high-ranking officials.

Cohiba Band Evolution

The evolution of Cohiba's cigar bands traces the brand's journey from a confidential diplomatic cigar to the world's most recognized premium brand. Each band iteration reflects advancements in security features, design sophistication, and anti-counterfeiting technology.

Standard Production Bands

Standard Band A

The original Cohiba band was in production from 1969 through the early 1970s before being discontinued. Crafted from non-embossed paper, it established the foundational design language that would define the brand's visual identity for decades to come.

Standard Band B

Replacing Band A in the early 1970s, this iteration served as Cohiba's primary identifier through approximately 1993. Like its predecessor, it was produced on non-embossed paper stock, though with refined proportions and printing quality that reflected the brand's growing international stature.

Standard Band C

Introduced around 1993 and remaining in use until 2003, Band C continued the non-embossed paper tradition. This era coincided with Cohiba's explosive growth in international recognition following the launch of the Siglo series.

Standard Band D

The 2003 redesign marked a significant leap forward — for the first time, Cohiba bands featured embossed detailing, adding a tactile dimension that enhanced both the sensory experience and counterfeit resistance. This band remained the standard through approximately 2014.

Maduro Band A

Debuting alongside the Maduro 5 line in 2007, this specialized band served the darker-wrapped range until 2016. It featured embossed construction with a distinctive color palette that immediately distinguished the Maduro cigars from the Classic and Siglo lines.

Behike Band A

When the Behike range launched in 2010, it arrived with perhaps the most sophisticated band in Cuban cigar history. The embossed design incorporated two integrated security holograms — a necessity given the extraordinary prices these cigars commanded. Around 2013, the holograms were redesigned for enhanced security.

Standard Band E (Current)

The current standard band first appeared in 2012 on the Pirámides Extra, gradually rolling out across the full range starting mid-2014. This sophisticated design features embossed construction with a holographic Cohiba logo and holographic strips running along the top and bottom edges. Beginning sporadically in mid-2014, a UV-fluorescent security code was incorporated into the right wing of the band, accompanied by a pattern of fluorescing squares visible only under ultraviolet light.

Maduro Band B (Current)

Introduced in 2016 as the replacement for the original Maduro band, this current version mirrors the security features of Standard Band E — embossed with holographic logo and strips. Under UV light exposure, a security code becomes visible below the letter A on the band.

Behike Band B (Current)

The current Behike band has been in production since 2013, replacing the original with upgraded holographic elements and the addition of microprinting — tiny text visible only under magnification — as an additional layer of authentication for these highly coveted and frequently counterfeited cigars.

Band Reference Summary