Cuban Cigar Group is located in Havana, Cuba
Cuban Cigar Group is located in Havana, Cuba
In 2026, Cohiba celebrates sixty years as the most prestigious Habanos brand in the world of premium tobacco. A lasting cultural icon, Cohiba represents the highest expression of Cuban tobacco heritage for connoisseurs and aficionados across the globe. Its story, however, began even before the name Cohiba existed.
In the early 1960s, Bienvenido Pérez, head of Fidel Castro’s security detail, offered him a Habano crafted by his friend, torcedor Eduardo Rivera. Castro immediately fell in love with the cigar. What began as a personal favorite soon became an exclusive diplomatic gift reserved for visiting heads of state and foreign dignitaries.
Over time, this cigar would evolve into what is now recognized as the most iconic premium cigar brand in the world.
During the 1960s, a specialized School of Torcedoras was created. This was a carefully selected group of women trained exclusively to produce these exceptional cigars.
Initially, the school operated from several homes in the exclusive Havana neighborhood of El Laguito. Later, production moved to a grand mansion in the same area. Within its walls, the standards of consistency, craftsmanship, and precision that define Cohiba today were developed and refined.
Because these cigars quickly became tools of diplomacy, Celia Sánchez, a key figure of the Cuban Revolution, recognized the need to give them a proper name.
She chose Cohiba, inspired by the Taíno word used to describe the tobacco leaves observed by Christopher Columbus in 1492. The name firmly connected the brand to the earliest origins of Cuban tobacco culture.
Sixty years later, the myth of Cohiba continues, supported by the use of some of the finest tobacco grown in the legendary Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba.
Every Cohiba cigar is crafted Totalmente a Mano con Tripa Larga (Totally Handmade with Long Filler) and undergoes a unique additional fermentation process not used for other Habanos brands. This extra fermentation enhances the tobacco’s aromatic richness, balance, and complexity.
These elements combine to establish Cohiba as the pinnacle of cigar craftsmanship.
After six decades of success, Cohiba continues to lead the world of Habanos with a portfolio that honors tradition while pushing innovation forward.
The brand was the first within Habanos to introduce Reserva and Gran Reserva editions, setting new standards for aging, leaf selection, and rarity.
Four principal lines define the Cohiba portfolio. Each represents a distinct interpretation of the brand’s character.
The foundation of the Cohiba identity. These historic vitolas represent the purest expression of the brand’s style, known for their balance, structure, and signature fermentation process.
Introduced in 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the New World. The line features medium-strength cigars and includes the renowned Siglo series, which has become a benchmark within the Cohiba portfolio.
In celebration of the brand’s 50th anniversary, the line added the Medio Siglo vitola.
Launched in 2007, Maduro 5 introduced a dark wrapper leaf aged through a five-year fermentation process. This extended aging gives the cigars their distinctive color and deeper flavor character while preserving Cohiba’s hallmark elegance and precision.
Officially introduced in 2010, the Behike line represents one of the most innovative developments in modern Habanos history.
Originally created in 2006 to celebrate Cohiba’s 40th anniversary, only 40 humidors containing 100 cigars each were produced, all rolled by master torcedora Norma Fernández.
The defining feature of the Behike blend is the inclusion of the rare Medio Tiempo leaf, harvested from the upper crown of the tobacco plant. Its limited availability contributes to the complexity and exclusivity of the line.
Today, the Behike line includes four vitolas, with the BHK 58 being the most recent addition.
Recent releases continue to reinforce Cohiba’s position at the forefront of the Habanos universe.
For cigar enthusiasts visiting Cuba, experiencing Cohiba at the source is unforgettable. If you are in Havana, we invite you to visit our cigar shop, where you can explore Cuban cigars in person, learn more about the heritage behind the world’s most celebrated brands, and enjoy a more personal connection to Cuba’s cigar culture.
Whether you are a seasoned collector or simply beginning your journey into premium cigars, visiting our Havana cigar shop offers a unique opportunity to experience the tradition, craftsmanship, and atmosphere that make Cuban tobacco legendary.
The year 2026 marks the opening of an extraordinary chapter in the history of Cohiba, celebrating six decades of mastery, character, and international prestige. The Year of Cohiba unfolds as a journey through the past, present, and future of the brand, offering a range of experiences and initiatives that reflect the spirit, culture, and vision that define Cohiba.
From its origins as an exclusive gift to its consolidation as a global reference, the story of Cohiba is marked by exceptional vision, vast experience, and unmatched prestige. Every chapter of its journey reinforces its status not only as a leader but as the ultimate authority in the universe of Habanos.
This anniversary is above all a tribute to everyone who has contributed, and continues to contribute, to making Cohiba recognized as the most prestigious tobacco brand in the world.
Because Cohiba does not simply honor its past. It projects it into the future.
Enjoy expedited free shipping on all your order and be the first to know when cigars are back in stock. Our cigars sell out too quickly to offer discounts, secure yours before they’re gone.
