COHIBA

Cohiba :: A Brief History

Cohiba is the most prestigious and flagship brand of Habanos. This is the only Habanos brand in which the tobacco goes through the third fermentation process.

1963

One of Fidel Castro’s bodyguards, Bienvenido Perez, offered his boss a cigar rolled by his friend Eduardo Rivera. Fidel Castro liked the cigar so much that he asked Mr. Rivera to make more. This cigar, later became known as the Lanceros and remains one of the most iconic cigars on the market.

1964

These are the cigars that began to be offered to diplomats and foreign heads of state. They had no bands or cigar name at the time. Cigar bands featuring the names of the VIPs receiving them were used.

In the same year, a small factory was set up to manufacture these cigars.

1966

Eduardo Rivera’s personal assistant, Celia Sanchez, christened it Cohiba. This is the word the Indians called cigars during the time of Christopher Columbus.

1967

The factory moved to what has become today one of the most famous buildings in the cigar world; the famous El Laguito Factory, located in Playa, Havana.

From 1969, until 1994, the cigar band consisted of several different versions.

1982

The brand was marketed internationally, with it’s launching party at the Ritz Hotel in Madrid.

1989

The Linea Classica was launched and included the; Esplendidos, Exquistos, and Robustos.

1992

The Linea 1492 was launched and included the Siglo I, II, III, IV, and V.

2002

The famous and very popular Siglo VI was launched

Also, in 2002, Cohiba was the first Habanos brand to launch a Gran Reserva cigar.

2007

The Maduro 5 Linea was launched including the Genios, Magicos and Secretos.

2009

The first ever Gran Reserva cigar was released, the Cohiba Gran Reserva Siglo VI Cosecha 2003. The black lacquered boxes include 15 cigars, and only 5000 boxes were produced.