Cohiba is the flagship brand of Habanos SA. And was originally created in 1966 for the late President Fidel Castro. They were made at the then top secret , but now world famous, El Laguito factory. At first it was only seen outside Cuba as gifts for heads of state and visiting diplomats and it was not until 1982 that Cohiba was made available in limited quantities to the open market. The name “Cohiba” is a Taino Indian word for bunches of tobacco leaves that Columbus first saw being smoked by the original inhabitants of Cuba – the earliest known form of the cigar. The leaves used for rolling Cohiba vitolas are the “selection of the selection” from the five finest plantations in the San Juan Y Martinez and San Luis districts of the Vuelta Abajo zone which is widely regarded as the finest tobacco growing land/soil in the world. Uniquely amongst Havanas up to three of Cohiba’s filler leaves, the seco, ligero, and the rare Medio Tiempo ( the latter of which is only used in the Behike range ) , undergo an extra fermentation in barrels, which adds a unique smoothness to the blend. . All sizes of Cohiba are “tripa larga, totalamente a mano” – long filler, totally handmade. Cohiba encompasses four different Linea’s or Lines.
