Cohiba Cigars
History
Cuban Cohiba's origins trace back to the middle 1960s, when a bodyguard of Fidel Castro shared some of his private supply of cigars made by a local artisan named Eduardo Ribera.[1] These cigars pleased Castro so much that a special production of the unbranded blend, produced under tight security, was made for Castro and other top government officials.[1]
As Castro himself recalled the tale in 1994:
"I used to see the man smoking a very aromatic, very nice cigar, and I asked him what brand he was smoking. He told me that it was a special blend, but that it came from a friend who makes cigars and he gave them to him. I said, let's find this man. I tried the cigar, and I found it so good that we got in touch with him and asked him how he made it. Then we set up the house [the El Laguito factory], and he explained the blend of tobacco he used. He told which leaves he used from which tobacco plantations. He also told us about the wrappers he used and other things. We found a group of cigar makers. We gave them the material and that is how the factory was founded. Now Cohiba is known all over the world."[2]
The production of special cigars for top officials under conditions of tight security was given extra impetus by fears of ongoing CIA assassination efforts against Fidel and Raul Castro and Che Guevara. The technical services department of the agency is now in fact known to have worked on the development of exploding cigars as a means of assassination from the early 1960s.[3]
Before the distinctive black-and-yellow band of the Cohiba became a badge of plutocracy, it was the favored smoke of Cuba's revolutionary elite [...] Soon these long, elegant cigars became as much a part of the revolutionary look as facial hair and military fatigues, thanks to Che Guevara's pronouncement that he had never smoked a better cigar.
The Cuban Cohiba brand was formally launched in 1968 at the direction of Cubatabaco, the Cuban state tobacco marketing bureau.[5] The head of Cubatabaco asked Avelino Lara, head of the El Laguito factory, to create a new super-premium blend which differed from all previously existing Cuban cigars.[5] During the first few years of production only a few thousand boxes were produced annually, reserved for the use of high government officials and frequently given away as diplomatic gifts.[5]
The Cuban Cohiba brand was launched as a premium cigar brand into markets outside of the US in 1982 in conjunction with the 1982 World Cup held in Spain.[1] At the time of its first public launch, the Cohiba marque consisted of just three vitolas (sizes): the Panetela, the Corona Especial, and the Lancero. In 1989 three more vitolas were added: the Robusto, the Exquisito, and the Espléndido. These first six are now collectively known as the company's Línea Clásica (classic line).
In 1992 Habanos SA launched the first sizes in what it calls the Línea 1492, commemorating Christopher Columbus and his voyage to the Americas, with each size named for a century since Columbus' discovery. The initial launch included the Siglo I, Siglo II, Siglo III, Siglo IV, and Siglo V, with a Siglo VI added in 2002.
Besides regular production, Habanos SA regularly releases limited release Cohíba cigars for such events as the annual Habanos Festival, brand anniversaries, and their annual Edición Limitada (limited edition) release of special sizes of their various cigar brands wrapped in a darker vintage leaf. In 2007, Habanos released a new line of maduro-wrapped Cohibas, called "Maduro 5," in three sizes.
The Cuban Cohiba brand also carries two machine-made extensions cigarillos: the Mini and the Club.
Habanos SA have used their Cohiba brand name for non-cigar products, manufacturing Cohiba cigarettes since 1987 and Extra Cohiba Cognac since 1999.
In 1992 approximately 3.4 million cigars were produced in Cuba bearing the Cohiba label, out of a total Cuban cigar export production of approximately 60 million pieces.[6]
Reproduced from Wikipedia.
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Cohiba Esplendidos The Cohiba Esplendido cigar is a splendid Cuban Churchill delivering the perfect balance of rich tobacco & creamy, cedary character, with a light spicy aftertaste. Cohiba Esplendidos received a rating of 98 points in Cigar Aficionado's premier issue in 1992. The length is 178mm, the diameter is 18.65mm, the ring is #47, the weight is 15.07gm, the class is Churchill and the review ranking is 9.5 out of 10. |
NZ$ 90.00 each NZ$ 60.00 each incl GST |
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Cohiba Esplendidos (Box of 25) Just arrived, a sealed box of 25 Esplendidos cigars. Nothing else on the planet like this incomparable, for yourself or the most special male in your life. The Cohiba Esplendido cigar is a splendid Cuban Churchill delivering the perfect balance of rich tobacco & creamy, cedary character, with a light spicy aftertaste. Cohiba Esplendidos received a rating of 98 points in Cigar Aficionado's premier issue in 1992. The length is 178mm, the diameter is 18.65mm, the ring is #47, the weight is 15.07gm, the class is Churchill and the review ranking is 9.5 out of 10. |
NZ$ 2,250.00 box of 25 NZ$ 1,995.00 box of 25 incl GST |
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Cohiba Lanceros The prince of its format, before the Cohiba brand was marketed, this was the emblematic Habano which the Goverment of the Republic of Cuba used as an official state present for its guests. Another version of the same, the Trinidad, now continues to fulfill that assignment. The length is 192mm, the diameter is 15.08mm, the ring is #38, the weight is 10.29gm, the class is Panatella Large and the review ranking is 9 out of 10. |
NZ$ 40.00 each incl GST |
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Cohiba Lanceros (Pack of 5) Pack of 5 Lanceros (1 is free). The prince of its format, before the Cohiba brand was marketed, this was the emblematic Habano which the Goverment of the Republic of Cuba used as an official state present for its guests. Another version of the same, the Trinidad, now continues to fulfill that assignment. The length is 192mm, the diameter is 15.08mm, the ring is #38, the weight is 10.29gm, the class is Panatella Large and the review ranking is 9 out of 10. |
NZ$ 200.00 pack of 5 NZ$ 180.00 pack of 5 incl GST |
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Cohiba Robustos The Cohiba Robusto cigar is instantly recognizable by the superb sheen of its Cuban wrapper. This is among the finest Cuban robusto cigars. It delivers rich smoke that smoothes out quickly to full-bodied, earthy flavors of nutmeg and cocoa with a long, spicy finish. The length is 124mm, the diameter is 19.84mm, the ring is #50, the weight is 11.66gm, the class is Pobusto and the review ranking is 9 out of 10. |
NZ$ 45.00 each incl GST |
Out of Stock |
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Cohiba Siglo IV (Pack of 5) Pack of 5 Siglo IV (1 is free). This cigar was introduced in November 1992 and introduced to the international market in 1994, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Columbus to the New World. The Siglo series are said to be milder than the rest of the models from the Cuban brand, tasting all them very similar, with mild creamy sweetness, medium bean flavours and also medium tobacco taste. 143mm of smoking pleasure. The length is 143mm, the diameter is thick, the ring is #46, the weight is 11.41gm, the class is Corona Gorda and the review ranking is 8.7 out of 10. |
NZ$ 200.00 pack of 5 NZ$ 180.00 pack of 5 incl GST |
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