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COHIBA CIGAR HISTORY
In 1492, during Columbus' first voyage to the "new world", he visited the island of Cuba. His sailors were introduced to "Cohiba" by the island natives, a bunch of dried leaves that were smoked in a pipe called a "Tobacco".
When Columbus returned to Spain with a sampling of the dried leaves, it is said that he mistakenly called the leafy smoke "Tobacco". And so it goes Cohiba, true to its brand, is "Tobacco", literally. If there is one Cuban cigar that is truly worthy of it's name, it is definitely the Cohiba cigar. The Cohiba cigar brand, first introduced in 1968, was originally reserved for diplomatic use only. In 1982, three types of Cohiba Cuban cigars were introduced to non-diplomats: the Cohiba Lanceros, the Cohiba Coronas Especiales and the Cohiba Panetelas. Three more Cohiba vitolas were added to the brand in 1989: the Cohiba Espléndidos, the Cohiba Robustos and the Cohiba Exquisitos, completing what is known as "La Línea Clasica". Five more Cohiba vitoles were added in 1992 creating the "Linea 1492": the Cohiba Siglo I, Cohiba Siglo II, Cohiba Siglo III, Cohiba Siglo IV and Cohiba Siglo V. Cohiba remains the "King of the Cubans". Only the finest tobacco leaves are used to create the various types of Cohiba cigars.
The first Cohiba cigars were manufactured under Ernesto Che Guevara's distinction, in the 60's, when he had the position of Minister of Industries, in the newly born revolutionary Cuban government. Che selected the most outstanding specialists in terms of Cuban habanos, as Avelino Lara and Eduardo Rivero, from Larrañaga.
The production of the very first tree Cohiba cigar models began in 1968: the Cohiba Lanceros (great panatella), the Cohiba special Coronas (corona) y the Cohiba Panetelas (cigarettes despite their name). However, the Cohiba brand comercialization began in 1982 with an immediate success. Later on, two new series were launched for Cohiba, having the required qualities to have a softer Cuban cigar.
The Classic Cohiba Branch was introduced in 1989, which included the Cohiba Esplendido (Churchill), the Cohiba Robustos (Robustos) and the Cohiba Exquisito (Panatella); in 1992 was introduced the 1492 branch, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Colombus' first arrival to Cuba. There are five Cohiba cigar models of the 1492 branch: the so called Cohiba 1st Century (tiny corona), Cohiba the 2nd Century (petit corona), Cohiba 3rd Century (corona), Cohiba 4th Century (large corona) and Cohiba 5th Century (Lonsdale).
The tobacco used for the manufacturing of this line is very special. The Cohiba is not a major production, considering it is a particular Habano. It is very limited due to the quality of the harvest.
The Cohiba tobacco is harvested in Fine Vegas (plantations), selected in Vuelta Abajo (Pinar del Rio province). A specially produced soft cape of fine texture and light color comes from the Vegas el Corojo region. In terms of the fillers, Cohiba uses the best leaves of the best fine sunny plantations in Pinar del Rio, from San Luis and San Juan. Another of the characteristic of the Cohiba brand is the so called "third fermentation. It consists in a special process of slight cigar fermentation and aging.
The Cohiba branch is commercialized in Spain, France, Swiss, Great Britain, Benelux, Hong Kong, Mexico, Argentina, Germany, Canada, Brazil the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East. The Cohiba cigars are manufactured in El Laguito, (this Cuban cigar factory also produces Trinidad), and it has the reputation to hire the best cigar rollers of the region. It also employs a group of quality controllers to examine these Cuban cigars constantly, in every phase of the cigar production.