Cohiba Cigars: The Complete Guide to Cuba's Most Prestigious Brand

By Michel Besson, Fine Cigars Club

No cigar carries the mystique of Cohiba. Born as a private blend for Fidel Castro, produced in secrecy for over a decade, and released to the world only in 1982, it remains the most coveted — and most counterfeited — name in the cigar world. For collectors and first-time buyers alike, Cohiba is where Cuban tobacco reaches its highest expression, and its highest price. This guide covers everything worth knowing: the history, what actually makes Cohiba different, every major line explained, how to tell a genuine Cohiba from a fake, and which one to choose depending on who you are and what you're after.

The History of Cohiba

Cohiba began not as a commercial product but as a personal one. In 1966, a bodyguard of Fidel Castro was seen smoking an unusually fragrant cigar rolled for him by a friend, a torcedor named Eduardo Rivera. Castro tried one, was struck by its quality, and arranged for Rivera to roll these cigars exclusively for him and a small circle of senior Cuban officials and visiting dignitaries. The blend took the name Cohiba — the Taíno word for the bundles of tobacco leaves that Columbus's crew first encountered in the New World.

For sixteen years, Cohiba was effectively a state secret. Production moved to a converted mansion in Havana's El Laguito district, which remains the brand's spiritual home and principal factory to this day. Cigars were given as diplomatic gifts, never sold, and their reputation grew precisely because almost no one could obtain one.

That changed in 1982, when Cohiba was released commercially for the first time, initially in a small range of three sizes. In 1992, to mark the 500th anniversary of Columbus's arrival in the Americas, the brand launched the Línea 1492 — the Siglo series — which broadened Cohiba's appeal enormously. The ultra-premium Behike line followed in 2010, introducing a rare tobacco leaf that had never been used in a commercial Cuban cigar before. From a single bodyguard's cigar to the flagship of the entire Cuban industry, Cohiba's rise is unmatched.

What Makes Cohiba Different

Plenty of brands claim premium status. Cohiba's is built on two things that are genuinely unusual.

The first is leaf selection. Cohiba draws its tobacco from a small number of the very best vegas — plantations — in the San Juan y Martínez and San Luis zones of the Vuelta Abajo region, the finest tobacco-growing land in Cuba. Only a fraction of each harvest is deemed good enough for Cohiba.

The second, and more distinctive, is fermentation. Most Cuban cigars use tobacco that has been fermented twice. Cohiba's seco and ligero filler leaves undergo a third fermentation in barrels — a step unique to the brand. This additional stage smooths the tobacco further, removes harshness, and develops the creamy, grassy, subtly sweet character that defines the Cohiba profile. It's the single technical detail most often cited to explain why a Cohiba tastes like a Cohiba and nothing else quite does.

The Behike line went further still. It was the first Cuban cigar to incorporate medio tiempo — a rare and potent leaf that grows only occasionally at the very top of the tobacco plant, where it catches the most sun. Few plants produce medio tiempo leaves at all, which is part of why Behike is both so limited and so expensive.

The Cohiba Lines Explained

Cohiba is not a single cigar but a family of distinct lines, each with its own character and price point. Understanding them is the key to buying well.

Línea Clásica

The original range, and the foundation of the brand. The Clásica line includes classic Cuban vitolas such as the Siglo predecessors and long-standing sizes, built around that signature smooth, grassy, cedar-and-cream profile. These are the cigars that established Cohiba's reputation and remain, for many, the truest expression of the house style.

Línea 1492 — The Siglo Series

Launched in 1992, the Siglo range (Siglo I through VI) is Cohiba's most popular and widely recognised line. The name means "century," marking five hundred years since 1492. Each Siglo is a different size, from the short, quick Siglo I to the long, stately Siglo VI:

• Siglo I — the smallest, a short smoke of around 25–30 minutes, ideal when time is limited.
• Siglo II — a petit corona; the sweet spot for many, offering genuine complexity in a manageable format.
• Siglo III — a slender, elegant corona-length cigar.
• Siglo IV — fuller and more substantial, a favourite for its balance of size and intensity.
• Siglo V — a long, refined lonsdale.
• Siglo VI — the largest and, for many aficionados, the finest: a cañonazo that gives the blend room to develop its full range.

The Siglo series is where most people begin their Cohiba journey, and where the brand's balance of accessibility and prestige is clearest.

Behike (BHK)

The pinnacle. Introduced in 2010 in three sizes — BHK 52, 54, and 56 — Behike is defined by its inclusion of the rare medio tiempo leaf. It is richer, more powerful and more complex than the rest of the range, and priced accordingly. Behike is also the most counterfeited cigar in the world, which makes provenance especially critical (more on that below). For the collector or the serious enthusiast marking an occasion, it is Cohiba at its most extraordinary.

Maduro 5

A different direction: the Maduro 5 line uses a maduro wrapper aged for five years, giving a darker, sweeter, richer profile than the classic Cohiba style. Where the Clásica and Siglo lines are grassy and refined, Maduro 5 leans into cocoa, coffee and dark sweetness. It's an excellent choice for smokers who love the Cohiba pedigree but prefer a fuller, sweeter cigar.

How to Spot a Fake Cohiba

Cohiba is the most counterfeited cigar brand on earth. The combination of high price, global demand and the difficulty of buying genuine Cuban cigars in many markets has created an enormous trade in fakes — and many are convincing enough to fool a casual buyer. If you take one thing from this guide, take this: the single most reliable protection against a fake Cohiba is buying from a reputable, established retailer. No inspection technique is a substitute for trusted provenance.

That said, there are things to check:

• The band. Genuine Cohiba bands are printed to an extremely high standard. The white squares in the band's pattern should be crisp and even; the gold should be rich, not brassy or flat. Blurred printing, uneven squares or a slightly-off colour are red flags.
• The holographic seal. Genuine Cuban cigars carry a Habanos S.A. hologram and warranty seal on the box, with fine detailing that is difficult to reproduce.
• The box codes. Authentic Cuban boxes carry a factory code and date stamp on the underside. A missing, smudged or nonsensical code is a warning sign.
• Construction and consistency. Genuine Cohibas are impeccably rolled, with consistent colour and firmness. Soft spots, uneven wrappers or a cigar that looks hastily made suggest a counterfeit.
• Price. If a "Behike" is being offered at a price that seems too good to be true, it is a fake. There are no genuine bargains on cigars this rare.

None of these checks is foolproof on its own, and counterfeiters improve constantly. The reliable path is simple: buy Cohiba only from sellers who stand behind their authenticity.

Which Cohiba Should You Choose?

• Your first Cohiba? Start with a Siglo II or Siglo IV. They deliver the full Cohiba character in an accessible size and price, and they're the clearest introduction to why the brand is so revered.
• Buying a gift? A Siglo VI is impressive without being intimidating, and its size and presentation make it feel like the occasion it is. A single Behike, boxed, is the ultimate gift for someone who already knows cigars.
• For the aficionado who wants the best? Behike BHK 52 or 56. This is Cohiba operating at its ceiling, and there's nothing else quite like the medio tiempo intensity.
• Prefer a darker, sweeter smoke? Maduro 5. All the pedigree, a completely different flavour direction.
• Short on time? Siglo I gives you a genuine Cohiba experience in under half an hour.

Tasting and Enjoying Cohiba

The classic Cohiba profile — the Clásica and Siglo lines — opens with cedar, cream and toasted nuts, with a distinctive grassy, floral character underneath that is the brand's signature. Coffee and gentle spice tend to build through the second half, always balanced, never harsh. This smoothness is the pay-off of that third fermentation.

Cohiba rewards unhurried smoking. Give a Siglo VI or a Behike an hour or more, let it rest between draws, and pair it thoughtfully — aged rum, a good cognac, or simply strong coffee all sit beautifully alongside the profile. As with any fine Cuban cigar, store it properly at around 65–70% humidity, and if you're able to age it, the classic Cohiba lines reward patience over several years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Cohiba cigars so expensive? Cohiba uses only a small selection of the finest Vuelta Abajo tobacco, adds a unique third fermentation, and — in the Behike line — incorporates the extremely rare medio tiempo leaf. Combined with limited production, global demand and the brand's prestige, this places Cohiba at the top of the Cuban price range.

Are Cohiba cigars worth it? For the quality of tobacco, the consistency of construction and the distinctive smooth, refined profile, most enthusiasts consider Cohiba worth the premium — particularly the Siglo and Behike lines. Whether the top-end Behike prices are worth it is a personal judgement, but few dispute the quality.

What is the best Cohiba cigar? It depends on your taste. The Siglo VI is widely regarded as the finest of the classic range, while the Behike BHK 56 is the pinnacle of the brand overall. For a first Cohiba, the Siglo II or IV is the ideal starting point.

How can I tell if a Cohiba is real? Check the band's print quality, the Habanos hologram and warranty seal, and the box's factory code and date stamp. But the most reliable protection is buying only from a reputable, established retailer — no inspection replaces trusted provenance.

Where can I buy authentic Cohiba cigars in the UK? Fine Cigars Club stocks the full genuine Cohiba range — including the Siglo series, Behike and Maduro 5 — with expert support and free UK delivery on orders over £50. Browse our complete Cohiba selection to buy with confidence.

Explore the full Cohiba range at Fine Cigars Club, or read more of our cigar guides for the stories behind the world's great brands.