As arguably the world’s most famous communist, it may surprise you that Fidel Castro once engaged in that most capitalist of activities – hoarding a popular product for himself and his party members. This was once the case with Cohiba cigars, though – now one of the world’s most famous and popular cigar brands.
Cohiba cigars from Cuba are filled with tobacco grown exclusively in the Vuelta Abajo region, which enjoys additional fermentation. The origin story of Cohiba cigars dates to the mid-1960s, when they were individually rolled by one man – Eduardo Riviera.
When one of Castro’s bodyguards provided the leader with a Cohiba cigar, he loved it so much that he ordered a special production run. These cigars were to be unbranded and made available only to the top brass of the Cuban government.
Before long, Cohiba cigars were considered as much a part of the Cuban revolution as the clothing and facial hear that Castro made famous. By 1968, the brand was officially named but still only produced cigars for a select few. Cohiba cigars were also presented to overseas diplomats as gifts by Cuban officials.
It would not be until 1982, while Castro was still in power, that Cohiba cigars were made available for general sale. This year also saw the FIFA World Cup unfold in Spain, and Cohiba cigars underwent a significant marketing push in line with the tournament. This was also when Cohiba cigars gained their now-famous black and yellow branding.
Today, Cohiba cigars are widely recognised as among the finest tobacco products to emanate from Cuba. They may not be the bestselling – that honour still belongs to Montecristo – but many experts and pundits declare Cohiba cigars a superior smoke. To this end, Cohiba cigars are still considered a mark of genuine quality, regardless of the six traditional shapes you may choose to smoke.
Of course, like all Cuban cigar brands, Cohiba cigars are also available in limited editions that celebrate historical events and anniversaries. Do not be fooled into picking up a box of Cohiba cigars from the Dominican Republic, though. These cigars use the brand name only and contain no Cuban tobacco. The branding is simply an exercise in circumventing the import ban on Cuban cigars to the United States by exploiting the popularity of Cohibas. It seems that no matter what approach is taken, there is no escaping an eventual capitalist approach to the glory of Cohiba cigars.
