Cohiba – Fidel Castro's Cigars
Long live those declared dead – this was certainly the case with Fidel Castro: before the Cuban revolutionary leader actually passed away in November 2016, rumors of his death had circulated in the media hundreds of times. However, not only did he outlive several U.S. presidents, but he also survived numerous assassination attempts – allegedly even involving poisoned cigars. Few politicians have ever been so closely associated with this indulgence as Fidel. The fact that he was a cigar enthusiast is almost trivial to mention – but how did it come to be that Cohibas became his cigar of choice?
Initially, Cohiba cigars were reserved only for visitors to the island nation on diplomatic missions. That has long since changed, much like the Cold War over Cuba has become a part of history. Fidel, the son of Spanish-Cuban farmers, initially pursued a modest Catholic education, which eventually led him to study law at the University of Havana. There, he encountered a dominant political spirit swaying between anti-imperialism and rebellion. His first political candidacy faded into obscurity, though a public speech made headlines for its anti-government tone. His career truly gained momentum after joining the Party of the Cuban People (Partido Ortodoxo). Alongside leading candidate Chibás, with reformist goals, Fidel Castro advocated for social justice and the rare virtue of honesty, displaying the necessary charismatic allure. After Chibás' defeat and escalating tensions between students and politicians, which erupted violently and led to death threats against Castro, he rose to prominence in the student movement during the 1940s. Following the departure of President Grau and his successor Socarrás, Fidel Castro, influenced by his studies of Marx, Engels, and Lenin, transformed into an explicit communist. Over the following decades, he was labeled a radical by the establishment, served a prison sentence, and transitioned to guerrilla warfare. By the late 1950s, the armed resistance succeeded in forming a transitional government, which also saw the execution of hundreds of political opponents – actions Castro deemed justified. In subsequent years, he solidified his position as a leader, repelling U.S. invasion attempts and eventually entering a quieter phase.
Ten years before his death, Fidel, severely weakened in health, handed over state responsibilities to his brother Raúl. Slowly, the once-isolated nation began to open up: foreign products arrived on the island, the Rolling Stones performed in Havana, and even Obama visited – the first American president to do so in nearly 90 years. Despite stepping down, Fidel remained active, writing commentary, delivering speeches, and continuing to be seen by many observers as Cuba’s defining political force.
Photos from his final years showed him in a tracksuit: the Comandante had traded his uniform for Adidas gear. Nothing could have symbolized Cuba's transformation more poignantly than the ailing Fidel in Western-brand clothing. Upon his death, the German press wrote that the label with the three stripes had lost one of its most famous models. The same could be said with great justification about the Cohiba, as nothing has become so synonymous with Havana as Fidel's favorite cigar.
The Cohiba Brand
In 1963, Fidel Castro was offered a cigar by Bienvenido Perez, the head of his personal security. He enjoyed it so much that he asked him to connect him with its roller. These cigars quickly became his favorites. By 1964, Fidel began gifting them to diplomats and heads of state visiting him. They were adorned with bands bearing the recipient's name. Gaining fame as a diplomatic gift, the cigars quickly achieved cult status and were officially named Cohiba in 1966. The production was moved the following year to the renowned El Laguito factory, where they are still made today. In honor of the brand's founding year, the 2011 Edición Limitada was named Cohiba Edición Limitada 1966. It wasn’t until 1982 that ordinary people were able to enjoy Cohiba cigars, as they became available for purchase.
Cohiba Lineas
The classic Cohiba Línea Clásica was complemented in 1992 by the Línea 1492, a homage to the discovery of America, comprising formats Siglo I to VI. In 2007, the Línea Maduro 5 was introduced, featuring Maduro wrappers aged for 5 years. A fourth series was launched in 2010: the Cohiba Behike line with its three cigar formats. Due to the selection of exquisite tobaccos, only a limited number are produced each year.
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