Cohiba Siglo IV

Commercial Name: Siglo IV Factory Name: Corona Gorda Dimensions: 5 5/8” (129mm) x 46 ring gauge Flavour category: Medium Production method: Totally handmade using long filler with all leaves sourced from the Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba Presentations: Cabinet (SLB) of 25 cigars. Package of five (untubed) & package of 3 (tubed) cigars

The Brand:

Cohiba was founded in 1966 and owes its origin to the exceptional cigar roller, Eduardo Rivera. He devised a particular long, thin vitola or size of cigar, distinguished by a twist of leaf on its cap that he filled with a special blend of tobaccos. These cigars were only to be smoked with his family and friends, one of whom was a man named Bienvenido Perez, nicknamed ‘Chicho’. Chicho just so happened to be head of Fidel Castro’s security.

One day, so legend has it, Castro found himself without a cigar and ‘borrowed’ one from Chicho. He enjoyed Rivera’s cigar so much that that he set him up with a team of five expert rollers in a vacant mansion house in a discreet suburb of Havana called El Laguito (the little lake) to produce these, as yet unnamed, cigars.

Attempts on Castro’s life were commonplace at that time so the new factory was subject to the highest possible security.

Shortly afterwards, on the advice of Castro’s close confidante, Celia Sanchez, El Laguito became the first school for women cigar rollers. Celia Sanchez also chose the name Cohiba, which is the ancient Taino Indian word for the bunches of tobacco leaves that Columbus first saw being smoked by the original inhabitants of Cuba.

The original Cohiba were reserved for the President and were only seen outside Cuba as gifts for foreign dignitaries. Then in 1982 it was decided to launch three sizes to the public each with a medium to full flavour: the Lancero, the Coronas Especial and the Panetela, known in the factory as Laguito Nos. 1, 2, and 3.

In 1989 three more sizes were added to complete what is now called the Linea Clasica. These were the Esplendidos, Robusto and the Exquisito. Then, in 1992, the five sizes of the Linea 1492 (Siglo I to V) with a medium flavour were launched to which the Siglo VI was added in 2002. These cigars were launched to commemorate each one of the passing centuries (Siglo means century in Spanish) since Christopher Columbus first discovered the island.

In 2007, a new line of three medium to full flavoured cigars with dark wrappers, known as Cohiba Maduro 5, was added. And finally, in 2010, three more exceptional cigars with a distinctive, rich taste have been introduced under the Behike name.

It is said that selection is the key to producing the finest cigars. Cohiba benefits from the “selection of the selection” of tobaccos from the five finest Vegas Finas de Primera (First Class Fields) in the San Luis and San Juan y Martinez zones of the Vuelta Abajo tobacco region.

Furthermore, uniquely amongst Habano brands, two of the filler leaves for Cohiba, the seco and ligero, undergo a third

fermentation in barrels, which add smoothness to the blend.

Today, 44 years after its birth, Cohiba is firmly established. It is the second biggest selling Habanos brand on the UK domestic market. However its success cannot measured by sales alone; it is seen as the standard bearer for quality and excellence by the whole Cuban cigar industry. La Linea 1492:

The Siglo range, or Linea 1492 to give it its correct title, was first announced at a reception at the Captain General’s Palace in Havana on 4th November 1992, during a Festival held to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus. The Linea 1492 consisted of five sizes, numbered Siglo I to V, with each Siglo, which means ‘Century’, commemorating one the five subsequent centuries. Then, in 2002, the Siglo VI was released to complete the current range. The Linea 1492 remains the lightest flavoured Cohiba and, perhaps in part due to this, it has become the most popular Linea within the range.

Today the sales of the Siglo sizes account for 62% of all Cohiba sales in the UK and show no signs of slowing.

The Cigar:

The unique ‘third fermentation’ that is conducted on the Seco and Legero of all Cohibas lasts for eighteen months and is conducted at the factory in cedar barrels. This extra age creates a unique taste. The famous Cohiba flavour is most often described as ‘Grassy’, although others have noticed tones of vanilla, cocoa and coffee. It is often noted how this extra fermentation makes the taste ‘smoother’ and more refined.

Min Ron NEE, in his book “An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars” says of the Siglo range “Mild, creamy sweetness, medium bean flavour, subtle @Cohiba’ Grassy taste, mild floral and herbal flavours... all agree the Siglo IV is the best and most well balanced”.

The American publication Cigar Aficionado reviewed the sigo IV in 2005 describing it as “Beautiful, with a reddish brown wrapper. The cigar is rich, with full flavors of leather, cedar and cocoa, with a touch of salt and nuts. Complex, balanced and elegant, with a long, full finish”