The Best Cohiba Cigars: Which Cohiba Should You Buy?

No name in the cigar world carries the weight of Cohiba. Created in 1966 as a diplomatic gift and released to the public only in 1982, it remains the flagship of Habanos and the most-requested marque we sell. But “Cohiba” is not a single cigar — it is a ladder of lines, each with its own price, size and place in a smoking session. So when a customer asks which are the best Cohiba cigars, the honest answer depends on your palate and your budget. This guide, hand-picked by our buyers at Chaveta, walks you up that ladder from an approachable Siglo to the rarefied Behike, so you can choose the Cohiba that genuinely suits you rather than simply the one with the biggest reputation. Cohiba is an adult product, sold only to customers of legal smoking age.

How we chose the best Cohiba cigars

Every cigar here is a genuine Cuban Cohiba from Habanos S.A., made in Cuba, not a New World namesake. We selected across the full price spectrum so there is an honest entry point and a flagship for collectors. Our criteria for each pick:

• Where it sits in the range — Siglo, classic línea clásica, Maduro 5 or the limited Behike.
• Smoking time and size, so it matches the occasion.
• Flavour and body, all built on Cohiba's signature lightly fermented selección de tabaco.
• Value for the experience, from first-Cohiba choices to once-a-year indulgences.

Where Cohiba begins: the Siglo line

The Siglo series, launched in 1992 to mark 500 years since tobacco reached Europe, is the most logical place to start. The numbering (I to VI) broadly tracks size and intensity, making it easy to climb at your own pace.

1. Cohiba Siglo I

The smallest of the Siglos and the most affordable way into the marque. In a slim, short format, the Siglo I delivers around twenty-five to thirty minutes of that unmistakable Cohiba character — grassy sweetness, a touch of honey and the faint cocoa note the brand is loved for — without asking for a long evening or a large outlay. It is an ideal first Cohiba, a short morning smoke or a way to taste the house style before committing to the bigger vitolas. Do not mistake small for simple: the blend is the same prized tobacco that fills the flagships, simply in a more compact, manageable format. If you are new to the marque, this is where we suggest you begin.

In brief: mild–medium · Cuba · Perla format · . Shop the Cohiba Siglo I →

2. Cohiba Siglo II

A step up in length and presence, the Siglo II is one of the most quietly versatile cigars in the entire Habanos catalogue. It runs to roughly forty minutes and shows the Cohiba profile with a little more depth: cedar, cream and a gentle spice arriving in the second third. It suits the smoker who has enjoyed a Siglo I and wants something with more to say, yet it never becomes heavy. We often recommend it as an after-lunch cigar or a companion to coffee, where its balance can be appreciated without a long commitment. For many, the Siglo II is the sweet spot of the line — enough size to develop, enough restraint to remain elegant.

In brief: medium · Cuba · Mareva format · . Shop the Cohiba Siglo II →

3. Cohiba Siglo IV

For many regulars the Siglo IV is the Cohiba — the point at which the line hits its full stride. A generous corona gorda format gives you the best part of an hour, and the extra ring gauge lets the blend breathe. Expect a richer, rounder smoke than the smaller Siglos: warm cedar, roasted coffee, a honeyed sweetness and that classic Cohiba grassiness woven throughout. It is substantial without being a marathon, which makes it a superb after-dinner choice or the cigar to reach for when you want the marque at its most complete but are not ready for Behike money. If you intend to buy one Cohiba and understand what the fuss is about, the Siglo IV is a reliable answer.

In brief: medium · Cuba · Corona Gorda format · . Shop the Cohiba Siglo IV →

4. Cohiba Siglo VI

The largest and most celebrated of the Siglos, and a perennial fixture on “best Cuban cigar” lists. The Siglo VI is a stately cañonazo: around an hour and a half of slow, evolving smoke that moves from creamy and floral through to a deeper, woody, faintly leathery finish. It is a connoisseur's cigar that rewards a clear evening and an unhurried mood. The construction and draw are consistently among the finest Havana produces, and the ageing potential is excellent — many collectors lay these down for years. If the Siglo IV is the everyday flagship, the Siglo VI is the occasion piece: the cigar for a milestone, a long dinner's close or a serious session with a fine spirit.

In brief: medium–full · Cuba · Cañonazo format · . Shop the Cohiba Siglo VI →

The classic line and a modern short smoke

5. Cohiba Robustos

The Robusto is the cornerstone of Cohiba's original línea clásica, and arguably the cigar that defines the brand for a great many smokers. In the universally beloved robusto format you get around forty-five minutes to an hour of beautifully balanced smoking: rich without being aggressive, with cedar, cocoa, cream and a signature grassy sweetness that lingers. It is medium in the most flattering sense — full of flavour, never punishing. The robusto size is the most popular vitola in the world for good reason, and Cohiba's version is one of the benchmarks against which others are judged. If you want the classic Cohiba experience in the most universally pleasing shape, start here.

In brief: medium · Cuba · Robusto format · . Shop the Cohiba Robustos →

6. Cohiba Medio Siglo

Introduced in 2017, the Medio Siglo (“half century”) is Cohiba's answer to the modern appetite for a shorter, thicker smoke. It pairs a stubby length with a robust 52 ring gauge, so despite needing only around thirty to forty minutes it delivers concentrated, full-flavoured Cohiba character — cocoa, coffee and that grassy sweetness in a punchy, satisfying package. It is the natural choice when time is short but you do not want to compromise on the marque, and it has quickly become a favourite among regulars who want flagship flavour on a weekday timescale. For more ideas in this format, see our guide to the best short-smoke cigars.

In brief: medium–full · Cuba · 52 ring gauge · . Shop the Cohiba Medio Siglo →

For richer, darker palates: the Maduro 5

7. Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos

The Maduro 5 line is Cohiba's darker, sweeter expression, wrapped in leaves aged for a minimum of five years — hence the name. The Secretos is the smallest of the three and the gentlest introduction to this side of the marque. The maduro wrapper brings a deeper, mellower sweetness: dark chocolate, espresso, a hint of dried fruit, all underpinned by the familiar Cohiba backbone. At around thirty minutes it is an excellent after-dinner short smoke, particularly alongside a coffee or a dessert wine. If you have enjoyed the classic Siglos and are curious how a maduro wrapper reshapes the profile, the Secretos is the ideal, lower-commitment place to find out.

In brief: medium · Cuba · Secretos format · . Shop the Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos →

8. Cohiba Maduro 5 Magicos

The Magicos sits in the middle of the Maduro 5 range and is, for many, its high point. A chunky 52 ring gauge over a comfortable length gives roughly an hour of deep, rounded smoking, with the aged maduro wrapper turning out rich dark chocolate, coffee, leather and a creamy sweetness that carries through the finish. It is fuller and more decadent than the classic Cohibas, yet remains polished rather than rough — the hallmark of properly aged Havana tobacco. This is a cigar for after a good dinner, or for the smoker who has worked through the Siglos and wants something with more weight and a darker character. A genuinely luxurious smoke.

In brief: medium–full · Cuba · 52 ring gauge · . Shop the Cohiba Maduro 5 Magicos →

The flagships: Esplendidos and Behike

9. Cohiba Esplendidos

If one cigar is shorthand for luxury, it is the Esplendidos. This Churchill format is the grand statement of the línea clásica — around an hour and a half of stately, refined smoke that has graced more famous occasions than almost any other cigar. Expect a beautifully balanced progression: cream, cedar, honey and cocoa early on, deepening to wood and a gentle leather as it develops. It is the cigar to mark a true milestone, and a perennial choice for a significant gift. The size demands an unhurried evening, so save it for when you can give it your full attention. For more on choosing a cigar as a present, see our guide on how to buy cigars as a gift.

In brief: medium–full · Cuba · Churchill format · . Shop the Cohiba Esplendidos →

10. Cohiba Behike 52

The Behike is the summit of the Cohiba range — and, for many, of Havana itself. What sets it apart is the inclusion of rare medio tiempo leaves, the small, intensely flavoured leaves from the very top of the tobacco plant that appear in only a fraction of crops. The result is extraordinary complexity and a depth you simply do not find elsewhere. The BHK 52 is the smallest of the three Behikes and the most accessible point of entry, offering around an hour of layered, powerful yet refined smoking: coffee, dark cocoa, spice, earth and a long, evolving finish. It is a serious cigar for the experienced palate and a once-in-a-while indulgence. Browse the full Cohiba collection to see current Behike availability.

In brief: full · Cuba · 52 ring gauge · . Shop the Cohiba Behike 52 →

11. Cohiba Behike 54

The middle Behike, and for many enthusiasts the definitive one. The BHK 54 takes everything the 52 does and gives it more room: roughly an hour and a quarter of profoundly complex smoke, the medio tiempo leaves lending a richness and concentration that builds steadily without ever losing its composure. Expect espresso, bitter chocolate, pepper, cedar and a deep earthiness, all in fine balance — this is full-flavoured smoking at the highest level, with the construction and draw to match. It is a collector's cigar and a connoisseur's reward, best kept for an occasion that deserves it. If you are building toward the very best Cohiba cigar in the range, the Behike 54 is where most aficionados would point you.

In brief: full · Cuba · 54 ring gauge · . Shop the Cohiba Behike 54 →

12. Cohiba Piramides Extra

Cohiba's piramide is a study in elegance: a tapered figurado head that concentrates the smoke and rewards a careful cut. The Piramides Extra runs to around an hour and a quarter and shows the marque at its most expressive — the shape draws out the cedar, cocoa and honeyed sweetness, then builds toward a fuller, woodier close. It is a connoisseur's choice for those who appreciate a figurado's particular character and want a Cohiba beyond the familiar parejos. A refined, rewarding smoke for an unhurried evening, and a fine alternative for the collector who already knows the Siglos and Robusto well.

In brief: medium–full · Cuba · Piramide (figurado) · . Shop the Cohiba Piramides Extra →

Which Cohiba should you buy?

If you want a short answer: begin with a Siglo I or Robusto to learn the house style, choose the Siglo IV as your everyday flagship, reach for the Siglo VI or Esplendidos for occasions, and treat a Behike as the once-a-year summit. New to Cuban cigars more broadly? Our guide to the best Cuban cigars for beginners is a useful companion, and you can compare the marque against others in our roundup of the best Cuban cigars to try in 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Which Cohiba is best for a beginner?

Start with a smaller, classic format such as the Siglo I or Siglo II, or the Robusto. They offer Cohiba's signature flavour at a more approachable size and price, without the intensity or expense of a Behike. They are short enough to enjoy as a first foray and consistent enough to show you exactly what the marque is about.

What is the difference between Cohiba Siglo and Behike?

The Siglo line is Cohiba's accessible, widely available core range, spanning small to large vitolas at sensible prices. The Behike is the limited flagship, blended with rare medio tiempo leaves for greater complexity and power, and priced accordingly. Think of Siglo as everyday Cohiba and Behike as the once-in-a-while summit.

Why are Cohiba cigars so expensive?

Cohiba uses a select grade of tobacco that undergoes an extra fermentation step unique to the marque, and the flagship Behike adds scarce medio tiempo leaves. Combined with limited production, world-class construction and the marque's standing as the flagship of Habanos, this places Cohiba at the premium end of the Cuban market.

How should I store my Cohiba cigars?

Keep them in a humidor at roughly 16–18°C and around 65–70% relative humidity to preserve construction and flavour. Cohibas, especially the Siglo VI and Behike, also age very well over years. For full guidance see our article on storing cigars.