The Cohiba Short is a compact cigar format that brings the identity of the Cuban Cohiba brand into a much smaller presentation. Measuring approximately 82 mm in length with a 26 ring gauge, it is considerably shorter and narrower than the traditional Cohiba vitolas such as the Robusto or Siglo VI. Habanos has specifically presented Cohiba Short as a compact format within the brand's broader portfolio.
Its small dimensions are central to its character. Rather than providing the longer progression associated with larger handmade cigars, the Cohiba Short is designed around a brief format in which the tobacco blend is experienced over a relatively short period.
The Origins of Cohiba
Cohiba has its origins in Cuba in 1966, when the brand was created and initially reserved for official gifts to government figures and visiting diplomats. International commercialization began in 1982. The brand has historically been produced at the El Laguito factory in Havana.
The name Cohiba comes from an old Taíno term associated with rolled tobacco leaves. Habanos connects the word with the tobacco observed by Christopher Columbus in Cuba in 1492.
Although the Cohiba portfolio has expanded considerably since its creation, the brand remains closely associated with Cuban tobacco, hand craftsmanship, and carefully selected leaves.
What Is the Cohiba Short Format?
The Cohiba Short measures approximately 82 mm long with a 26 ring gauge. These dimensions place it firmly in the compact cigar category.
The relatively small ring gauge means there is less tobacco volume than in larger Cohiba formats. This affects the physical characteristics of the smoke, combustion, and the amount of time available for the blend to develop.
By comparison, a Cohiba Robusto measures 124 mm by 50 ring gauge, while the Siglo VI measures approximately 150 mm by 52 ring gauge. The Cohiba Short therefore represents a substantially more compact interpretation of the brand's tobacco character.
Tobacco Origins
Cohiba's tobacco is associated with the Vuelta Abajo region of Pinar del Río, one of Cuba's principal tobacco-growing areas. Habanos identifies San Juan y Martínez and San Luis as important districts supplying selected leaves for Cohiba production.
San Juan y Martínez has a particular reputation for filler and binder tobacco, while San Luis is especially associated with wrapper production. The combination of these tobacco-growing areas contributes to the raw material used across the Cohiba portfolio.
Agricultural factors such as soil, climate, seed varieties, cultivation, harvesting, and tobacco processing can all influence the characteristics of the final leaf.
Cohiba's Distinctive Tobacco Processing
One of the most notable characteristics of Cohiba production is its additional fermentation process.
Habanos states that two of the three types of leaves used in Cohiba's filler, seco and ligero, undergo additional fermentation. The company associates this treatment with the brand's characteristic aroma and flavor.
This additional processing is part of what distinguishes Cohiba within the Habanos portfolio. Fermentation can alter the chemical and physical properties of tobacco, influencing aroma, flavor, color, and combustion characteristics.
It is important to distinguish this production characteristic from the size of the Cohiba Short itself. The short format changes the physical smoking conditions, while the tobacco processing contributes to the underlying character of the blend.
Construction and Manufacturing
Cohiba cigars are produced using traditional Cuban hand-rolling methods. Habanos describes the brand's vitolas as “Totalmente a mano”, meaning totally handmade.
The craftsmanship involved in cigar production includes selecting and preparing tobacco leaves, assembling the filler and binder, applying the wrapper, and finishing the cigar.
Construction matters particularly in a small format. Because the Cohiba Short is considerably smaller than most traditional Cohiba vitolas, differences in tobacco arrangement and combustion can have a noticeable effect on its overall character.
Flavor Characteristics
The Cohiba Short shares the broader tobacco identity associated with Cohiba, but its compact dimensions mean the experience is different from that of a larger Cohiba cigar.
Cohiba's Línea Clásica is officially categorized by Habanos as medium to full strength, while the Línea 1492 is classified as medium.
Flavor descriptions associated with Cohiba can include woody, earthy, roasted, herbal, spicy, and aromatic notes. However, the precise experience can vary according to tobacco crop, aging, storage, construction, and individual perception.
With a short cigar, there is also less time for the smoking character to evolve through multiple stages. This makes the format fundamentally different from longer Cohiba cigars, where the blend can develop over a more extended period.
Cohiba Short Compared With Larger Formats
The easiest way to understand the Cohiba Short is to consider its dimensions alongside other Cohiba formats.
The Cohiba Short is approximately 82 mm by 26 ring gauge, making it highly compact. The Cohiba Robusto, at 124 mm by 50 ring gauge, provides substantially more tobacco and a broader diameter. The Siglo VI, at approximately 150 mm by 52 ring gauge, offers another significant increase in both length and ring gauge.
These differences influence the physical behavior of each cigar. Larger formats generally provide more tobacco and greater scope for the blend to develop, while compact formats emphasize a shorter and more concentrated presentation.
Key Characteristics of the Cohiba Short
Several features define the format:
Compact dimensions: Approximately 82 mm in length and 26 ring gauge.
Cuban Cohiba heritage: The brand dates back to 1966.
Traditional production: Cohiba cigars are made entirely by hand.
Vuelta Abajo tobacco: Selected leaves are associated with San Juan y Martínez and San Luis in Pinar del Río.
Additional fermentation: Seco and ligero filler leaves receive additional fermentation according to Habanos.
Compact smoking format: Its small dimensions distinguish it from larger Cohiba vitolas.
Final Perspective
The Cohiba Short demonstrates how the character of a major cigar brand can be expressed through a very compact format. Its 82 mm length and 26 ring gauge make it physically distinct from Cohiba's larger Robusto and Siglo formats, while its connection to Cuban tobacco and Cohiba's traditional production methods gives it a clear place within the wider portfolio.
Its tobacco origins, additional fermentation, handmade construction, and compact dimensions all contribute to the characteristics associated with the format.
As with all tobacco products, cigar smoking carries established health risks, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Information about cigar history, construction, or flavor characteristics does not reduce those risks. {https://cohibaclub.co.uk/product/cohiba-short-100/}
