I. El Laguito 1966: The Secret Beginning

The birth of Cohiba is itself a story that was kept secret for many years.

In 1966, Fidel Castro's bodyguard Bienvenido Perez, known as "Chicho", handed Castro a cigar rolled by a friend for him to taste. Castro immediately noticed the exceptional quality of the cigar and ordered that the roller be found -- a torcedor named Eduardo Rivera.

Afterward, Habanos established a secret factory at the El Laguito estate in the suburbs of Havana, dedicated to producing top-grade cigars for diplomatic use by the Castro government. These cigars initially had no official brand name until 1969, when they were formally named "Cohiba" -- a word from the Taino Indigenous language meaning "tobacco" itself.

The El Laguito factory (factory code: EL) is Cohiba's permanent core place of production. The six classic vitolas of the Linea Clasica -- Lanceros, Coronas Especiales, Panetelas, Robustos, Esplendidos, Coronas -- all come from the hands of EL's top torcedores. El Laguito was initially led mainly by female cigar rollers, and this tradition continues to this day, making it one of the most symbolic factories in Cuba's tobacco system.

Only in 1982 did Cohiba begin limited public sales; in 1992 it became fully international, entering the global duty-free market. From secret to throne, this process took a full 26 years.

II. Sixty-Year Milestone: Cohiba's Key Timeline

Cohiba Behike is one of the most significant milestones in recent years. Launched in 2010, the BHK series centers its blend on the rare Medio Tiempo leaf (a special upper leaf that grows only at the top of the tobacco plant, with only two leaves per plant and the highest nicotine content), with the three formats BHK 52, BHK 54, and BHK 56 symbolizing another breakthrough in Cohiba's craftsmanship. The 2024 BHK 58 limited edition further extended this legend and served as an important prelude to the 60th anniversary.

III. The 2026 Festival Turmoil: The Tension of Cohiba Year in an Era of Sanctions

As planned, the 26th Festival del Habano was to be held grandly in Havana from February 23 to 27, 2026, with Cohiba's sixtieth anniversary as its theme. The organizers announced in advance that tickets had sold out through the Habanos S.A. global distribution network, setting the fastest sell-out record in the event's history.

However, on February 14, 2026, a notice shattered all expectations: Festival del Habano XXVI was announced as postponed, with the new date undetermined.

The official statement cited "the economic, commercial, and financial blockade policies continuously strengthened by the United States government, causing Cuba to face complex economic difficulties" as the reason for the postponement. This is directly related to the sanctions escalation under EO 14404, which officially took effect on May 1, 2026 -- the pressure of U.S. secondary sanctions on Cuba has placed the island's tourism logistics, foreign exchange supply chain, and external reception capacity under comprehensive strain.

Across the global cigar community, this postponement triggered widespread disappointment: what should have become the grandest Festival in Cohiba's history was forced to press pause on the eve of its peak. As a result, the anticipated release plan for the Cohiba 60 Aniversario limited cigars still has no officially announced specific vitola or specification details.

IV. Confirmed Developments for the 60th Anniversary Celebration

Although the Festival has been postponed, the pace of Cohiba's 60th anniversary celebration has not completely stopped.

Official Cuban Celebration (March 12, 2026): The Cuban government and Habanos S.A. jointly held the Cohiba 60th anniversary commemorative ceremony, formally confirming this brand's diamond anniversary milestone in Havana. Although the scale of this ceremony was far from that of the Festival, it carried important official symbolic significance.

S.T. Dupont Collaborative Accessories (launched in June 2026): The French luxury lighter and leather goods brand S.T. Dupont launched a limited collaborative series themed around Cohiba's 60th anniversary. The first products officially entered global boutiques in June 2026, coinciding with the week this article was written. This collaboration continues the decades-long brand alliance between S.T. Dupont and Cohiba, with deep cooperation at every important anniversary. For gentlemen collectors in Taiwan, this is currently one of the most immediate 60th anniversary commemorative items available.

Year-Long "Cohiba Year" Plan: Habanos S.A. has clearly stated that the entire year of 2026 will center on Cohiba, with limited items, cultural activities, and experience programs to be launched at multiple points throughout the year. The Festival's postponement is not a cancellation; the entire Cohiba Year plan remains in progress.

V. Collector's Perspective: The Art of Waiting for 60 Aniversario

For members of the W Cigar Bar gentlemen's club, Cohiba's 60th anniversary in 2026 brings a special collecting opportunity -- and also a moment that tests patience.

Looking Back at 50 Aniversario (2016): Cohiba 50 Aniversario was released in the form of an Edicion Limitada, using a Medio Tiempo upper-leaf blend and presented in a special format, with extremely limited global allocations. From its 2016 release price to today, it has appreciated significantly on the international auction market, becoming one of the most successful limited Cuban investment items of recent years.

Possible Direction for 60 Aniversario: Habanos S.A. has a consistent pattern in the design of major commemorative editions -- irregular formats (Piramides, Salomon, or an entirely new vitola), a Medio Tiempo blend, special packaging craftsmanship (SLB cedar slide-lid boxes or custom wooden cases), and limited rolling by the very top torcedores of El Laguito. Although the official items have not yet been announced, it can be expected that once the Festival is held again or the annual plan moves forward, formal release news will follow.

Suggested Strategy: Continue to follow the latest news through W Cigar Bar's PCC Authorized Dealer channel. Once a limited release is confirmed, the first-hand acquisition window often opens for only a few weeks. Cohiba enthusiasts in Taiwan should confirm reservation intentions with the venue in advance.

Conclusion: Sixty Years Later, the Lights of El Laguito Still Shine

In 1966, an unnamed cigar hidden in a bodyguard's pocket ignited the spark of the world's greatest cigar brand. Sixty years later, the torcedores of El Laguito still stand at the same rolling tables, passing on that ancient glory with their hands.

Festival del Habano has been postponed, EO 14404 sanctions have escalated, and Cuba's economic difficulties are real -- but Cohiba's tobacco leaves continue to mature in the humidity and temperature of the EL factory, and sixty years of legend will not have its essence changed by external political storms.

For every gentleman who truly understands this brand, the wait in 2026 is itself a form of tribute.

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Supply sources: Cuban cigars through four regular official channels (PCC Authorized Dealer - Cuban official state-run stores - Swiss general distributor - Spanish general distributor).

LUBINSKI accessories official website: https://cigarclub.tw/

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W Cigar Bar Gentlemen's Cigar Lounge, written and planned by Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai.