One, 1966 to 1989: From Secret Diplomatic Gift to the Final Coronation of the Churchill

To understand the position of Esplendidos, one must first look back at Cohiba's path toward the world.

1966: The El Laguito factory officially began production. At first, it produced Fidel Castro's personal cigars, made by a group of Havana's finest female rollers (torcedoras), reserved solely for Castro himself and for diplomatic gifts. The history of the El Laguito factory and Castro's secret cigar project are covered in greater detail in the complete Cohiba brand history in the W Cigar Bible.

1982: Cohiba was first released to the external market, timed around the World Cup held in Spain, symbolizing its official debut before the global premium market. The initial Línea Clásica had only three formats:

• Lanceros (Laguito No.1): 38 ring gauge × 192mm - slender and orchid-like, the most elegant diplomatic envoy
• Coronas Especiales (Laguito No.2): 38 ring gauge × 152mm - the ideal format for diplomatic gifting
• Panetelas (Laguito No.3): 26 ring gauge × 115mm - the slimmest Cohiba (discontinued)

These three cigars, named with "Laguito" formats, were custom-designed around the framework of the El Laguito factory and were not found in other Cuban brands. They represented Cohiba's earliest "diplomatic cigar" DNA. The Cohiba of 1982 was a light and slender brand - no large ring gauges, no Churchill, only the elegance of slim cigars.

1989: Habanos decided to expand Línea Clásica, adding three larger formats in response to the market:

• Robustos: 50 ring gauge × 124mm - answering the world's strong demand for large-ring Robusto cigars
• Exquisitos: 36 ring gauge × 125mm - a slender and unusual format, relatively uncommon
• Esplendidos: 47 ring gauge × 178mm - the flagship Churchill, crowning the entire series

At this point, the six Línea Clásica cigars covered a complete spectrum from 26 ring gauge (Panetelas) to 50 ring gauge (Robustos), and from 115mm (Panetelas) to 192mm (Lanceros). The role Esplendidos plays within this spectrum is this: to establish Cohiba's flagship authority through the stature of the Churchill format.

Two, The Churchill-Making Challenge at El Laguito

47 ring gauge × 178mm is a cigar of considerable difficulty to make.

Length challenge: 178mm (7 inches) requires the roller to maintain even filling from head to foot. Even for torcedores trained for years, achieving uniform filling over 7 inches is not simple. Too loose, and the cigar burns too quickly; too tight, and it becomes a plugged cigar. Both are common risks in making the Churchill format.

Ring gauge challenge: A 47 ring gauge depends more on rolling precision than a 50 ring gauge Robustos - even small irregularities in the bunching are more likely to show up as draw problems. By contrast, larger-ring cigars are, to a certain degree, more "forgiving."

To maintain Cohiba's top-tier standards, the El Laguito factory requires artisans who roll Esplendidos to reach a specific technical level, and every cigar must pass the strict inspection of the galera (factory quality-control master).

The tobacco blend of Esplendidos follows Cohiba's all-Vuelta Abajo principle:

• Wrapper: The finest Vuelta Abajo Colorado to Colorado Maduro, with an oily sheen
• Binder: Vuelta Abajo, providing full structural strength and balanced combustion
• Filler: A three-leaf blend (Ligero / Seco / Volado), with a higher proportion of Ligero than Robustos, but lower than the Medio Tiempo top-leaf blend of the Behike series

This blend places the strength of Esplendidos in the Medium to Medium-to-Full range - slightly heavier than Robustos, clearly lighter than Behike with its rare Medio Tiempo leaves, and a balanced choice within the Churchill format.

Three, Tasting Experience: A 90-Minute Three-Part Declaration

Cohiba Esplendidos is a cigar that requires sufficient time. Recommended tasting rhythm: one draw every 60-90 seconds, unhurried, allowing the craftsmanship of El Laguito to fully unfold over time.

First Third (First 30 Minutes)

The first third of Esplendidos opens in typical Cohiba fashion: a rich creamy base, the aroma of Spanish Cedar emerging, with occasional faint earthy notes. The oils of the wrapper slowly release under heat, giving the entire opening section a smooth texture.

Strength remains Mild-to-Medium in the first third. This is a deliberate design for the Churchill format - giving the smoker enough room to "warm up" and establish a baseline impression of the cigar. Do not be misled by the lightness of the opening; the soul of Esplendidos lies in the middle and final sections.

On the retrohale, the first third presents a fresh, sweet herbal tone that seems almost inconsistent with its Churchill volume - this is El Laguito's unique philosophy of a "light entrance," and also the first charming contradiction of Esplendidos.

Middle Third (30-60 Minutes)

Entering the middle third, Esplendidos begins to display its complexity. The creaminess gives way to deeper tones: dark spices (black pepper, clove), leather, and the nuttiness of roasted hazelnut. Strength rises to Medium, the smoke density increases, and every draw carries a richer texture.

This stage is where Esplendidos differs most clearly from other Churchills: it does not become heavy or oppressive. Instead, while increasing in complexity, it maintains a certain ethereal quality - precisely the core character of El Laguito craftsmanship.

Esplendidos aged for 2-3 years will show more layers of fruit in the middle third: dried plum, dark berries, and the faint sherry-like note unique to extended aging. This is the main reason many collectors specifically age Esplendidos.

Final Third (60-90 Minutes)

The final third of Esplendidos is its most distinctive stage. Strength rises to Medium-to-Full, dark spices dominate, earthy and leathery notes become more pronounced, and when the burn reaches the final 2-3 centimeters, the flavor of the entire cigar reaches a highly concentrated state.

If the first third is "the opening of a conversation," and the middle third is "the unfolding of the story," then the final third is "the conclusion of meaning." In these final 30 minutes, you understand why this cigar is worth an hour and a half of patience.

Burn management: At a normal rhythm, the burn line of Esplendidos should remain relatively even, with firm white ash. If uneven burning appears, the first correction can be made with a light touch. If it continues, it is recommended to slow the pace rather than accelerate.

Four, Comparison with Other Top-Tier Churchills

The Churchill format (approximately 47-50 ring gauge × 175-180mm) is one of the most representative formats in Cuban cigars:

Cohiba Esplendidos and Romeo y Julieta Churchill use the same Julieta No.2 format (47 × 178mm), but they are produced in different factories (EL vs. HM), with different tobacco blends, and therefore present entirely different styles. This is one of the most interesting concrete expressions of the Cuban cigar system's philosophy of "same format, different brand."

Five, Collection, Aging, and Storage

Esplendidos responds well to aging and is one of the Línea Clásica formats most worthy of long-term aging.

Enjoying shortly after purchase: At 3-6 months after leaving the factory, rest it in a humidor for 1 month before tasting; the floral notes in the first third will be at their freshest.

Best window: Aged 18-36 months, the creaminess deepens and fruit layers emerge. This is the sweet spot preferred by most collectors.

Advanced aging: More than 5 years, the flavors become highly concentrated, and the original floral aroma fully transforms into darker tones - suitable for connoisseurs who prefer complex mature flavors.

Storage conditions: 65-68% relative humidity, 16-18°C, Spanish Cedar humidor, avoiding direct light. Rotate positions every 6 months to ensure even maturation.

Anti-counterfeit warning: Cohiba is the most widely counterfeited Cuban brand in the world. Every box of Esplendidos is equipped with a Habanos Garantía holographic security seal, and the box bottom is stamped with the factory code (EL) and production date. The four major formal channels are the only guarantee of authenticity.

Six, Best Pairing Suggestions

Whisky: Highland 15-18 years (Dalmore 15, Glendronach 15) - honey and caramel complement the dark spices of the Esplendidos middle third well.

Cognac: Cognac XO or Extra (Rémy Martin XO, Hennessy Paradis) - similar body, with oak aromas highly compatible with the leather tones in the final third of Esplendidos.

Wine: Right Bank Bordeaux Pomerol or Saint-Émilion (Merlot-dominant) - soft fruit flavors create an elegant dialogue with the creamy layers of the first and middle thirds of Esplendidos.

Simplest pairing: Mineral water (still Evian or Volvic) - cleanses the palate, allowing each third's transition to return to a clear starting point.

Conclusion: The Period of Línea Clásica, and Also a Beginning

Among Cohiba's many series, Línea 1492 is rarer and Behike is more legendary, but Línea Clásica's Esplendidos represents a different kind of completeness - it is the cigar that "declared maturity" for this series in 1989, the largest and most ceremonial closing statement among the six Línea Clásica cigars.

An afternoon, a good chair, a Cohiba Esplendidos, and any whisky or cognac you treasure. After 90 minutes, you may not be able to fully describe what you tasted, but you will certainly know - it was worth it.

--

Source of procurement: Cuban cigars from the four major formal channels (PCC authorized dealers, official Cuban state-run stores, Swiss general distributor, Spanish general distributor).

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

Reserve an appreciation: https://share.google/d9NIeFEetij9qWKj0

This site is for adults aged 20 and above only. Smoking is harmful to health. Smoking cessation hotline: 0800-636363.

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