Cohiba Puro Dominicana Robusto

Cohiba has a storied legacy in the cigar world. First developed in 1968, Cohiba became the flagship brand of the Cuban cigar industry. Many myths surround the brand—such as the belief that "Cohiba" was the Taino word for tobacco, but it actually referred to the rolled tobacco leaves smoked by indigenous peoples, essentially meaning “cigar.” According to Emilia Tamayo, director of Cuba’s exclusive El Laguito factory, the brand's roots trace back to the mid-1960s when one of Fidel Castro's bodyguards introduced him to cigars privately rolled by Eduardo Rivera. Castro enjoyed them so much that Rivera was asked to produce them exclusively for the president. Initially reserved for diplomatic gifts, the Cohiba name was eventually commercialized in 1982.

The Cohiba Puro Dominicana lives up to its name as a true Dominican puro—crafted entirely from Dominican-grown tobaccos. It features a toothy, oily Dominican Habano wrapper, a Dominican binder, and a core of rich Dominican long-fillers. What makes this cigar especially unique is the aging process: all tobaccos are matured en tercio—sealed in palm leaf-wrapped bales and stored in charcoaled barrels, which imparts a distinct oaky complexity. The cigars are then further aged post-roll to let the flavors marry and mellow. Medium to full-bodied, the Puro Dominicana offers a luxurious profile of chewy leather, sweet spice, and hints of wood and earth. For a truly elevated pairing, enjoy it with a pour of Diplomático Single Vintage 2007.

Though tobacco is indigenous to Hispaniola, the tobacco industry in the Dominican Republic existed in the shadow of Cuba’s dominance through the 1960s. When the exodus of Cuban cigar makers began in the wake of the revolution, many decided the Dominican Republic would be ideal for the resumption of their livelihoods. Unrest in Nicaragua in the 1980s fueled the Dominican cigar industry further. The country now makes more than half of the premium cigars imported into the U.S.

The Cibao Valley and the nearby city of Santiago are the center of cigar production in the Dominican Republic. Three main varieties are grown here: the mild and native Olor Dominicano; the intense Piloto Cubano, brought from the Vuelta Abajo of Cuba; and San Vicente, a milder and more acidic Piloto hybrid. Dominican puros were once unheard of as it was widely thought impossible to grow quality wrapper leaf on the island, but new growing techniques are now allowing some exceptional puros to be produced.