Cohiba Riviera Robusto

Introduced in 2023, the Cohiba Riviera broke several rules for the non-Cuban Cohiba brand. It was the first Cohiba made with a Mexican San Andrés wrapper and the brand’s first box-pressed cigar. The Robusto later earned 92 points from Cigar Aficionado and ranked No. 20 on its Top 25 Cigars of 2024, making it the first non-Cuban Cohiba ever to appear on that annual list. Made in Nicaragua, the 5 x 52 Robusto pairs its dark Mexican San Andrés wrapper with a Honduran Broadleaf binder and Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. The result is medium-to-full-bodied and wonderfully layered, with chocolate, oak, leather, and spice giving way to a sweeter, nutty finish. Despite its richness, the blend remains polished rather than overpowering. Duckhorn Three Palms Merlot is a luxurious match. The wine’s ripe dark fruit and velvety texture soften the cigar’s earthier qualities, while its oak and structure complement the Riviera’s chocolate, leather, and spice. It’s an elegant pairing worthy of one of Cohiba’s most distinctive modern releases.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.