Quill & Pad
  • Home
  • Articles
  • About
  • Glossary
  • Contact
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

Two faces, Two dials, Two identities

High performance escapement with
“triple pare-chute” protection

Limited edition of 10 pieces

Cohiba Maduro 5: Some Of The Most Faked Cigars In The World (For Good Reason)

by Ken Gargett

There is a thriving industry in faking the great paintings of the world, the finest wines, and the most popular wristwatches. Caveat emptor.

You can also add cigars to that list. Anyone who has ever bought a glass-topped box of Cohibas should be aware that they are as genuine as the proverbial three-dollar bill.

Visitors to Havana are inevitably thronged by locals offering cheap cigars. Usually, the story is that they have a cousin/brother/uncle/best friend working on the factory floor as a roller and they have smuggled these out. And now you are the lucky beneficiary.

If I had a box of cigars for every time someone has insisted that the cigars they got in the back alley really are legit . . .

The most “faked” producer is undoubtedly Cohiba. After all, it is seen as the pinnacle of Cuban cigars, the house that brings the highest prices. So why not fake the best?

Among those that suffer this fate are the Cohiba Maduro 5 range.

Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos

We’ve looked at Cohiba before, the legendary brand that began when Fidel Castro’s bodyguard offered him a cigar. The cigar was a fuma, rolled for personal use. In this case, it was rolled by Eduardo Ribera and he had shared some with his friends. Fidel loved it, and a legend was born.

In an interview with Marvin Shanken, founder of Cigar Aficionado, the magazine that massively boosted the popularity of cigars back in the 1990s, Castro recounted the story: “I used to see the man smoking a very aromatic, very nice cigar, and I asked him what brand he was smoking. He told me that it was a special blend, but that it came from a friend who makes cigars and he gave them to him. I said, let’s find this man. I tried the cigar, and I found it so good that we got in touch with him and asked him how he made it. Then we set up the house, and he explained the blend of tobacco he used. He told which leaves he used from which tobacco plantations. He also told us about the wrappers he used and other things. We found a group of cigar makers. We gave them the material and that is how the factory was founded. Now Cohiba is known all over the world.”

El Laguito cigar factory in Cuba

The “house” Castro mentions is the El Laguito factory, a beautiful old Spanish-style mansion on the edge of Havana, definitely worth a visit though it is rarely open to the public. The cigar was a Lancero. Others followed.

Originally, the Cohiba range was reserved for Castro, elite government officials, and as diplomatic gifts. Word leaked, and cigar lovers the world over were keen to try these almost mythical cigars.

Eventually, in 1982, Cohibas were released commercially (in conjunction with the 1982 World Cup of soccer). First, the Panatela, Corona Especial, and Lancero; the Robusto, Exquisito and Espléndido were added in 1989. The year 1992 saw the first of the Siglo range.

And then, in 2007, the Maduro 5 collection. The Behike range was subsequently added in 2010.

Cohiba’s Maduro 5: Genios, Mágicos, Secretos

By chance, friends and I were in Cuba for a fishing trip timed to coincide with the annual Cigar Festival, when the Maduro 5s were released. Naturally, we didn’t miss the chance to attend the launch. I still have a small presentation box with the three cigars from the event and returned home with a box of the Genios.

The Maduro 5 consists of three cigars – all using maduro leaf as wrapper, one that gives the cigars a much darker, almost chocolaty appearance. These are upper leaves that, as all do, have been through fermentation but have seen five years of ageing, more than twice the norm.

Cohiba cigars go through three fermentation steps, whereas all other brands only put their cigars through two. The binder and filler have been aged three years. All three cigars were released in boxes of 10 and 25.

The three cigars are the Genios (52 x 140 mm – robusto extra), Mágicos (52 x 115 mm – petit robusto), and Secretos (40 x 100 mm – petit corona).

Cohiba Maduro 5 Genios Cuban cigars

I love the Genios, but I will confess that petit corona is not my preferred size. That said, when I have a Secreto or another petit corona such as the Por Larranaga, I almost always love it (I think I have an innate bias to the size).

Cohiba Maduro 5 Mágicos Cuban cigars

A further confession: I have not seen a Mágico for a very long time. But I did look at the other two very recently: the Genios from my 2007 box, giving it more than enough time to show us whether these are likely to age well, and the Secretos from a friend, a much younger cigar.

The Genios was, I believe, everything that Habanos must have hoped it would become when they released it. Lovely color and aromas of honey, cinnamon, and coconut with just a whiff of nougat. Quite powerful but lively, very fresh, yet complex. Some lovely chocolate emerged.

A rich, powerful cigar with great length. Stellar! No concerns at all about the ageing potential. I’m sure it still has a brilliant future ahead of it.

Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos cigar

The Secretos was also quite powerful with notes of dark plums and chocolate. Intense, it was like a little flavor bomb. Dark berries emerged. Really loved it. I give them both 94, for those who like scores.

The Cohiba Maduro 5 range is definitely worth investigating and including in your humidor.

Finally, if you are keen to avoid falling foul of the counterfeiters, stick to the authorized stores in Havana. Sure they cost more, but you can be certain the cigars are genuine and not from your new best friend’s neighbor’s cousin.

Prices for boxes of 25 range as follows: Secretos $290, Mágicos $580, and Genios $630.

For more information please visit www.habanos.com/en.

You may also enjoy:

Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva Cigars Bring Tears To A Glass Eye

Believe The Hype: The Cohiba Talismán Limited Edition 2017 Cigars Are Spectacular

Partagás Edición Limitada Series No. 1: Worthy Of The Limited Edition Name?

Partagás Lusitania Cigars: Reliably Top Notch

6 replies
  1. Gary Lebrecht
    Gary Lebrecht says:
    December 15, 2020 at 2:26 pm

    Would like a catalog of your cigar product
    3165 N. Atlantic Avenue A-107
    Cocoa Beach, Fl 32931

    Reply
    • ken gargett
      ken gargett says:
      December 15, 2020 at 11:36 pm

      Hi Gary. I write about them. I don’t sell them. you could try http://www.friendsofhabanos.com.

      Reply
  2. ARB Cuentatiempos
    ARB Cuentatiempos says:
    September 8, 2021 at 2:27 pm

    Hay que ver desde dentro de la fábrica como todo es un timo gigante. Llegan pacas de tabaco de mil lugares de Cuba y a enrollar tabaco a toda velocidad. Salen buenos por la calidad de la hoja cubana pero seguro ese que te venden por fuera es igual de aromatico y bueno de fumar. Incluso a veces mas aun. Pues el tabaquero que lo prepara se esmera mas para poder venderlo de contrabando despues.

    Reply
    • ken gargett
      ken gargett says:
      September 9, 2021 at 11:43 am

      thank you for your response. unfortunately i don’t speak spanish but from what i could make out, you might be interested in another piece we have coming up in the next week or two, on blending and rolling. if you can translate your response, happy to reply.

      Reply
      • Mike
        Mike says:
        January 12, 2023 at 5:06 am

        TRANSLATION – You have to see from inside the factory how everything is a giant scam. Bales of tobacco arrive from a thousand places in Cuba and they roll tobacco at full speed. They come out good because of the quality of the Cuban leaf but surely the one that they sell you outside is just as aromatic and good to smoke. Even sometimes even more. Well, the tobacconist who prepares it works harder to be able to sell it contraband later. Not about rolling.

        Reply
        • ken gargett
          ken gargett says:
          January 12, 2023 at 6:04 am

          Thanks Mike. appreciate the help. It is an interesting perspective about the factory rolled cigars and those from outside. My experience, and i have spent time in the factories, on the farms and also talking with the guys selling on the street and occasionally smoking some of their ‘cigars’. I could not disagree more with this. The cigars you can buy on the street are certainly a lot cheaper and there is a very, very small chance that they might be cigars pinched from the factories pinched by rollers and sold by relatives or friends but the reality is that probably 99% are not. they do not have access to the quality tobacco, do not have the skills and very often they will “include” newspaper rolled up inside, or leaves of non-tobacco plants (banana leaves and the like). sometimes things much, much less desirable. the difference in quality is day and night. sure, buy a couple if you want a fun souvenir or want something to give to mates who would not have a clue as to the difference but if you want quality cigars, stick to the factory rolled cigars.
          if you think that the guys on the street have the same ability to roll a great cigar as a hamlet or many of the other top rollers, let alone have access to the same quality that these guys have, go for your life. but if you are at all serious about a good cigar, forget it.

          Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

  • Watch Brands & Horology
    • New for 2025
    • New for 2024
    • New for 2023
    • Affordable Luxury
      • Swatch
      • Ball Watch
      • Louis Erard
      • Gorilla Fastback
      • Ikepod
      • Oris
      • Reservoir
    • Auctions
    • Behind the Lens
    • Boutiques
    • Collectors and Collecting
    • Events, Fairs & Exhibitions
    • Give Me Five!
    • History
    • Quill & Pad
    • Round Table
    • The Naked Watchmaker
    • Thoughts & Opinion
    • Video
    • WatchCharts
    • Wrist Watching
    • A. Lange & Söhne
    • AHCI
    • Akrivia
    • Andersen Genève
    • Alexandre Meerson
    • Andreas Strehler
    • Angelus
    • Antoine Martin
    • Antoine Preziuso
    • Armin Strom
    • Arnold & Son
    • Audemars Piguet
      • Royal Oak Offshore
    • Bélier
    • Bell & Ross
    • Blancpain
    • Bovet
    • Breguet
    • Bremont
    • Breitling
    • Bulgari
    • Carl F. Bucherer
    • Cartier
    • Chanel
    • Chopard
    • Christiaan Van Der Klaauw
    • Christophe Claret
    • Chronoswiss
    • Clocks
    • Corum
    • Cyrus
    • Czapek & Cie
    • De Bethune
    • de Grisogono
    • Derek Pratt
    • Dior
    • Divers' Watches
    • Eberhard
    • Emmanuel Bouchet
    • Fabergé
    • Ferdinand Berthoud
    • Fiona Krüger
    • F.P. Journe
    • Franck Muller
    • Garrick
    • Gérald Genta
    • Girard-Perregaux
    • Glashütte Original
    • GoS
    • Graff
    • Graham
    • Greubel Forsey
    • Grieb & Benzinger
    • Grönefeld
    • H. Moser & Cie
    • Habring2
    • Hajime Asaoka
    • Harry Winston
    • Hautlence
    • Hermès
    • Hublot
    • HYT
    • Independents
    • IWC
    • Jaeger-LeCoultre
    • Jaquet Droz
    • Jean Daniel Nicolas
    • Jean Dunand
    • Kari Voutilainen
    • Kees Engelbarts
    • Kobold
    • Konstantin Chaykin
    • Kudoke
    • Ladies watches
    • Lang & Heyne
    • Laurent Ferrier
    • Linde Werdelin
    • Louis Moinet
    • Louis Vuitton
    • Ludovic Ballouard
    • Manufacture Royale
    • Maurice Lacroix
    • MB&F
    • McGonigle
    • Ming Watches
    • Montblanc
    • Moritz Grossmann
    • Nomos Glashütte
    • Ochs und Junior
    • Officine Panerai
    • Omega
    • Parmigiani
    • Patek Philippe
    • Paul Gerber
    • Philippe Dufour
    • Piaget
    • Pocket watches
    • Rebellion
    • Ressence
    • RGM
    • Richard Mille
    • Roger Dubuis
    • Roger W Smith
    • Roland Iten
    • Rolex
    • Romain Gauthier
    • Romain Jerome
    • Sarpaneva
    • Schwarz-Etienne
    • Seiko
    • Silberstein
    • Singer Reimagined
    • Soviet / Eastern Europe watches
    • Speake-Marin
    • Struthers
    • Tag Heuer
    • Tudor
    • Tutima
    • Ulysse Nardin
    • Urban Jürgensen
    • Urwerk
    • Vacheron Constantin
    • Van Cleef & Arpels
    • Vianney Halter
    • Vintage
    • Wempe Glashütte
    • Zenith
  • Luxury, Experiences, Science & Nature
    • Arts
    • Book reviews
    • Cars
      • Porsche
    • Fashion & Grooming
    • Jewelry
    • Nature
    • Photo Captions
    • Photography
    • Science
    • Shoes
    • Sports
    • Technology
    • Travel
    • Wining, Dining and Cigars
    • Writing instruments
      • Caran d’Ache
      • Grayson Tighe
      • Montblanc
      • Montegrappa
  • General
    • Featured
    • Highlights
© Copyright - Quill & Pad - Enfold Theme by Kriesi
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT