Over the past couple years, I have been looking to expand my regular cigar smoking rotation and thought to start with vitolas of different sizes.
Usually I reach for a robusto or cigars with a ringe gauge of 50 or larger, but figured I should start with a premium selection and work my way through them. The Cohiba Robusto has been one of my favourites for many years. So I decided to explore the Cohiba Siglo Linea further, especially since I have always enjoyed a Siglo VI.
What is a Cohiba Siglo IV?
The Cohiba Siglo IV is part of the Cohiba cigars Siglo collection, launched in 1994 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in Cuba, which includes cigars of various sizes and medium to full-bodied flavours. Plus there is the exceptional craftsmanship that comes with the Cohiba line.
After many enjoyable Cohiba Siglos, I found myself returning to the Siglo IV and eventually purchasing some boxes for my collection to age and smoke regularly.
The differentiator was they were less bitter and harsh even when fresh and overall smoother than the rest of the Linea, which led me to the conclusion they required the least amount of age to be enjoyed fully. After this journey of discovery, I am happy to enjoy another and share a review of the Cohiba Siglo IV.
Box of Cohiba Siglo IVs. Image by Emad Chibli.
What Is the Price of the Cohiba Siglo IV?
Fans of Cuban cigars surely have noticed the increase in prices over the past few years. The Cohiba Siglo IV used to be priced between CAD$65-$70. That price now is CAD$115. Habanos S.A., the state-owned Cuba tobacco company, greatly increased prices of Cohiba and Trinidad cigars (their flagship brands), leading some aficionados to ditch Cuban cigars for lesser-priced Nicaraguan product, for example.
What’s lacking these days, according to Usama Murtazi, management director of The Casablanca Tobacconist in Toronto, is education, since Cuban cigars are still superior, and there are many brands, like Quai D’Orsay, Ramon Allones, and Bolivar, at the price point that the Cohiba Siglo IV used to be at.
Ask yourself – how many of us are that sophisticated where we can tell the difference between a Cohiba and a Bolivar?
“That price tag is way too high for some people, these days,” he says. “If you are still liking a higher end Cuban cigar, you are still used to that Cuban taste, you are going to a lower price point, but you are staying within Cubans, staying in the same flavour profile. The one brand that stayed relatively the same [in terms of pricing] was Bolivar. A robusto Cohiba, the same size, is 2.5 times the price. If you want to smoke a really good Cuban cigar you don’t have to go Cohiba. Is the Cohiba 2.5 times the cigar?”
Cohiba Siglo IV Size
- Size: 46 x 143 (Corona Gordas)
- Vitola: Grand Corona
- Package: Cab of 25 SLB
- Factory & Date Code: LGR JUN 19
- Storage: 62% Relative Humidity & 65 Degrees
- Smoking Time: 50 minutes
- Pairing: Weller Antique 107 (Bourbon – retail price $55)
Cuban cigar selection, Casablanca Tobaconnist. Image by Mark Keast.
Cuban cigar box code. Image by Mark Keast.
How Can You Tell Your Cohiba Siglo IV Is a Fake?
If you’ve spent the moeny but you are worried the Cohiba Siglo IV is a fake, Murtaza at the Casablanca Tobaconnist recommends taking the following precautions.
1. Purchase from a reputable source, or an authorized Habanos S.A. retailer. 2. Check the cigar band for the holographic Taino Indian head (smaller head within the larger one, creating a head-within-head effect), checkerboard pattern (nine rows of white squares in a checkerboard pattern running from the gilded edge to the solid gold line on the band). 3. Ensure the band’s printing is sharp, with no mismatched colours or blurry edges.
4. And always inspect the packaging – Cohiba Siglo IV cigars come in varnished slide-lid boxes of 25, display boxes of 15, and aluminum-tubed cigars in packs of three. They are never sold in glass-top or clear-lid boxes.
Look for the official Habanos S.A. label, Cuban guarantee seal, and a barcode on the box’s edge. These should be factory-applied, not loose stickers. The barcode can be scanned or entered on the Habanos website (www.habanos.com) to verify authenticity. Authentic boxes also have a factory and date code on the bottom, indicating production details.
How Do I Keep My Cohiba Siglo IV Fresh?
A Cuban cigar is an investment, so you’ll want to make sure you maximize the experience when you light it up. If you aren’t planning on smoking it as soon as you leave the cigar shop, then you need to keep it fresh until you do smoke it.
How do you keep the cigar fresh? Store cigars in a humidor, ideally at 65-70% relative humidity and 65-70°F. Use a quality humidor with a reliable hygrometer and humidification device, Make sure you check levels regularly. Distilled water or propylene glycol solutions work best for humidification to prevent mold. Avoid over-humidifying, as excess moisture can damage cigars.
Organize your cigars in the humidor to ensure proper air circulation, avoiding tight packing. Separate different cigar types to prevent flavor mixing, as Cuban cigars have strong, distinct profiles. Rotate cigars periodically to ensure even humidification. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight or extreme temperature fluctuations, which can dry out or over-moisten cigars.
If traveling, use a sealed travel humidor with a small humidification device.
Cuban cigars box. Image by Mark Keast.
Cuban cigars box label. Image by Mark Keast.
Cohiba Siglo IV paired with Old Weller Antique 107. Image by Emad Chibli.
Four Stages of a Cigar Experience
Pre-light – Cohiba Siglo IV
This cigar had a minor crack on the foot, but otherwise construction looked very balanced when examining it out of the box. I decided to go with a straight cut, which I find is ideal for a 46 ring gauge. Before lighting a cigar, I will always take a cold draw to evaluate to potential draw. The cold draw was open and earthy flavours were evident.
I decided to pair this Cohiba Siglo IV with one of my favourite bourbons – Old Weller Antique 107. OWA offers flavours of burnt caramel, subtle peppery spice and a low heat burn to finish making it an ideal pairing for a medium strength cigar.
First Third of Cigar – Cohiba Siglo IV
From the first few puffs, I was able to taste the classic Cohiba profile of buttercream. Overall, to start, the flavours were mild and had hints of pepper and licorice. Some minor burn issues were experienced, requiring two touch ups to even the burn.
First third of the cigar. Image by Emad Chibli.
Second Third of Cigar – Cohiba Siglo IV
The cigar really opened up here, gaining strength and flavour. A bit of harshness was present, showing the young age of the cigar. At this point I was picking up earthy and woody flavours, just as I was from the cold draw, with a sweet finish, allowing it to pair well with the bourbon. Burn issues were no longer there and the Cohiba Siglo IV was well balanced, providing lots of smoke.
Second third of the cigar. Image by Emad Chibli.
Final Third of Cigar – Cohiba Siglo IV
The momentum continued and the draw was full of smoke with a perfect burn. Silky creamy Cohiba flavours brought out the final stage of enjoyment, providing a medium strength. The ash on the final third held very well, with a tighter and slower burn.
Final third of the cigar. Image by Emad Chibli.
Is Cohiba Siglo IV Worth the Money?
Once again the Cohiba Siglo IV lived up to my high expectations. Although the first third needed some help with the burn, the cigar opened up. An excellent burn delivered an enjoyable smoking experience.
Rating: 5 categories – 20 points/category for a total score out of 100
- Construction 20/20
- Draw 18/20
- Burn 17/20
- Flavour 19/20
- Complexity 17/20
- TOTAL RATING 91/100
Top image of a Cohiba Siglo IV at The Casablanca Tobacconist in Toronto by Mark Keast
Cohiba Siglo IV and Old Weller Antique 107 bourbon, image by Emad Chibli.
Emad’s passion for cigars started in 2008 as a celebration of a success in sales. After each win, Emad would light up a cigar to bask in the moment and enjoy it to the fullest.
His journey with cigars started with New World Cigars, primarily Nicaraguan and Dominican. After many trips to Cuba and an opportunity to discover the range of Habanos offerings, Emad found his taste had evolved and that Cuban cigars were the ideal blends for his palate.
Amongst his international travels, he explored various tobacconists and cigar lounges in Europe and Asia. In 2016, Emad and a couple friends opened a luxury cigar boutique and he become a tobacconist himself to share his passion and vision with the cigar community in the Greater Toronto Area.
Shortly afterwards, in 2017, he became a Habanos Specialist to gain a valuable certification and a level of in-depth Cuban cigar knowledge to be shared.
Emad is an active member of international cigar communities and enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge with others, while continuing to learn, embracing new cigar experiences on his journey.
