Cohiba Siglo II Review

Overview

The Cohiba Siglo II occupies a singular position in the pantheon of Cuban cigars: it is at once an entry point and a benchmark. Introduced in 1992 as part of the Línea 1492 Siglo series—a commemoration of the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the Americas—the Siglo II was never intended to overwhelm. Instead, it was designed to distill the essence of the Cohiba house style into a compact, precise format. At 5.1 inches long with a 42-ring gauge, this Corona vitola stands in quiet defiance of modern trends toward ever-thicker ring gauges. It is a purist’s argument that complexity and satisfaction are functions of blend and craftsmanship, not circumference.

The tobacco that animates the Siglo II is sourced entirely from the Vuelta Abajo region, the sacred ground of Cuban leaf cultivation. The wrapper—a shade-grown Tapado leaf composed of both Seco and Ligero—presents in a Colorado shade of medium brown, its surface silky, slightly oily, and finely toothed. Beneath it lies a Seco binder and a filler blend that includes Seco, Ligero, and the prized Medio Tiempo leaf, the latter a rare, sun-grown upper leaf that adds depth and intensity. All components undergo Cohiba’s signature triple-fermentation process, a regimen that strips away harshness while preserving aromatic nuance. The cigars are hand-rolled (Totalmente a Mano) at the El Laguito factory in Havana, an institution whose standards of construction remain the yardstick for the entire industry.

In performance, the Siglo II is exemplary. The burn is straight and even, the ash firm and pale grey, the draw precise and open—yielding dense, creamy smoke that concentrates flavor in the small ring gauge. The first third introduces refined cedar, light cream, and a subtle floral quality, undergirded by roasted almond and white pepper on the retrohale. By the second third, the Ligero and Medio Tiempo assert themselves: rich cocoa, buttered toast, dried fig and raisin, leather, and a persistent nuttiness. The final third tightens into espresso, dark chocolate, and a woody resinous note, finishing long, clean, and aromatic with a lingering cedar-and-cream aftertaste. It is a textbook arc of development, each phase purposeful and balanced.

Aging transforms the Siglo II into something transcendent. While enjoyable young, the cigar benefits profoundly from three to five years of box-aging post-purchase, with many aficionados considering five to ten years the sweet spot—the point at which the Ligero fully integrates and the blend achieves its final harmony. In an era where size is often mistaken for substance, the Siglo II endures as the connoisseur’s retort: a 45- to 55-minute meditation that rewards the patient, the attentive, and those who understand that greatness in a Havana cigar is measured not by inches, but by intention.