Cuaba

About

Cuaba Cigars The distinctive shape of Cuaba cigars, and the fact that the entire vitolario of the brand is presented as such, is unusual in the Cuban cigar world. The Perfecto format – the name given to cigars which have both head and foot tapered to a point – is the most difficult to roll, and only achievable by the most skilled and experienced of torcedores . While some brands use the format occasionally for special releases – such as Partagas and Hoyo de Monterrey for their La Casa del Habano Exclusive cigars – Cuaba is the only brand whose whole identity is formed around this magnificent shape. It has not always been the case that these formats were so unusual. Once upon a time, more than a hundred years ago at the end of the 19 th century, the vast majority of cigars were produced this way. Market preference was overwhelmingly swayed towards this shape, and the nuances it brings to the flavour and performance of a cigar. Sadly, the difficulties in their creation gradually turned into expense for their production, and the market was unable to bear the increased cost of producing such cigars in the volumes smokers demanded. Straight-sided sticks – known as parejos – soon took over the industry, and the Perfecto was consigned to the history books. Thankfully, that consignment was eventually proven to be temporary. In 1996 a line was launched – by way of a lavish gala dinner hosted at London’s Claridge’s hotel – to revamp the style and bring it back to the modern aficionado. The name Cuaba was borrowed from the Taino language – it referred to a flammable bush indigenous Cubans would use to light their Cohibas , or cigars – and appointed to the new brand tasked with rejuvenating an old style. Three sizes were initially presented, each hand-rolled using Tripa Larga (long filler tobacco) from the Vuelta Abajo region, and employing a medium-to-full strength blend. The shape of the Perfecto is of interest and benefit to the smoker for many reasons. The tapered head – fr