Cuaba
Cuaba is a modern Habanos brand established in 1996 with a highly specific mandate: to revive the traditional double-figurado cigar shape. Unlike most Cuban houses that produce a wide range of straight-sided parejos, Cuaba dedicates its entire regular production portfolio to these complex, tapered vitolas. Blended for a medium-to-full strength profile, the cigars require exceptional skill from the torcedores and offer a distinct smoking dynamic as the ring gauge expands and contracts.
Cuaba: Distinguidos
The revival of the double-figurado
The double-figurado was a prominent shape in the nineteenth century, known for its tapered foot and pointed head. By the mid-twentieth century, as straight-sided cigars like the robusto and corona gained dominance—partly due to the widespread adoption of wooden cigar moulds—the format largely disappeared from regular production in Cuba. Habanos S.A. launched Cuaba to preserve this rolling tradition, selecting highly experienced rollers to execute the difficult shape.
A double-figurado changes dynamically as it burns. The initial draws are concentrated through the narrow foot, typically presenting a precise, intense flavour before the burn line reaches the wider section of the barrel. As the ring gauge expands, the draw opens up and the smoke cools, altering the perception of the medium-to-full blend. Towards the final third, the cigar narrows again, concentrating the essential oils and heat for a robust finish.
Because of the expertise required to craft them, Cuaba cigars are produced in relatively limited quantities. When assessing these cigars for purchase, collectors should pay close attention to the wrapper construction around the tapered ends. The leaf should be seamless and firm, without tearing or severe discolouration near the pointed head or foot.
Core range vitolas
Cuaba’s portfolio is compact and focused exclusively on its signature format. The initial launch in 1996 included smaller vitolas, with larger formats added in 2003 as the brand established its footing among contemporary smokers. All core range cigars are presented in traditional dress boxes of twenty-five.
The original 1996 releases include the Divinos, a petit perfecto known in the factory as a Petit Bouquet, and the Tradicionales, sharing a similarly short but distinct Favoritos shape. The Tradicionales is notable for also being available in cardboard packs of five. These shorter smokes deliver the evolving figurado experience in under an hour. The Exclusivos, an Exquisitos vitola, was also part of this inaugural group, offering a slightly longer format with a 46 ring gauge.
In 2003, Habanos expanded the line with two substantial vitolas that have since become highly sought after by collectors. The Distinguidos, rolled in the Romeo vitola de galera, provides a robust 52 ring gauge. The Salomón, a commanding double perfecto, measures 184 mm with a 57 ring gauge. The Salomón is a challenging shape to roll and is considered a benchmark for a master torcedor’s ability. More recently, the Britanicas Extras was introduced to the regular production line in 2019, adding a 48 ring gauge perfecto to the core range.
Key Cuaba vitolas
Divinos — Vitola de Galera: Petit Bouquet — Length (mm): 101 — Length (Inches): 3.98 — Ring Gauge: 43 — Introduced: 1996
Tradicionales — Vitola de Galera: Favoritos — Length (mm): 120 — Length (Inches): 4.72 — Ring Gauge: 42 — Introduced: 1996
Exclusivos — Vitola de Galera: Exquisitos — Length (mm): 145 — Length (Inches): 5.71 — Ring Gauge: 46 — Introduced: 1996
Britanicas Extras — Vitola de Galera: Britanicas Extra — Length (mm): 137 — Length (Inches): 5.39 — Ring Gauge: 48 — Introduced: 2019
Distinguidos — Vitola de Galera: Romeo — Length (mm): 162 — Length (Inches): 6.38 — Ring Gauge: 52 — Introduced: 2003
Salomón — Vitola de Galera: Salomon — Length (mm): 184 — Length (Inches): 7.24 — Ring Gauge: 57 — Introduced: 2003
Cuaba: Exclusivos
Ageing and authentication
Cuaba’s medium-to-full blend is built with tobacco from the Vuelta Abajo zone. In their youth, these cigars can present a firm, concentrated earthiness, particularly in the initial draws through the narrow foot. Most serious smokers prefer to age Cuaba for at least three to five years, allowing the blend to settle and the tannins to soften.
When resting Cuaba, patience is essential. The brand's signature format tightly binds the filler leaves at both ends, which can initially restrict airflow and mute the flavours in fresh boxes. After several years of careful storage, the tobacco relaxes, allowing the complex notes of earth, cedar, and subtle spice to become more pronounced.
When purchasing, always verify the factory cigar box code. For the UK market, look for the EMS stamp, which indicates the box has passed through proper quality control and duty processes. Because double-figurados are difficult to fake convincingly, counterfeit Cuabas are less common than fake Cohibas, but vigilance is still required. Refer to our guide on how to spot fake Cuban cigars for general verification principles.
Storage for these tapered shapes requires care. The pointed ends are fragile and can be easily damaged if the cigars shift inside a humidor. Keep them in their dress boxes when possible, and maintain a consistent relative humidity to prevent the tightly rolled feet from swelling and splitting.
At MokaCigar
We source and verify a selection of regular production and aged Cuaba vitolas for our clients. Our inventory often features the robust Distinguidos alongside rare stock, such as the Cuaba Piramides Limited Edition 2008 and vintage boxes of the Generosos 1996 or Salomones. Every box is meticulously inspected for wrapper integrity, proper construction, and verifiable box codes. To view our current inventory and secure these distinct figurados for your humidor, visit our Cuaba shop page.
In our cellar
In stock now:
Sold-out archive (12 releases, enquiries welcome): Colección Habanos Cuaba Bariay 2012 (Habanos Collection), Colección Habanos Cuaba Salomones 2001 (Habanos Collection), Cuaba Divinos, Cuaba Divinos 2000, Cuaba Exclusivos, Cuaba Generosos 1996 B25, Cuaba Salomones, Cuaba Salomones 2003, Cuaba Salomones 2003, Cuaba Salomones 2015, Cuaba Salomones 2015, Cuaba Tradicionales.