Siboney Coronas

Description

Some cigars tell you everything about themselves in the first puff. The Siboney Coronas whispers instead—a marca so rare that most collectors have never held one. Originally a pre-revolution brand that likely began with cigarettes before adding premium cigars in the 1940s, Siboney represents a chapter of Cuban tobacco history that nearly vanished entirely. Finding a box today is finding a time capsule.

The Smoking Experience

First Third: The classic Corona gauge opens with gentle authority. At 40 ring, the blend runs slightly warmer than fatter formats, concentrating the flavors immediately. Expect traditional Cuban terroir—clean earth, dried hay, a whisper of barnyard that marks authentic Vuelta Abajo tobacco. The draw on this format demands attention; smoke slowly or risk overheating. When treated with respect, the opening delivers a soft, mellow sweetness tinged with light cedar.

Mid-Section: The heart of the Siboney reveals its character. This is old-school Cuban smoking—no modern power plays or flavor bombs, just honest tobacco expressing itself. Leather notes emerge alongside roasted nuts, understated but present. The medium body holds steady, never pushing toward intensity. There’s a mineral quality running beneath the profile, that distinctive Pinar del Río signature. Coffee undertones develop on the retrohale, more café con leche than espresso.

Final Third: The finish maintains the cigar’s composed demeanor. Woody notes strengthen—aged cedar and a touch of oak—while the nuttiness persists. A subtle sweetness returns in the final inch, rewarding those who kept the burn cool throughout. The Siboney doesn’t build to a dramatic crescendo; it simply continues doing what it does, consistent and unpretentious until the last draw.

Flavor Profile

A Brand Nearly Lost to History

Siboney existed before the revolution, introduced premium cigars in the 1940s or 1950s, then disappeared in the early 1960s like so many Cuban marcas swept away by nationalization. In 1988, Habanos S.A. briefly revived the name for machine-made cigarillos targeting the Austrian market, along with limited premium production. By 1996, the experiment ended. What remains are scattered boxes in collectors’ humidors and the occasional treasure surfacing at auction—genuine pieces of Cuban cigar archaeology.

Perfect Pairings

• Rum: Havana Club Añejo 3 Años—keep it light to match the cigar’s medium profile. Save the aged rums for bigger smokes.
• Coffee: Cuban café cortado or any medium-roast Latin American blend. The cigar’s subtle coffee notes create harmony without competition.
• Tea: Aged pu-erh for adventurous palates—its earthy depth complements the tobacco’s mineral character.

Ideal For

The Siboney Coronas suits collectors who value rarity and history as much as flavor. This isn’t the cigar to impress guests at a party—it’s the one you smoke alone, appreciating what it represents. The classic Corona format makes it a comfortable 40-minute companion for morning contemplation or a quiet afternoon break. If you prefer bold, aggressive blends, look elsewhere. But if you appreciate the elegant restraint of traditional Cuban blending, this rare marca offers a window into how things were done before the world discovered Cuban cigars.

Collector’s Note: Given Siboney’s discontinuation, these cigars are increasingly difficult to source. Handle any box you find with appropriate reverence—you’re holding a piece of Cuban tobacco history that won’t be made again.