Colección Habanos
The legendary “Books” that became icons of Cuban cigar collecting
For aficionados and collectors alike, few releases in the world of Cuban cigars inspire as much fascination as the celebrated Colección Habanos series. Known among enthusiasts simply as “The Books,” these extraordinary editions occupy a unique place in the history of Habanos — where rarity, artistry, craftsmanship, and storytelling merge into one timeless object of desire.
Introduced by Habanos S.A. at the beginning of the 21st century, the Colección Habanos concept elevated the traditional cigar box into a luxurious literary-inspired creation. Presented as elegant lacquered books, each numbered edition invites enthusiasts not merely to smoke a cigar, but to “open” and discover a new chapter in the history of Cuban craftsmanship.
The story began in 2002 with the legendary Cuaba Salomones, an imposing 57 x 184 mm figurado presented in only 300 numbered books worldwide. That same year, Partagás joined the collection with the powerful Serie C No.1, confirming from the outset that the series would become a showcase for exceptional large-format cigars and some of Cuba’s most prestigious brands.
What followed was a remarkable chronological journey through the Habanos universe. In 2003, Hoyo de Monterrey introduced the elegant Extravaganza, followed in 2004 by the refined Romeo y Julieta Fabulosos No.6. The 2005 release, Montecristo Maravillas No.1, commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Montecristo brand and quickly became one of the most revered editions ever produced.
The collection continued to gain prestige with the Trinidad Torre Iznaga in 2006, a release inspired by the famous Cuban watchtower and notable as the first Colección Habanos distributed on the Bulgarian market. In 2007 came the sophisticated H. Upmann Magnum Especial, before the series reached a turning point in 2008 with the release of the legendary Cohiba Sublimes Extra.
Such was the global demand for this monumental Cohiba that production increased for the first time from 500 to 1,000 books worldwide. Today, the Cohiba Sublimes Extra remains one of the most sought-after modern Cuban cigars ever created.
In 2009, San Cristóbal de La Habana paid tribute to Havana’s historic O’Reilly Street with the rich and elegant O’Reilly vitola, released to celebrate the brand’s 10th anniversary. A year later, the bold Bolívar Gran Belicoso brought the unmistakable intensity of the Bolívar marque into the collection.
The series reached a symbolic milestone in 2011 with the extraordinary Obras Completas edition. Rather than introducing a new cigar, Habanos S.A. assembled a literary-style anthology featuring three cigars from each of the previous ten Colección releases — a historic compilation of 30 cigars representing a decade of Cuban excellence.
Following this landmark release, the collection entered a new chapter beginning with the Cuaba Bariay in 2012, an exceptionally long 232 mm vitola named after the location where Christopher Columbus first arrived in Cuba. In 2013, Partagás returned with the Serie E No.1, coinciding with the expansion of production to 2,000 books worldwide due to ever-growing collector demand.
Subsequent editions further reinforced the mythical status of the series: the majestic Hoyo de Monterrey Maravillas in 2015, the elegant Romeo y Julieta Fabulosos No.2 in 2016, and the imposing Montecristo Gran Pirámides in 2017, each becoming an instant collector’s item upon release.
After a short pause, the collection resumed in 2019 with the Trinidad Casilda, named after one of Trinidad’s historic central squares. In 2020, H. Upmann unveiled the magnificent Super Magnum, followed in 2021 by the Cohiba Ideales, a release that once again placed the legendary Cohiba name at the pinnacle of contemporary cigar collecting.
Over the years, production gradually evolved — from the original 300 books to 500, then 1,000, 2,000, and eventually 3,000 editions worldwide from 2019 onward. Yet despite these increases, each Colección Habanos release remains extraordinarily limited and highly coveted worldwide.
What truly distinguishes the Colección Habanos series is its ability to transcend the cigar itself. Each edition is conceived not only as a smoking experience, but as an artistic and emotional object — a tribute to Cuban heritage, literary elegance, and the enduring romance of Habanos craftsmanship.
Today, more than two decades after its creation, the Colección Habanos remains one of the most prestigious and collectible series ever produced by Habanos S.A. To own one of these legendary Books is not simply to possess rare cigars — it is to preserve a living chapter of Cuban cigar history.
> Discover the other volumes of the Habanos Collection.