Cohiba (Dominican)

Two unrelated cigars carry the Cohiba name. Outside the United States the name belongs to Habanos S.A.; inside it, General Cigar Co. holds the registered trademark and sells a Dominican-made line under it. General Cigar's claim to United States rights dates to the late 1970s, and the present Dominican blend, widely known by its red dot band, was introduced in 1997 during the cigar boom. Cuba's Cubatabaco has litigated against the registration for decades without dislodging it.

Production sits with General Cigar Dominicana in Santiago, with blends built from Dominican and Nicaraguan filler under wrappers that vary by line. The portfolio has grown well beyond the original red dot to include Black, Blue, Nicaragua, Connecticut, Macassar, Riviera and Spectre, alongside limited Weller releases that use aged tobacco. General Cigar has been part of Scandinavian Tobacco Group since the company's American cigar portfolio changed hands.

For a reader the practical point is that the two Cohibas share nothing except a word. Blends, factories, ownership and distribution are entirely distinct, and a United States retailer selling Cohiba is by law selling the General Cigar product. Reviews, ratings and box codes for one brand carry no information about the other. Retailers in Europe and Asia list the Habanos product; American retailers list General Cigar's. The dispute has moved through the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the federal courts and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board across more than two decades without a final resolution.