About the Cohiba Piramides Limited Edition 2001
Habanos launched its Edición Limitada program in 2000 with four cigars, and not one of them was a Cohiba. The brand waited a year. When it finally joined the series in 2001, it did so with a big, confident pyramid: 156 mm long (6 1/8 inches), 52 ring gauge, packed 25 to a box. That first Cohiba Edición Limitada is the cigar on this page.
What set those early limited releases apart was the wrapper. Habanos selected darker leaves and aged them for at least two years before the cigars were rolled, which gave them a deeper colour and a richer, oilier feel than regular production. Each cigar carries the familiar Cohiba band plus a second black and gold Edición Limitada band dated 2001.
Critics noticed. In Cigar Aficionado’s ratings of every Edición Limitada, the 2001 Cohiba Pirámide earned 91 points, the top score among the five cigars released that year.
Twenty-Five Years in the Making
Most cigars are smoked within a few years of leaving Havana. This one has had time on its side. Reviewers who have opened boxes in recent years describe a cigar that started out medium to full and has settled into something calmer and more integrated, still complex, still unmistakably Cohiba, but with the rough edges long gone. The grassy, creamy, cocoa signature of the brand is still there. What has changed is the way everything fits together.
That is the real appeal of a vintage Edición Limitada. You cannot buy this kind of age off the shelf, and you cannot speed it up. The 2001 boxes are finite, and every year there are fewer of them.
Flavour Profile by Thirds
First third. The dark wrapper lights evenly and opens with cedar, cocoa and earth, followed by leather, a light grassy note and a touch of mocha sweetness. The retrohale is firm and the finish lingers.
Second third. The body eases toward medium. Cocoa and leather stay in front while espresso, molasses and a cool hint of mint come through, with cedar now in the background.
Final third. Sweetness builds and roasted nuts arrive, wrapped around cocoa, leather and a gentle earthiness. It is the most generous part of the smoke, and many smokers will want to take it slowly to the very end.
As with any cigar of this age, each one can show a little differently depending on how it has been kept. That variation is part of the experience.
What to Pour With It
An aged cigar deserves an aged drink, and something with enough weight to stand next to it without taking over.
- Aged rum, dry and oak driven, picks up the molasses and cocoa notes.
- XO Cognac brings dried fruit and polished oak for an elegant, cigar first pairing.
- Sherry cask single malt suits the leather and earth of the opening third.
- 20 year tawny Port leans into the roasted nut sweetness of the finish.
- A short espresso works in the afternoon and brings out the cedar and cocoa.
Whatever you choose, keep the pour small and avoid very young or very peaty spirits that would cover the subtle notes this cigar has spent decades building.
Who It Is For
This is a cigar for the collector who wants a real piece of Habanos history in the humidor, and for the experienced smoker curious to taste what long age does to a great Cohiba. It also makes a memorable gift: a box from 2001 is a natural fit for a 25th birthday, a wedding anniversary from that year or any celebration where the date matters. If you are just starting out, our guide to the best Cuban cigars for beginners is a better first step, and you can come back to this one later.
Collectors building a 2001 vintage set can pair it with two of its year mates, the Montecristo Double Corona Limited Edition 2001 and the Romeo y Julieta Robustos Limited Edition 2001. For the same 6.1″ x 52 size in a younger cigar, look at the Cohiba Piramides Limited Edition 2006. If you prefer a slightly larger torpedo from the regular line, the Cohiba Piramides Extra measures 6.3″ x 54. The full range lives in our Limited Edition Series, and current prices for the brand are in the Cohiba cigars price guide.
How to Enjoy and Store It
Give the cigars a few days to rest in your humidor after they arrive. Keep them steady at 65 to 68 percent relative humidity and 64 to 68°F (18 to 20°C), away from light and heat. If a cigar feels dry, bring it back up slowly over several weeks: an old wrapper can crack if it takes on moisture too fast. A well seasoned cedar humidor with a calibrated hygrometer is the safest home, and our guide on how long cigars last covers the details.
When the moment comes, make a shallow cut just below the tip of the pyramid head so the draw stays focused, then toast the foot gently before you light. Plan on an unhurried evening. Slow puffs keep the smoke cool and let the late sweetness show.
To read more about the brand behind it, see Cohiba on Wikipedia or the official Habanos S.A. site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Cohiba Piramides Limited Edition 2001 special?
It was the first Cohiba ever released in the Habanos Edición Limitada series, made with a dark wrapper aged at least two years before rolling. Cigar Aficionado rated it 91 points, the highest score of the 2001 releases.
How has the 2001 Cohiba Piramides changed with age?
Recent tastings describe a cigar that has mellowed from medium to full toward a smoother, more integrated medium body, with cocoa, cedar, leather, espresso and roasted nuts around the classic creamy Cohiba core.
How should I store a box of Cohiba Piramides Limited Edition 2001?
Keep it in a seasoned cedar humidor at a stable 65 to 68 percent humidity and 64 to 68°F. Avoid sudden changes, and if the cigars are dry, raise the humidity gradually over several weeks.