Sooo many of you have been reaching out asking for my thoughts on the new Cohiba Talisman 2026 following the wonderful launch in Kensington, London a couple of weeks ago. So, I thought it was about time to share my full review!

I touched on my initial impressions at the end of my previous blog post, but that was quite a lengthy read, so I’m not even sure how many of you made it that far! Plus, I wanted to give this cigar a dedicated review of its own.

I first sampled the Talisman at The Road to Talisman event at Dominique London, Pall Mall, on the evening after the official Cohiba launch. It was this cigar that formed the basis of my initial impressions, which I briefly shared in my previous post.

I was also fortunate enough to receive a Talisman at the launch, along with a special three-cigar gift pack created exclusively for the UK market as part of Cohiba’s 60th-anniversary celebrations. I deliberately saved this cigar, knowing I wouldn’t have enough time to give it the attention it deserved during the event itself – the presentation took place at 19:30 and the event finished at 21:00. At these kinds of events, I get caught up in the atmosphere, the people and the excitement, and the cigar itself can sometimes take a back seat.

Instead, I wanted to enjoy it properly, at my own pace, which is exactly what I got to do last week on a recent holiday to Fuerteventura.

Having now smoked two examples of the Cohiba Talisman 2026, on two separate occasions and in very different settings, I found my impressions remarkably consistent. So, it’s time to bring those experiences together and share my full verdict…

First impressions

Let’s start with the presentation, because the Cohiba Talisman 2026 makes a serious impression before you’ve even cut the cap and lit up. The cigar looks pure class!

It features three bands: the classic Cohiba band, a 60th Anniversary band, and a final band at the foot bearing the Talisman name. The gold detailing and glossy references to Cohiba, Línea Clásica and Talisman look fantastic, giving the cigar a seriously premium finish.

Measuring 54 x 154mm, the size, shape and proportions are spot on. It looks absolutely banging in the hand, and you can’t help but feel like a boss holding it.

The finishing touch is the distinctive pigtail cap, a classic Cohiba detail that adds a lovely touch of character to an already impressive cigar.

This time around, I enjoyed the cigar in the sunshine, in a fantastic mood and with absolutely no rush to my day. That undoubtedly played its part in the experience, as I’ve always believed that the setting and the time you give a cigar can be just as important as the flavours themselves.

That said, having smoked two examples in different settings, I was struck by how remarkably consistent the core experience was.

So, how did the Cohiba Talisman actually perform?

First third

The Talisman opens with prominent floral notes, which I suspect are down to its freshness, with the box stamp dating to February 2026. These are accompanied by a pleasant sweetness, creating an inviting and well-balanced introduction.

The strength sits comfortably around medium, making for an approachable start without sacrificing flavour. There’s enough character to keep things interesting, but nothing feels overpowering.

Construction was generally good, although the burn became slightly uneven at times. The ash, however, was firm and well formed, giving a positive impression of the cigar’s overall build quality.

It’s an impressive opening, with the floral sweetness establishing a flavour profile that develops nicely as the cigar progresses.

Second third

Moving into the second third, nutty notes begin to emerge, adding depth and complexity.

The transition is smooth, with the nuttiness complementing the sweetness and floral character established in the opening third. Rather than making a dramatic change in direction, the flavours develop naturally.

This is where the balance really begins to shine. The different notes work well together, keeping the experience engaging without introducing anything that feels out of place.

Final third

In the final third, the profile takes a spicier turn, with peppery notes becoming more pronounced.

This brings a welcome increase in intensity and gives the cigar a satisfying finish. The progression from floral sweetness to nuttiness and finally to spice creates a clear sense of development throughout the smoke.

It’s an enjoyable conclusion to a cigar that offers plenty of character without becoming repetitive.

The potential of ageing

One aspect I’m particularly interested in is how the Cohiba Talisman might develop with age.

The floral sweetness, nuttiness and spice provide a promising foundation, and I’d love to see how those flavours integrate and evolve after a few years of careful ageing.

For collectors who enjoy putting cigars away and revisiting them years later, this adds another layer of intrigue to the release. I’d be interested to revisit the Talisman after a few years in the humidor to see how much it has evolved.

Time will tell, but it’s certainly something worth keeping an eye on.

It’s also worth pointing out that, based on the press conference I attended, which I discuss in my previous post, the 2017 and 2026 Talismán are intentionally different. The original 2017 Edición Limitada used tobacco that had been aged for an additional two years before the cigars were rolled, whereas the 2026 regular-production release uses a different tobacco selection and ageing approach. Habanos made it clear that replicating the original’s exact flavour profile was never the intention: “It’s not the target to replicate with the standard product.”

Another interesting point raised by Habanos concerned ageing and the research they have undertaken with Cuba’s Tobacco Institute. This included the suggestion that differences in a cigar’s development can become more pronounced after around five years. It makes me wonder what this cigar will be like five years from now, in 2031. Will its character evolve in an unexpected way, and how might that compare with the original 2017 release?

Is it worth £200 a cigar?

And this is where things get complicated.

Is the Cohiba Talisman a world-class cigar? Absolutely, with some age. Did I enjoy smoking it? Without question. But would I recommend spending £200 on a single cigar, based on the per-cigar cost of the three-cigar presentation? That’s a much harder question to answer.

At this price, you’re paying for more than the smoking experience. The presentation, the prestige of the Cohiba name and the exclusivity of this special UK release all play a part.

Personally, I’d put the Talisman’s value at around £75 per cigar in the UK. That’s still a substantial amount to spend on a single cigar, but at that price, I’d feel much more comfortable recommending it.

Cigarlands recently reported the sale of a three-cigar gift pack for £2,250 at auction on 12 October 2026, equivalent to £750 per cigar. It’s a remarkable result and illustrates the level of interest that can surround a release of this kind.

Of course, auction prices reflect more than the cigar in the box. Rarity, presentation, provenance and collector demand can all play a part. For me, the key distinction is between a cigar’s collectible value and what I would consider a fair price for the smoking experience. The £200-per-cigar figure reflects the cost of this exclusive three-cigar pack, but that doesn’t necessarily mean every smoker would value the cigar itself at that level. Both perspectives are valid, depending on what you’re buying it for.

For collectors, the special presentation and the potential for ageing may justify the price. For those buying purely for the smoking experience, it’s a much tougher sell.

A cigar can be a banger without offering the best value for money, and the Talismán is a perfect example of that.

My rating: 9 out of 10

The Cohiba Talisman 2026 delivers an excellent smoking experience, with floral notes giving way to a nutty middle and peppery finish.

Having smoked two examples, I’d happily smoke it again. With some age I think this could become something very special.

My main reservation is the price.

Looking back at some of the other Cohibas I’ve smoked and reviewed, it’s interesting to see how I rated them at the time compared with this one:

• Cohiba Robusto: 9 out of 10
• Cohiba Behike 52: 8.5 – 9 out of 10
• Cohiba Pirámides Extra: 6 out of 10
• Cohiba Siglo VI: I didn’t give this one a formal rating at the time, but I remember feeling that the Cohiba Maduro 5, which I also left unrated, was the more memorable cigar of the two.

Of course, cigar reviews are subjective, and we all have different tastes and expectations when it comes to value.

If you’ve smoked the Cohiba Talisman 2026 Limited Edition, I’d love to hear what you think!