When talking to any true cigar aficionado, there is no cigar that carries with it as much prestige and esteem than the Cuban Cohiba Behike cigar.  It started off in 2006 and a super limited release of only 4,000 cigars that were sold immediately.  That original line now goes for thousands on the secondary market.  In 2010, Habanos S.A. announced they were releasing a revised Behike line, known as the BHK, as a regular yet still limited release.  It was from this project that the Cuban Cohiba Behike cigar was born.

The name “Cohiba” comes from the Taino word for tobacco.  The Taino were an indigenous tribe that lives on several Caribbean islands, most notably Cuba.  The name Behike is taken from one of the chiefs of the Taino tribe.  The Cuban Cohiba Behike 52 cigar is hand rolled at the legendary El Laguito factory, home of Cuban Cohiba cigars for the better part of a century.  What’s notable about this blend is that unlike the original Behike, the 52 uses Medio Tiempo tobaccos, which are the top of the tobacco plant.  These leaves get the most sunlight and are inherently stronger and more flavorful.  They are layered throughout the cigar to make it one of the strongest Cohiba releases to date.

The Cuban Cohiba Behike 52 cigar is rolled into a thicker robusto size, boasting an impressive 52 ring gauge.  The flavor profile is about as complex as I’ve ever had the pleasure of smoking.  It starts off rich and spicy before transitioning to notes of sweet spice, vanilla, and cedar towards the middle.  The construction is impeccable, with an open draw, an even burn, and a tremendous amount of meaty smoke.  I smoked it all the way down to the nub without having to pick up my lighter one time to make any corrections.

When traveling abroad, you can easily stop into a Cuban cigar store and pick up one of these gems.  However, if you buy cigars online in the US, you have a few alternative options that are available in a similar size and flavor profile.  For me, I found the robusto size of the La Flor Dominican Double Ligero most accurately matched up against the Behike in both sizes, construction and flavor.  If you ever get the chance, however, you should definitely try a Cuban Cohiba Behike 52 cigar.