Cohiba BHK 52

[JoshMP]

I've been sitting on this review for a while meaning to post it but with a prize like this now is the best time!

Enjoy

Cohiba BHK 52

in depth review

Hi all,

I've not been one for writing reviews here on the forum but I wanted to share my experiences of smoking the new Cohiba BHK 52. With this review I will be taking a much more in-depth look at the cigar, rating 27 different aspects, and then giving it a final score out of 100.

Each aspect is rated out of ten which I will then feed in to a spreadsheet, not unlike that used by Cigar Aficionado, which will weight the different aspects and create an out-of-one-hundred score.

Initial impressions/pre-light aspects.

Sheen: 8/10

Condition; 10/10

Aroma:9/10

Texture: 10/10

Vein Structure: 8/10

Suffice to say this cigar looks awesome. I always find it amusing viewing the H.S.A. Press release images because the cigars have a very unreal appearance to them. This cigar looks like those images; A rich, golden wrapper leaf with a beautiful sheen and the construction is excellent. It is a veiny little cigar so I wonder how that will affect the burn.

I've had this cigar out of the box for a few days and the aroma is great, not punchy but it hints at something good to come. I definitely would say not to judge the aroma from the 'in box' smell as all I got was a reek of lacquer.

Cap: 9/10

The cap on this cigar is a work of art in itself, especially the pigtail. It's curled incredibly tightly and the cap is applied in a very uniform way.

Filler: 10/10

Humidification: 9/10

Again excellent construction here with a perfectly uniform filler. One thing that interests me about this cigar, and sort of falls in to the entire category, is the tautness of the cigar. It is very solid but looking at the foot has good channels and the wrapper leaf is incredibly taut around the bunch, like the skin on a drum. Normally with a Cuban this would be off-putting as it normally reflects a poor draw to come but this is more like some of the NCs which are very solid but draw well.

I guess there is only one way to find out!

I like to use a punch cutter when cutting my cigars but I am hesitant with this cigar as the tobacco seems to be very firm. I go ahead and use it anyway figuring I can re-cut with a guillotine if I need. Testing the draw and it seems perfect for me; I like a bit of resistance (why I religiously use a punch cutter) and this feels good. It certainly draws.

I fire it up and the room aroma of the cigar is wicked, this salty sweet smell to the nose.

I'm rating this 1 – 10 undefined to defined and it is a solid 9.

First draw has a very cool flavour but with great, voluminous, smoke. Creamy and rich with that salty sweetness lingering on the palette. In my notes I have a big ? As I couldn't work out how to describe this flavour but reading some reviews today online a guy referred to it as 'crab meat sweetness' and that's pretty spot on. It's saltiness with a sweet underlying flavour.

First third:

The cigar is burning very well, no touching up required yet and that thick creamy smoke continuing. The sweetness has come through a little bit more now with that salty taste diminishing to more of an undertone. It has flavours similar to a Cohiba robusto in the grassiness and coffee notes but with that extra layer of complexity added to it. It's sort of Cohiba plus one.

I'm also surprised with the subtle strength of the smoke, in a short cigar like this one they normally do not open this smooth.

Second third:

The cigar has progressed in flavour quite dramatically, I'm getting hints of a spiciness that were not there at all before with a more vanilla flavour taking the reins. That salty sweetness is lingering on the palette which creates an interesting experience. It's like the flavour of the smoke layers on to the flavour left on the palette. I like cigars to have spice and buckets of flavour so this is getting more my style.

At this point I'm going to go through the other rating points to do with the construction after lighting.

Draw: 10/10

As I said, surprised with the draw on this cigar, tight but still good volumes of smoke.

Ash: 8/10

A good solid white ash but with some grey flecks through it, keeping in mind the age of this cigar that's not bad. It was a very firm ash and I believe, had I not ashed and played the 'whose is longest' game, this cigar would have held into the final third.

Burn: 9/10

Grand, no touch ups required. I'm not a stickler with this like some other people are and if a cigar is delivering flavours I don't fuss about a ruler straight burn but still it is nice to have one do what it is supposed to.

Construction: 10/10

Overall this is spot on. I like to be able to pick up a cigar and just smoke the damn thing, no worries about “will it draw?” “will it burn?” “will it go out?”.

Final third:

That spicy flavour has dropped out a bit and I'm left with a coffee, grassy flavour that still holds the salty sweetness that has been apparent for the entire cigar. I'm going to say that this is the addition of the Medio Tempo leaves but it may have just been designed in the overall blend. I smoked this cigar until the first hint of bitterness appeared and got it down right to the nub.

Overall Balance: 9/10

After-taste

Length: 9/10

Nature (unpleasant/pleasant): 10/10

Moisture: 10/10

This is a nice little aside but the mouth feel of this cigar after you smoke is good, it has a lingering sweetness and doesn't leave my mouth dried out or smokey feeling.

FINAL SCORE: 97/100

Final thoughts:

Okay, here is the tricky bit. Did I like the cigar? Yes. There is no question about that. It is a grand little smoke. It has strength, complexity, flavour, everything you look for. Would I smoke it regularly? No, but that's because I'd like to smoke it on special occasions.

Is it worth it? Not sure.

I really did enjoy this cigar but for me the price tag doesn't match what you receive. However I strongly believe that the 56 would. If I had paid the 56 price and gotten that amount of cigar I would have been more than happy with what I had, it just so happens that the cigar I was gifted was a 52 and I don't feel it was enough cigar to fully realize the potential and justify the price tag.

Still a grand cigar and one I think is worth trying.

LittleJosh

[Omskakas]

Nice review, thanks!

[toto]

thx for the review! Very detailed and nice review, almost don't need pics... Almost... LOL

[jsd]

Great review. I love the details. I am big on mouth feel. A cigar must have a pleasant aftertaste for me. Also, I like to wake up and almost not be able to tell if I even smoked the day before.

I also love your final thoughts. The price point definitely makes it a special occasion cigar for me. I am now waiting for a special occasion to have my first BHK.

Again, great review and thanks!

[Charltonc]

Very detailed review, my boss said it was average at best. He said he will stick to his aged Esplendido's and Cohiba Lancero's. I would like to try it, but to rich for my blood.

[investandprosper]

Wish there were some pictures!

[micha]

Thanks for this great review, those detailed descriptions give a very good impression of the cigar. Sounds like a highly enjoyable smoke but the obscene price tag has always held me back from picking one up. Don't think that will change too soon.

[JoshMP]

Wish there were some pictures!

Sorry about the lack of images guys. I actually took a whole bunch but I've just moved house and "misplaced" the cable for our digital camera. Hopefully I locate it soon and can edit them in!