Cohiba Behike BHK 52

[docbp87]

COHIBA BEHIKE BHK 52

4.7 x 52

The Cohiba Behike... Ahh... the name rings true with prestige, scarcity, quality. Originally the Behike name was used for the Cohiba 40th anniversary cigar, a 7.6x52 mammoth, rolled entirely by one roller, packaged in gorgeous custom humidors of 40 cigars, with only 100 humidors total being made. These cigars fetch well over $1,000 US EACH today. Starting in 2010 however, Habanos released an entirely new line of regular (albeit annually limited) production cigars under the Cohiba marca, the Behike BHK series. Available in three sizes, the BHK line makes use of the Medio Tiempo leaf, a small pair of leaves that sometimes (and not always) appear at the very top of a tobacco plant, apparently imbuing the BHK with a unique flavor element. The Medio Tiempo is a component that had fallen out of use in Cuban cigar production, often sorted in with the rest of the ligero, or discarded entirely, because it is small, and only occasionally appears on a plant. The folks responsible for the BHK came upon the medio tiempo in old blend books, and decided to reinstate it, and thus the Behike BHK was born. The BHK 52, the smallest size, was named Cigar Aficionado's cigar of the year for 2010, and has received great praise (or hype?) since coming to market in early 2010. Having just celebrated a birthday, I figured it was as good an excuse as any to light one, and give it a really close, in depth look.

This particular example of the BHK 52 features a caramel brown wrapper, with a dusting of tooth, and almost no visible veins. The flag tailed cap is beautifully, evenly applied, and the general construction, as Cohiba should be, is pretty much flawless to look at. In the hand it is fully packed, but light, firm to squeeze, but not hard. The aroma from the foot is a gentle toasty tobacco, with just a slight hay and dirt to it. The draw offers just a slight snug resistance, and tastes of hay, cream, almonds, and a very slight honey. A quick bit about the band, which is absolutely gorgeous, in its intense contrasting black and white, with beautiful gold accents and lettering, as well as the holograms which not only serve as aesthetic embellishment, but also as a counterfeiting deterrent.

Lit at 2:40pm

Right away the flavors explode on the palate, though it is not an overly strong cigar, or full in body, the tastebuds are greeted with a dark caramel and sweet hay, followed by leather, and finally a little cinnamon spice, that lingers through a long, cedar and almond finish. This particular stick may be just a TOUCH under humidified, as the wrapper seems a little delicate. The burn ran a touch for the first few draws but within about 10 minutes everything has sorted itself out to an even line. The draw is great, and smoke production is... voluminous. The finish seems to have actually gotten spicier, more heat involved, just over the course of the first third. The ash is dark, mostly black, and dense. It has held already for over an inch, and not yet fallen.

Getting near the halfway mark the mouthfeel has gotten thicker, like a fresh, whipped cream. The flavor profile has also taken on a woodier, nuttier character than was present at the beginning. There is still a sweet cream and honey on the draw, but they quickly move into a slightly tangy cedar, and roasted almond, with a cinnamon and pepper on the finish that is maybe just a little rougher around the edges than I expected. That said, these are still not very old cigars (September 2010), and Cohiba as a rule seems to benefit from at least two or three years, so I would say this is actually performing wonderfully.

Moving to the final third, things sort of ramp up a bit. The flavor profile gets darker, with caramel getting a touch burnt, the cream and honey fading, a bit of leather becoming more apparent, and the almonds getting roasted a little darker. A little dark chocolate also joins the mix for good measure seemingly, which is a nice addition, and adds some certain complexity to things. The draw remains open but firm, and smoke production continues to be outstanding. The burn line throughout the cigar has wavered at times, getting crazy for a few draws before eventually evening back out. The ash continues to hold for pretty much an entire third of the cigar at a time. The finish has gotten significantly spicier, a little bit of hot pepper, balanced by cinnamon and/or nutmeg at times, really bringing everything together.

In the end the only thing I can think is that I wish I had more of these on hand, to really be able to see where they go in a year, or three, or five. The BHK 52 is smoking beautifully right now, with a touch of youth popping up here and there, but ultimately, it already has achieved a phenomenal balance of flavor, body, and feel, and in my opinion has the potential to only get better from here. I only pray that they continue to maintain this level of quality in the future. Ended at 4pm on the dot, for a total smoke time of one hour twenty minutes. I wish that maybe it had burned slower, but it is also a little cold out today, so my finger tips are glad it is a shorter vitola.

[docbp87]

You smoked that sucker pretty quickly! Nice review, thanks for sharing.

I thought so too... but to be honest, it just burned realllllly quickly. Every draw seemed to burn up an inch of it! I was kind of disappointed with that.

[TheMcG]

wow thanks for the review. you are not making it easy for me to resist buying a box.

[Ohmacker]

Very similar to my first experience, I wish I had a thousand of these... or maybe two boxes

[DinoCop05]

wow thanks for the review. you are not making it easy for me to resist buying a box.

Do yourself a favor and don't resist buying these. I can assure you, you won't be disappointed. I have a 2010 box dated Sep and I just ordered a second box. I can say with certainty, it has been the best smoke for me thus far. Although, the 1966 isn't far behind.

[goalie204]

I've had 3 so far, and they've all sucked.

[Quint]

Thanks for the review I have yet to try one might have to splurge......

[Whodat]

Thanks for the review! Definately makes me want to buy a box!

[maverickdrinker]

I like'em. Delicious little stick. Prefer the 54 though as I find that when the 52 is really becoming enjoyable, it is over.

[ckearns]

Great review. It's nice to hear a positive bhk review. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[PartiDude]

Very nice review. Very similar to the experience I had with a stick from May '10. Sounds like the one I had was more hydrated as it lasted longer (best I can remember). Also had a wonderful creaminess throughout with a nice spice kick on the retrohale.

[mk05]

Excellent review as always

[bbesner]

Appropriate that you post this review now. I started my holiday weekend off with a BHK 52 last night as well. You can look at the photo and tell me what I thought of it!

[hidechen]

Excellent review, I smoked the only one I bought before I left Belgium for good. Apart from the price there's nothing I can say no about this great smoke

[newyorkcity]

Thanks for the reviews. I prefer the BHK 54's not only because they burn cooler but had more intense flavors that were described well on this trail.

However, i recently pulled out a BHK 52 this past Super Bowl Sunday, and it was so much better as it was aged for an additonal 8 months. I suspect with more time to rest, the BHK 52 will just get better and better. The spices were more prominent on the mid palate, and that classic Cohiba creaminess was ever so present!

I'm eyeing my BHK 56's for next month tasting!

[BlackIrish]

Really excellent review. Thanks!

[LLC]

Thanks for the reviews. I prefer the BHK 54's not only because they burn cooler but had more intense flavors that were described well on this trail.

However, i recently pulled out a BHK 52 this past Super Bowl Sunday, and it was so much better as it was aged for an additonal 8 months. I suspect with more time to rest, the BHK 52 will just get better and better. The spices were more prominent on the mid palate, and that classic Cohiba creaminess was ever so present!

I'm eyeing my BHK 56's for next month tasting!

I had a couple of 56's in Havana last fall and ended up having to bring back a box. They are resting and I am trying to be patient.

[Tony1T]

Nice review...thanks.

I started my holidays a few days ago as well and treated myself a BHK 52

[pedro7913]

Great review and I think the behike 52 is a good smoke, but the behike 54 is my personal favorite.

[Evangundy]

I just smoked my first Behike and it was really good. Not sure I can justify the price for the smoke, but I loved every minute. It has been a long time since I had trouble leaving a cigar when it has gone to the nub, but I never wanted it to end!

[isa]

Wow, great review, thanks - love how you have captured the layers of flavour

I smoked one and got some toasted, nutty & woody flavour alongside some leather & caramel. (Still cant figure cream in a cigar ) Was very good without a doubt - a bit more body would have been just wonderful. Have high hopes for the rest of the box, given the price tag

[canadianbeaver]

Great review and so glad you enjoyed your BHK's. I have had 2 boxes and Matthew and I have been thrilled with them.

[maverickdrinker]

love the 54s....

[mk05]

wow pedro, lop off much? hehe

[McNasty]

Had one of these and found it uninspiring. I may have not let it rest long enough though, because 9 months later when I smoked a 54 that I had bought at the same time I thought the 54 was incredible, probably not worth the price I paid but definitely the best cigar I've had in my limited experience.