Cohiba Behike BHK 52 Gran Corona Review

Overview

In the pantheon of Cuban cigars, few names carry the weight of Cohiba Behike. Launched in 2010 to commemorate the house’s 40th anniversary, the Behike line—and specifically the BHK 52 Gran Corona—represents a deliberate departure from convention. Its defining ingredient, the Medio Tiempo leaf, is one of tobacco’s rarest treasures: a pair of leaves found only at the crown of select Vuelta Abajo plants, exposed to maximum sunlight and therefore saturated with oils and flavor compounds far beyond those of standard primings. These leaves are aged for an extended period beyond the minimum two-year requirement, then entrusted to El Laguito’s most senior torcedores—the same hands that roll the Cohiba Siglo VI—for assembly. The result is a cigar that is not merely an iteration of an existing blend, but a distinct and deliberate expression of Cuban tobacco’s upper register.

From the first cold draw, which delivers cedar, dried fruit, and a whisper of cocoa, the BHK 52 announces its refined intent. The opening third is restrained in strength, allowing the creamy texture of roasted coffee, white pepper, and toasted almond to unfold gradually. It is in the second third that the cigar earns its legendary status: layers of dark chocolate, Cuban leather, earthy loam, and a floral sweetness—unmistakably Cohiba—emerge simultaneously, with a honey-like retrohale that is immediately recognizable to the seasoned palate. The finale intensifies with espresso, dark spice, molasses, and a mineral-earth quality unique to Medio Tiempo, closing with a finish that lingers warm and cohesive, leaving notes of dark chocolate and aged leather long after the final draw.

This is not a cigar for the impatient. Its construction is exemplary—razor-sharp burn, firm draw, pale grey ash that holds in columns of an inch or more—but its complexity demands time. A minimum of 90 minutes in a quiet, distraction-free setting is the baseline. The strength, though medium-full, is never aggressive; rather, it is the structural backbone that allows the Medio Tiempo’s character to breathe. Critics of post-2000 Cuban consistency will note that Behike has historically been held to the highest quality-control standards in Havana, and genuine examples are worth the considerable secondary-market premium. Counterfeits are rampant, so provenance through authorized LCDH retailers is essential.

In the broader context of the premium cigar world, the Behike BHK 52 Gran Corona is arguably the most significant Cuban release of the 21st century. It is the cigar that answered the question: what happens when Habanos S.A. spares no expense, selects the rarest leaf, and lets time and master rollers do the rest. It is not marketing theater—it is a benchmark. For those who have wondered why Cuban tobacco still defines the category, this is the cigar that provides the answer.