AshMap
Overview
The Cohiba Behike BHK 52 is not a cigar you smoke; it is a thesis you inhale. It arrives in the hand with the weight of a secret — a tapered Salomones silhouette that feels less like a product and more like a sealed document from El Laguito's most guarded archive. The dark auburn wrapper, with its faint, oily glisten, promises something beyond the standard Cuban lexicon, and from the first cold draw — a rush of milk chocolate and dried fig over a whisper of damp earth — you understand this is a different dialect of Havana. This is the Medio Tiempo speaking, a leaf so rare it feels almost illicit, and it does not whisper; it articulates.
Lighting the foot is like opening a door into a room that has been climate-controlled for a decade. The opening third is a study in controlled release: roasted coffee and cream arrive in a seamless wave, but it is the toasted cedar backbone and a natural, almost honeyed sweetness that reveals the blend's pedigree. The retrohale is where the BHK 52 first shows its teeth — not with aggression, but with a startling clarity of white pepper and jasmine, a floral note that feels out of place in a Cuban cigar until you realize it is the signature of the top-priming leaf. There is no roughness, no raw ammonia; just precision, as if every puff were measured by a jeweler's scale.
By the second third, the narrative deepens into a richer, more complex chapter. The dark cocoa emerges, not as a confection but as a bitter, high-percentage bar, intertwined with cured leather and the tang of aged stone fruit — dried plum and tamarind. A mineral, chalky terroir note grounds the experience, a reminder that this is unequivocally Cuban soil. The smoke turns thick and creamy, coating the palate in a way that demands slow, deliberate draws. The integration here is masterful; no single note dominates, but rather they exist in a state of tense, beautiful equilibrium, a conversation between the Volado, Seco, and the star of the show, the Medio Tiempo.
The final third is a crescendo that refuses to break. Espresso and dark baking spice — clove and cinnamon bark — surge forward, wrapped in a deep molasses sweetness that lingers. The strength builds to a confident medium-full, but the combustion remains so clean that the intensity never tips into harshness. The finish is extraordinarily long, resonating with echoes of cedar and dark chocolate long after the smoke has cleared. This is a cigar that demands your full attention, not because it is fragile, but because it is dense with information. It is the most intellectually compelling smoke Cohiba has produced in the post-Davidoff era, a tighter, more disciplined expression of the Behike thesis than its larger siblings, and a reminder that true luxury is not volume, but precision.
Cigar Specifications
| Wrapper | Cuban Medio Tiempo — a rare, upper-primings leaf harvested from the top two leaves of select Cuban tobacco plants — Colorado Maduro |
|---|---|
| Binder | Cuban Volado and Seco leaves, aged extensively at El Laguito |
| Filler | Blend of Cuban Volado, Seco, and critically, Medio Tiempo — the extraordinarily rare double-growth leaf found on perhaps |
| Country of Origin | Havana, Cuba — El Laguito factory, the crown jewel of Habanos S.A. |
| Vitola / Shape | Salomones (tapered at both ends, semi-torpedo profile) |
| Size | 5.4 x 52 |
| Strength | Medium-Full |
| Price | $50–$80 per cigar depending on market and region; Cuban state pricing vs. secondary market fluctuation is significant |
| Tier | Prestige |
| Aging | All tobaccos aged a minimum of two years; the Medio Tiempo leaf undergoes additional curing prior to blending. Post-prod |
Tasting Notes & Flavor Progression
First Third
The cold draw reveals milk chocolate, dried fig, and a whisper of Cuban barnyard earthiness. Once lit, the opening third delivers a remarkably refined wave of roasted coffee, cream, and toasted cedar — precise and controlled with a natural sweetness that distinguishes the Medio Tiempo leaf immediately. Retrohale opens up white pepper and floral jasmine notes rarely encountered in other Cuban cigars.
Second Third
Complexity escalates dramatically as the Medio Tiempo influence fully asserts itself — rich dark cocoa, cured leather, and aged stone fruit (dried plum, tamarind) weave together with exceptional integration. A mineral, almost chalky terroir note — distinctly Cuban — grounds the smoke. The draw produces a thick, creamy texture that coats the palate.
Final Third
The final third intensifies without harshness — espresso, dark baking spice (clove, cinnamon bark), and a deep molasses sweetness emerge. The finish is extraordinarily long, clean, and resonant with echoes of cedar and dark chocolate. Strength builds to a confident medium-full but never crosses into aggression — a testament to the Medio Tiempo's unique combustion properties.
Construction, Burn & Draw
Construction is impeccable by El Laguito's exacting standards — the draw is effortless with ideal resistance, producing voluminous, dense smoke. The burn line is razor-even with a dense, firm ash that holds 1.5 to 2 inches without drama; a showcase of what the world's finest hand-rolling torcedores can achieve.
Pairing Recommendations
Spirit
18-year Zacapa Rum (Guatemala) — the molasses and vanilla tones mirror the cigar's sweetness; alternatively, a 15-year Glenfarclas Scotch for its sherry-cask fruit. Avoid heavily peated whisky, which competes destructively with the Medio Tiempo's delicacy.
Wine
A well-aged Rioja Gran Reserva (Tempranillo-dominant, 10+ years) — the dried fruit, leather, and tobacco notes in the wine create a harmonic conversation with the BHK 52's core flavor architecture. Avoid tannic New World reds.
Non-Alcoholic
A single-origin Ethiopian Yirgacheffe pour-over coffee — light-to-medium roast preserves the jasmine and stone fruit notes that complement the BHK 52's floral Medio Tiempo character without overwhelming it.
Who Should Smoke This?
This is for the collector who has already walked the length of the standard Habanos catalogue — who has smoked the Esplendidos and the Magicos and found them predictable. You are a man or woman who appreciates the quiet drama of a well-aged Rioja and understands that patience is a flavor. You are celebrating a specific milestone — a partnership signed, a book published, a decade of sobriety — and you have carved out a full, uninterrupted 90 minutes on a cool autumn evening. You do not need the cigar to be strong; you need it to be articulate. You already enjoy the earthy depth of a Partagas Lusitania or the floral lift of a Trinidad Fundadores, but you are seeking a synthesis of both. The BHK 52 will not just satisfy you; it will make you pause mid-draw, lower the cigar, and stare at the ember as if it just whispered a secret about the universe. It gives you a moment of pure, unadulterated focus.
Bottom Line
The Behike BHK 52 is a masterclass in restraint and power, a cigar that justifies its cult status through sheer sensory intelligence. It is not just a smoke; it is a benchmark against which all other premium Cubans should be measured. Buy it if you can find it, and smoke it with the reverence it deserves.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cohiba Behike BHK 52 a strong cigar?
It is rated Medium-Full (4/5) on the strength scale. Physically, this means it builds from a refined, creamy opening to a confident intensity in the final third, but it never crosses into harshness or aggression. The nicotine presence is substantial but well-integrated, offering a warming, cerebral buzz rather than a knockout punch, thanks to the clean combustion of the Medio Tiempo leaf.
What does Cohiba Behike BHK 52 taste like?
The flavor progression is distinct: the first third offers roasted coffee, cream, toasted cedar, and a white pepper/jasmine note on the retrohale. The second third deepens into dark cocoa, cured leather, dried plum, tamarind, and a chalky mineral terroir. The final third delivers espresso, clove, cinnamon bark, and a deep molasses sweetness with a long finish of cedar and dark chocolate.
How long does Cohiba Behike BHK 52 take to smoke?
Given its Salomones vitola (tapered at both ends) and 5.4 x 52 dimensions, you should allocate a solid 90 minutes to 2 hours. The tapered foot requires a careful light, and the narrow head concentrates the smoke, but the dense construction burns slowly and evenly, rewarding a leisurely pace.
What is the best pairing for Cohiba Behike BHK 52?
An 18-year Zacapa Rum from Guatemala is the ideal spirit pairing. Its molasses and vanilla tones mirror the cigar's natural sweetness without overpowering the delicate Medio Tiempo florals. For wine, a well-aged Rioja Gran Reserva (10+ years) creates a harmonic conversation with the cigar's dried fruit and leather notes. Avoid peated whisky, which will clash destructively.
Is Cohiba Behike BHK 52 good for beginners?
No. This is not a beginner's cigar. The Medium-Full strength can overwhelm a novice palate, and the $50–$80 per-stick price point is a significant investment for a smoke that requires experience to decode. A beginner would be better served by a milder, more forgiving Cuban like a Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 before approaching the intellectual density of the BHK 52.
Where can I buy Cohiba Behike BHK 52?
Authentic Behike BHK 52s are sold through official Habanos S.A. distributors (like La Casa del Habano franchises) in Cuba and other authorized markets. Due to its scarcity, you will also find it on the secondary market from reputable online retailers, but beware of fakes. Always verify the serial number on the box and purchase from a source with a verifiable track record for authenticity.
What is the price of Cohiba Behike BHK 52?
The price ranges from $50 to $80 per cigar depending on your market and region. Cuban state pricing is significantly lower than secondary market rates, where scarcity and demand drive the cost up. Expect to pay a premium for authentic boxes, and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, as this is one of the most counterfeited cigars in the world.
Is Cohiba Behike BHK 52 worth aging?
Yes, but it is already well-aged upon release. All tobaccos are aged a minimum of two years, with the Medio Tiempo leaf undergoing additional curing. The wrapper is a Colorado Maduro, which has inherent aging potential. Post-production, a further 2–5 years of rest in a stable humidor will allow the flavors to further integrate, softening the white pepper and deepening the molasses sweetness, but it is also highly enjoyable fresh due to its impeccable construction.
What wrapper does Cohiba Behike BHK 52 use?
It uses a Cuban Medio Tiempo wrapper, which is a rare, upper-primings leaf harvested from the top two leaves of select Cuban tobacco plants. This leaf is unique because it develops a second, smaller leaf cluster (the 'medio tiempo') that is exceptionally rich in oils and flavor. It contributes the cigar's signature floral jasmine notes, natural sweetness, and dark cocoa depth, setting it apart from standard Cuban wrappers.
Where is Cohiba Behike BHK 52 made?
It is made in Havana, Cuba, at the El Laguito factory, the crown jewel of Habanos S.A. This is the historic home of Cohiba, and the BHK 52 is hand-rolled exclusively by the factory's most senior torcedores. The production is extremely limited, with only 1,000 boxes released worldwide at the initial 2010 launch, and it remains a tightly controlled, prestige-tier production.