Cohiba BHK 52 Review

Overview

The Cohiba Behike BHK 52 is not merely a cigar; it is a statement of intent from the El Laguito factory — a declaration that the art of Cuban cigar making still has unclimbed peaks. Released in 2010 as the flagship expression of the Línea 1492 Behike series, the BHK 52 was named in homage to the mythical Behike, the shaman of the Taíno people, and it carries the weight of that legend with every draw. Where other vitolas in the Behike range push size and power, the BHK 52 is the alchemist’s balance — a Salomones figurado measuring 5.9 inches with a 52-ring gauge that feels neither imposing nor slight, but perfectly proportioned for the ritual it demands. The vitola itself is a figurado, a shape that requires the hands of the most senior torcedores at El Laguito to roll, and it is produced in quantities so limited that each release feels like a rare vintage disappearing into the humidors of connoisseurs who know exactly what they hold.

At the heart of the BHK 52’s legend is the Medio Tiempo leaf — the rarest priming from the tobacco plant, harvested from the very top of the stalk after a second growth spurt that only occurs in specific microclimates of the Vuelta Abajo region. These leaves are aged for a minimum of two years before being blended into the cigar’s proprietary filler, and their inclusion is what separates Behike from all other Cohiba lines. The wrapper, a Colorado shade leaf from Vuelta Abajo’s Seco and Medio Tiempo primings, presents a rich café au lait to reddish-brown complexion, silky to the touch with a light sheen of oil that signals depth. When lit, the BHK 52 reveals a cold draw of cream, cedar, and faint white pepper — a prelude that merely hints at the symphony to come. The first third is a masterclass in complexity: roasted espresso, toasted almonds, and a pronounced creaminess that is the unmistakable signature of Medio Tiempo, with subtle leather and dry hay weaving through a foundation that is already commanding.

As the cigar progresses into the second third, the profile deepens into more resonant territory — dark cocoa, cured tobacco, and dried stone fruit in the form of fig and dark plum emerge with an authority that is rich but never heavy. The creamy texture persists, coating the palate in a way that distinguishes Behike from virtually every other Cuban cigar, while a woody, almost sandalwood-like spice develops mid-palate without aggression. The final third intensifies beautifully, bringing forward mocha, aged leather, and a refined earthiness that builds to a medium-full strength (4 out of 5) without losing elegance or balance. The retrohale delivers a long finish of roasted nuts and dark chocolate, and the ash holds in a dense, silvery-white column — evidence of roll-construction that borders on perfection. The BHK 52 is not the largest or the boldest Behike, but many experienced aficionados consider it the most balanced and intellectually rewarding of the three vitolas. It is a cigar that demands sixty to seventy-five minutes of uninterrupted, deliberate contemplation — a celebratory milestone, an evening set aside purely for the ritual. It is the living proof that El Laguito, at its best, has no equal on earth.