Cohiba Behike 52
The Cohiba Behike 52 belongs to Cohiba’s Behike line, the most technical expression of the marca and the one most closely associated with medio tiempo in the filler. In this presentation the key format detail is Laguito No.4, 119 mm (4.7 in) x 52. The production context is Behike line, limited availability. It should be judged by vitola, construction, age and storage condition rather than by generic prestige language.
Cohiba is the flagship Cuban marca within the Habanos S.A. portfolio. The style is normally polished rather than rustic: clean cedar, cream, coffee and carefully measured spice, with the exact expression changing by line and format.
Tasting Notes
The first third opens fast for a Behike: cedar, cream and clean coffee arrive within the opening draws, concentrated by the shorter 119 mm format. With less length for the smoke to travel before reaching the palate, the profile reads more immediate and compact than in the 54 or 56, without tipping into harshness if the draw is kept controlled.
By the middle third, cocoa, sweet hay and toasted almond move in quickly, and the medio tiempo depth that defines the line shows itself earlier here than in the longer vitolas, a function of the shorter smoking window rather than a different blend. Body is medium-to-full and strength is listed as Medium to Full, but because the whole cigar burns through in under an hour, the transitions between thirds feel compressed and deliberate.
The final third brings espresso, cedar oil and a measured pepper on the retrohale sooner than on the longer Behikes, simply because there is less cigar left to smoke through. This is the most concentrated, fastest-paced expression in the Behike range, the one to reach for when time is short but the occasion still calls for the line's signature depth.
Construction and Feel
At 119 mm x 52, the Laguito No.4 is the most compact vitola in the Behike trio, a proportion that keeps the smoke tight and the draw resistance a touch firmer than on the longer formats. Expect a smooth Cuban wrapper, dense bunching and a 45–60 minute session that rewards a slow, deliberate cadence rather than the longer, more contemplative pacing suited to the 54 or 56.
Value and Experience
Cohiba Behike 52 is not a generic souvenir smoke; it is a Cohiba chosen for format, line identity and condition. Collectible releases should be evaluated by box integrity, seals, bands and storage history. Regular-production formats should be evaluated by construction, consistency and how well the flavour develops over the session.
Storage and Care
With this much tobacco mass packed into the bunch, humidity swings register slowly at the core even when the wrapper reacts fast, so patience matters as much as precision — 65–70% is the target. Cohiba's polished cedar-and-cream register is the first thing to blur if the humidor runs damp, so keep the swing narrow rather than chasing a single target number. Allow about five to seven days after unboxing for the cigar to settle into a new humidor before smoking it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cohiba Behike 52 taste like?
Expect cedar, cream and clean coffee, followed by cocoa, sweet hay, toasted almond and the deeper texture associated with medio tiempo in the filler. The finish usually moves toward espresso, cedar oil and a measured pepper on the retrohale, with balance depending on age, storage and smoking pace.
Is Cohiba Behike 52 suitable for beginners?
It can be, but Cohiba rewards a slow cadence and some palate experience. Newer smokers should choose smaller or medium-bodied formats first, while collectors may prefer special releases for slower, more deliberate sessions.
Should I age this Cohiba?
This strength level tends to reward moderate aging — a year or two rounds off the sharper edges without flattening the character that makes it distinctive. The larger gauge means more tobacco to work through, so meaningful change with age tends to show up gradually over a longer horizon than with a slimmer vitola. The gains described above assume consistent conditions throughout; inconsistent storage undermines aging rather than accelerating it.
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