Cohiba Behike 54 BHK

[Jaksen]

I was thinking i should do something special with this cigar, being a Behike, despite my usual ritual of toasting with my trusted Dupont torch lighter. So I opened up a box of cedar matches and one by one toasted the cigar. With the Behike in one hand and a glass of Pinot Noir in the other, let the toasting begin…

This cigar is nothing like its younger brother. It’s light bodied and milky, with a citrus finish. There is milk on the draw, citrus on the tongue, coffee in the aftertaste and a delightful light sweet toasted scent. I rate it 92 based on a single stick dated 2010.

I would compare the taste to the Bolivar family.

[finecigar]

Nice review, thoroughly enjoyed reading it! I have heard different reactions from the cigar. Personally, I enjoyed the 52 more than the 54 but had some similar qualities. I will buy more in the future but for the price it seems to be a little under developed. Maybe adding a few years age could make some in the 97-8 range, who knows...

I guess it is just a "once in awhile cigar," for most of cigar smokers...

Thanks again for the nice review

[anacostiakat]

I look forward to trying one if they ever get off of backorder.

[Habanakane21]

Looking forward to trying my Behike's. I have the 3 cigar sampler. For my 40th birthday in Nov I have the 3 Behikes and 1 Gran Reserve waiting for me. Can't wait. Thanks for the review I'm a Boli guy..so I'm excited.

[thechenman]

Looking forward to trying the BHK54 myself. Can't hardly wait.

[micha]

Looking forward to trying my Behike's. I have the 3 cigar sampler. For my 40th birthday in Nov I have the 3 Behikes and 1 Gran Reserve waiting for me. Can't wait. Thanks for the review I'm a Boli guy..so I'm excited.

That's gonna be a beautiful birthday party. I'd love to try the Grand Reserva, having seen the video review it must be an absolute cracker.

I haven't tried a Behike yet but this review makes me think about buying one (don't know which one though). I'm just not sure if they are worth the high price point. Probably no real "bang for the buck".

[CanuckSARTech]

I don't know.

Sorry, good review, Jaksen. I don't mean anything about your review - the thoughts and pictures were great, thank you. But I just don't know about the use of generally bothering with these.

I think there's just a lot of hype surrounding these Behike releases. Have I ever had one? No. Would I like to? Sure, I'd love to try one or two. But, with what I've been seeing about them in various reviews, I just don't know if they're worth the coin, based on what seems like so-so performance here and there. I don't know if I'd go out of my way to buy and age a box. Like I said, I'd still like to try one - you can't really be a fair judge if you haven't tasted the food, right? And, the Behike and the Gran Reservas are both very prestigious cigars based on their design and release/availability. But it just seems like another price-raiser to me.

I really like the flavour profiles of the regular Cohibas (Robustos, Lanceros, Esplendidos, Siglo VI's, Panetelas) - and those have enough of a price premium as it is.

Am I thinking wrong on this?

[MontrealRon]

I don't know.

Sorry, good review, Jaksen. I don't mean anything about your review - the thoughts and pictures were great, thank you. But I just don't know about the use of generally bothering with these.

I think there's just a lot of hype surrounding these Behike releases. Have I ever had one? No. Would I like to? Sure, I'd love to try one or two. But, with what I've been seeing about them in various reviews, I just don't know if they're worth the coin, based on what seems like so-so performance here and there. I don't know if I'd go out of my way to buy and age a box. Like I said, I'd still like to try one - you can't really be a fair judge if you haven't tasted the food, right? And, the Behike and the Gran Reservas are both very prestigious cigars based on their design and release/availability. But it just seems like another price-raiser to me.

I really like the flavour profiles of the regular Cohibas (Robustos, Lanceros, Esplendidos, Siglo VI's, Panetelas) - and those have enough of a price premium as it is.

Am I thinking wrong on this?

In Bordeaux grand cru wines, a higher classification (fixed in 1855!) can mean a tremendous price differential, even when there is little if any difference in quality. Price correlates more with prestige than with any objective standards. The top wines are designed for, and promoted to, those who can pay the outrageous prices asked. (BTW, I am old enough to remember when Chateaux Latour and Margaux could be had for $15/bottle. I was able to try a few even while earning $85 clear/week.

Today it would cost roughly a full week's pay, at a much higher relative salary, for a single bottle.)

Same principle with cigars.

While I can see the allure in trying a few of the latest high end releases,

they are designed for, and promoted to, those of very high income,

mostly for their supposed prestige.

Yet I seriously doubt that they any better, objectively, than the best of current regular releases,

or some of the recent deletions.

[micha]

I don't know.

Sorry, good review, Jaksen. I don't mean anything about your review - the thoughts and pictures were great, thank you. But I just don't know about the use of generally bothering with these.

I think there's just a lot of hype surrounding these Behike releases. Have I ever had one? No. Would I like to? Sure, I'd love to try one or two. But, with what I've been seeing about them in various reviews, I just don't know if they're worth the coin, based on what seems like so-so performance here and there. I don't know if I'd go out of my way to buy and age a box. Like I said, I'd still like to try one - you can't really be a fair judge if you haven't tasted the food, right? And, the Behike and the Gran Reservas are both very prestigious cigars based on their design and release/availability. But it just seems like another price-raiser to me.

I really like the flavour profiles of the regular Cohibas (Robustos, Lanceros, Esplendidos, Siglo VI's, Panetelas) - and those have enough of a price premium as it is.

Am I thinking wrong on this?

I totally agree with your points. As much as I would love to try one of those (thanks for this great review, sounds very tasty and 92 is a top score), the price point on those sticks is insane in my humble opinion. I just checked a local dealer and a Behike 54 is priced at 36 € which would be around 46 $ (cigar pricing in Germany is totally insane anyway). Same money would buy me two Sir Winstons or two CoRos, for the price of one Behike 56 I can almost get three Partagas Lusitanias. Not that I want to compare them flavourwise (couldn't anyway 'cause I haven't tried the Behikes), but the point is that I really don't believe that this huge difference in pricing is justified in any way. Just like anybody else I'm trying to get the best possible smoke out of my hard earned bucks, so the price automatically comes into consideration when deciding on which cigars to smoke or to store.

Before really getting into Cuban cigars I was highly sceptical about the Cohiba brand and the fuss that is being made about it. Having tried quite a few I had to correct my point of view. I think they have a very unique flavour profile and some great cigars that I really adore. They sure are fairly high priced but most of the ones I had up to now were well above average and worth their money.

I'm okay with spending more than usual on a really great cigar but this is just not sensible any more, especially not when compared to other Cohibas.

For the Gran Reserva I think a little different: It has seven years of age on it right out of the box, if you watch the video review you can see by their enjoyment that it is probably one of the best smokes that Rob and Smithy ever had. It is definitely nothing I would or could ever buy a box of, but I believe the chances are very much higher that even with paying double price (of the Behike) I would still be satisfied afterwards. It is a smoke I would consider for a very special occasion, I'm not sure if it could deliver what I would be expecting, but I'm much more in doubt with the Behike...

[CanuckSARTech]

I'm okay with spending more than usual on a really great cigar but this is just not sensible any more, especially not when compared to other Cohibas.

For the Gran Reserva I think a little different: It has seven years of age on it right out of the box, if you watch the video review you can see by their enjoyment that it is probably one of the best smokes that Rob and Smithy ever had. It is definitely nothing I would or could ever buy a box of, but I believe the chances are very much higher that even with paying double price (of the Behike) I would still be satisfied afterwards. It is a smoke I would consider for a very special occasion, I'm not sure if it could deliver what I would be expecting, but I'm much more in doubt with the Behike...

Both excellent observations, and I fully agree.

Yes, certain things (Cohiba, Trinidad Robusto T's, select EL's, etc) are definitely worth paying a price premium on.

And, the Gran Reserva definitely appears to be that. That is one I probably would not turn down should I have the opportunity to buy a single or two.

But, I just don't know about the Behikes - it just seems like a fad stogie / money-making venture for Habanos S.A., trying to capitalize on the original Behike.

Don't get me wrong - I'd still love to try one. I just don't feel like searching them out, nor paying the big bucks for them. I'd rather spend that coin on tracking down some more boxes of Diplomaticos No. 4's, or something like that.

[micha]

But, I just don't know about the Behikes - it just seems like a fad stogie / money-making venture for Habanos S.A., trying to capitalize on the original Behike.

Don't get me wrong - I'd still love to try one. I just don't feel like searching them out, nor paying the big bucks for them. I'd rather spend that coin on tracking down some more boxes of Diplomaticos No. 4's, or something like that.

Just the way I see it, but if we ever get our hands on them by chance we should put them to test in a live review. Would be fun, so save it up, if you get one unaskedly for christmas.

[CanuckSARTech]

Just the way I see it, but if we ever get our hands on them by chance we should put them to test in a live review. Would be fun, so save it up, if you get one unaskedly for christmas.

LOL. I haven't been good enough this year for me to get that for Christmas. Maybe a box of SDN4's, but probably not a couple of Behikes!

[Charltonc]

It is all marketing. I have learned that most things overhyped aren't as good as they seem. A cigar with humility wins my heart, but that is just my two senses. What is next for Behike a 60 gauge, come on. Donkey **** cigars all over the place. I can understand 52, but anything above becomes too much for me. This is just my opinion and opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.

[LeafLover]

[Donkey **** cigars all over the place.

LOL!

Yah, kinda hard for me to smoke large rg's as it's definitely the mouth feel for me which keeps me away from them. But, this quote from Charlton definitely / for sure / oh-hell no, will keep me away from even attempting to smoke a large rg ever again.

[sbarford]

[Donkey **** cigars all over the place.

LOL!

Yah, kinda hard for me to smoke large rg's as it's definitely the mouth feel for me which keeps me away from them. But, this quote from Charlton definitely / for sure / oh-hell no, will keep me away from even attempting to smoke a large rg ever again.

I tried the Behike 52 a few weeks ago. It was a good cigar and I would like to try another, but I agree that the price on these doesn't match my enjoyment of the cigar. Frankly there are many other cigars I would smoke over the Behike 52. Now the Gran Reserva...that's a cigar that is worth the ridiculous price tag of $150 bucks a pop here in Canada.