Behike 52 - Review

[Orion21]

Last night I was feeling especially happy for a number of different reasons having to do with my career and family, so I decided to spoil myself. After going to a nice dinner with my father (the wife is out of town) we decided to enjoy the beautiful evening and enjoy a cigar or two. The Behike 52 I smoked was my second cigar of the evening having smoked a fantastic H. Upmann Sir Winston beforehand. After drinking a bottle of water to rid myself of that AWFULly good Upmann I pulled out my last BHK 52 from the first box I purchased almost exactly a year ago. This makes me think . . . 10 Behike 52's in one year who do I think I am Nino???? Anyway to the review:

This rather roughly wrapped Behike smelled of sweet grass and what raw cane sugar tastes like if that makes any sense? Having sat in my humidor for an entire year I think it was ready to be enjoyed.

I cut just enough off the head to take of the pigtail and some of the surrounding cap. One piece of advice (like I'm an expert) every single one I have smoked has had a loose draw. Not slightly loose, loose as in kind of a wind tunnel. I would normally punch a cigar like this, but the cutter does a fine job shaving off just enough of the cap. I lit this Behike with a match, unlike the torch lighter I usually use because I was feeling all nostalgic smoking with my old man. Being a complete novice with a match (like a rotary phone) I think I messed up the burn of the cigar for the first third, but the wrapper tried really hard to correct itself for the full 55 minutes it took me to nub this beauty. Speaking of the wrapper is their anything even close to the silkiness of the leaf used for this cigar? It feels like you are smoking something wrapped in tobacco flavored silk.

The first third of the cigar opened with sweet grass and cream. To be totally Frank, Behike takes the definition of "refined" to a new level. This 52 (and all the others before it) are like smoking silk chiffon flavored with sweet grass, citrus (at times), cane sugar and cream. Two puffs in and I was reclining back with my eyes closed thinking "if only I were Rob Ayala..." The only negative comment I have is that the 1st third smoked way too fast do to the loose draw. 94 points

In the second third I found no transition of any kind from the first third. However, the cigar started to burn less quickly and the wonky burn I created evened out quite a bit. I continued to notice sweet grass and sugar cane, but the creaminess of the cigar was what I really noticed. I gave my Dad a chance to try it and he let out a few choice words I can't post, but suffice to say he claimed it was the smoothest cigar he has ever tried. I told him since he's a rich guy he should buy all of the 52's on the market and when he asked how much I made the mistake of telling the truth, intern he said he'd pass...damn! 96 points

The final third -- this time was bound to come This is where the first transition of the cigar occurred when a leathery spice joined the sweet grass and the cream started to diminish slightly. I was very happy to have the addition of the spice, which was not due to heat, because it enhanced the grassy sweetness and made the creaminess of the cigar seem almost oily. For whatever reason the spice sent my saliva glands into overdrive and I was forced to take sips of water with almost every puff. A little annoying since that never happens to me, but drinking the water was refreshing and reinforced how truly sweet this cigar ended up being. My mouth still tastes sweet from this cigar over 12 hours after smoking it. Quite nice actually . 98 points

Summary

Talking with fellow FOH members I had decided to swear off Behike due to the extreme premium of the Cohiba name and supposedly "special" tobacco used for the blend. Boy am I going to be eating crow when I end up buying a couple more boxes to join the box of 10 I have reserved for aging. It pains me to say that while smoking this cigar I kept thinking that their price is justified because they are just that much better than anything I have smoked in a very long time. Maybe "better" isn't the correct word -- different is more appropriate. No other cigar I have smoked with less than 2 years of age on it is this refined, flavorful and provides this level of smoking pleasure. They just don't exist in the marketplace because I have looked high and low. Yes, there are fantastic cigars like the Montecristo Grand Edmundo, some young Bolivar Royal Coronas and Upmann No. 2's I have smoked, but all of them have a bit of "trailer park" edginess compared to Behike. Seriously, I smoked an H. Upmann Sir Winston from 2007 beforehand and the Behike made the refinement of that cigar seem like it was a young Partagas D4. Suffice to say I love the Behike 52 and even the 54 to some extent, but if I had my choice for a Final Meal cigar I would choose the Behike 52. Final Score 96

[canadianbeaver]

Great review - Thank you. I totally agree.

L

[UpInSmoak]

Great review! One question I have to ask - If you were smoking the last of your 52s, what was you dad smoking along side you?

[Colt45]

Thanks for the great review!

Pics can be hard to judge, but from how they look, it's great to see silky smooth colorado / claro wrappers instead of what seems to be

the more usual rough and dark. How did you find the body overall? Any thoughts on flavor / body had the draw been a bit more firm?

As for wishing to be Ayala.....

You'd have seared off your eyebrows.

Been banned from any number of hotels.

Forgotten your wife's 40th birthday.

Lost all sorts of electronic devices, and watches.

Tried to drive a motorcycle with a glass of wine in one hand, and a cigar in the other.

Been seen at your child's sleepover in a short T Shirt - and nothing else.

Reported all of the above, and more, on an international forum.

Been a great mate to people around the world.

[Puros Y Vino]

Excellent review Aaron. Not my favourite BHK (BHK54 FTW. ) but definitely a classy cigar by all means.

[Orion21]

Thanks for the great review!

Pics can be hard to judge, but from how they look, it's great to see silky smooth colorado / claro wrappers instead of what seems to be

the more usual rough and dark. How did you find the body overall? Any thoughts on flavor / body had the draw been a bit more firm?

As for wishing to be Ayala.....

You'd have seared off your eyebrows.

Been banned from any number of hotels.

Forgotten your wife's 40th birthday.

Lost all sorts of electronic devices, and watches.

Tried to drive a motorcycle with a glass of wine in one hand, and a cigar in the other.

Been seen at your child's sleepover in a short T Shirt - and nothing else.

Reported all of the above, and more, on an international forum.

Been a great mate to people around the world.

The body of the smoke was middle of the road due to the loose draw and yes I think if the draw had been more firm the body would have been more full. In that case this would have been a nearly perfect cigar, minus the fact I had one out of this box with a citrus peal element that added to the complexity.

All in all, if there had been more tobacco to create a fuller volume of smoke, which helped to enhance the flavors, it would have been a 98 point cigar for sure. Add in the citrus and I would have easily given it 100, which I have never done. But sadly, ALL of my Behike have had loosish draws and some have complain that the 56 are so loose it ruins the cigar.

[canadianbeaver]

Honestly, is there such a thing as a 100? What would you have to look forward to after that?

Only CA gives those out, after perhaps months and months of full page advertising $$

[ckearns]

Really great review my friend. My mouth watered as I read your fantastic descriptions of cigar bliss. Thanks for a detailed write-up and wonderful photos.

[laficion]

Orion,

Great review with great photos of a fine cigar,

the 52's are excellent cigars, Bravo!!

Allow me to say that the luxury was not in smoking that Cohiba,

the real luxury was sharing a great evening with your Dad.

[Puros Y Vino]

Allow me to say that the luxury was not in smoking that Cohiba,

the real luxury was sharing a great evening with your Dad.

Well put Guy. As a bastard child myself. I wholeheartedly agree.

In all seriousness, my father passed away 20+ years ago and I would have loved to share a cigar or two with him. Embrace what you have so you don't have to regret what you've missed.

[Orion21]

Great review! One question I have to ask - If you were smoking the last of your 52s, what was you dad smoking along side you?

He was smoking a favorite of his a Chateau Fuente Pyramid. We procured a handful of boxes together about a month ago and he is still letting them sit.

[Orion21]

Orion,

Great review with great photos of a fine cigar,

the 52's are excellent cigars, Bravo!!

Allow me to say that the luxury was not in smoking that Cohiba,

the real luxury was sharing a great evening with your Dad.

Very true Guy. It's a family tradition. My father smoked cigars with his father and grandfather. I don't get the pleasure of smoking with my grandfather, but the time with my Dad is fun. He's come a long way from the days of his Garcia Vega cigars in the plastic tube

[Scdalak]

Excellent review Aaron. Not my favourite BHK (BHK54 FTW. ) but definitely a classy cigar by all means.

Oh what do you know anyway Frank???

[NMJoe]

Orion,

Thanks for the review. Great job!

I so want to get a box of these or the 54s, but man, that's a lot of money for 10 sticks, and I go back to the argument so often seen...value. But if it's one of the best you'll ever have, how do you measure value? I really need to try one. :-)

Cheers!

Joe

[celtmick1984]

I'm planning to sample my through the Behike line for the next three birthdays (if I can wait). Reviews like this make me look forward to birthdays.