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Cohiba Behike 52 (BHK 52): Specs, Tasting Notes and Buying Guide

Written by the Cigars Parlor editorial team. Last updated: October 24, 2026.

In 2010, the tasting panel at Cigar Aficionado picked the smallest of three new Cohiba sizes as its best cigar in the world, and the BHK 52 earned a 97 as Cigar of the Year.

Quick answer: Cohiba Behike 52 (BHK 52) is a Cuban 4¾ x 52 petit robusto rolled at El Laguito in Havana and blended with rare medio tiempo leaf. Cigar Aficionado named it 2010 Cigar of the Year. Expect a creamy medium-to-full smoke with nuts, spice and sweet cinnamon notes over about 45 minutes. It suits experienced smokers, and its price varies widely by seller.

Cohiba Behike 52 key specs

What makes the Cohiba Behike 52 different?

The Cohiba Behike 52 stands apart because its blend adds medio tiempo, a scarce top-of-plant leaf, to Cuban long filler inside a short, thick body. Cigar Aficionado’s panel scored it 94 in a June 2010 vertical tasting, the best of the first three BHK sizes, as the magazine explains in its Cigar of the Year write-up.

How is it built?

All Cohiba sizes are described as long-filler and totally handmade. The BHK 52 has Cuban wrapper, binder and filler and finishes with a pigtail cap. Retailers describe its Colorado wrapper as reddish-brown. Its factory vitola name is Laguito No. 4.

What is medio tiempo?

Medio tiempo is a sun-grown leaf from the top of some, but not all, tobacco plants. Cigar Aficionado calls it flavorful and rarely seen, and Habanos first used it in the Cohiba Behike BHK sizes. Because the leaf is scarce, it helps explain why supply of this cigar is limited.

Where does the Behike name come from, and who makes it?

Behike was a Taíno chieftain or healer who led the tobacco smoking ritual, and the name marks Cohiba’s most exclusive line. Habanos S.A. unveiled the BHK 52, 54 and 56 at the XII Habanos Festival in Havana in February 2010, according to its official launch announcement.

• 2006: the first Cohiba Behike, a limited release of 4,000 cigars in 100 humidors, documented in halfwheel’s review of the original 2006 Behike.
• 2010: the BHK line launches, and the BHK 52 later becomes Cigar of the Year.
• 2025: Habanos marks 15 years of Cohiba Behike at the Festival del Habano.

The cigars are rolled at El Laguito, Cohiba’s original Havana factory. Habanos S.A. is the company that controls worldwide distribution of Cuban cigars.

What does the Cohiba Behike 52 taste like?

Published reviews describe a creamy, velvety smoke with nuts, spice, cinnamon sweetness, earthiness and a woody finish. The table compiles notes from Cigar Aficionado’s tasting reports, not a Cigars Parlor tasting. Individual boxes vary, so treat it as a typical profile.

Should you buy the Cohiba Behike 52? A decision guide

Buy it if you are an experienced smoker, can buy from a verified seller, and want a rich single-sitting Cuban for a special occasion. Wait or skip if any answer below is “no.”

Buy if: you collect Cuban cigars or want a gift with a well-documented history.
Wait if: the price is far above what you expected or the seller can’t prove authenticity.
Skip if: you are new to cigars, on a tight budget, or want a long, light smoke.

How does it compare with the BHK 54 and BHK 56?

Launch prices come from halfwheel’s 2010 review of the BHK 54, where the reviewer also found the BHK 52 the least distinctive of the three, so personal taste matters.

What should you pair with the Cohiba Behike 52?

Pair it with something sweet and unsmoky so the cinnamon and nut notes stay in front. These are tobacconist recommendations, not lab results.

A typical Friday-night scenario

This is an illustrative scenario, not a customer story. You sit outside with a small glass of aged rum. Expect a creamy, sweet-spice start. Rest the cigar between puffs. In the second third, earthy, coffee-like notes should take over, so switch to water or espresso if the rum feels too sweet. The last third is typically drier and woody, so stop before it turns hot.

How do you store, cut and light the Cohiba Behike 52?

Store it at about 68–70°F (20–21°C) and 65–70% relative humidity in a seasoned humidor. These are widely used tobacconist guidelines, not a brand specification.

• Humidor setup: season the box, use a calibrated hygrometer, and keep Cuban cigars away from flavored ones.
• Aging: reviews of different box dates vary, so rest a cigar for a few weeks and judge by taste.
• Cutting: remove the pigtail, then make a shallow straight cut or use a punch.
• Lighting: toast the foot with a soft flame or cedar spill, then draw gently so the burn stays even.

How do you buy a Cohiba Behike 52 online safely?

Buy from an authorized seller, check the box and band security features, and refuse deals that look too good. Cigar Aficionado’s guide on how to spot a fake Cohiba Behike BHK describes the repeating checkerboard of holographic Taíno head logos on the gold foil box.

• Single or box: a single lets you test; a full box suits gifting and aging.
• Freshness: ask for the box code and storage conditions. The wrapper should look smooth, not cracked, and the cigar should feel springy, not dry.
• Price check: UK retailer listings I reviewed varied widely, from roughly £250 to £400 per single, so compare several authorized sellers before paying.
• Before checkout: confirm authorization, return terms, shipping region and age verification.

A buyer’s mishap (typical, not a testimonial)

Imagine ordering a famous cigar from the cheapest page you could find. It arrives, you admire the band, and after one puff it tastes like a wet cardboard tube. The lesson is to buy from sellers who show box codes, name their sources and answer questions before you pay.

What do the numbers say about the Cuban cigar market?

Habanos S.A., which sells all Cuban cigars worldwide, reported record revenue of $827 million for 2024. Every figure below comes from halfwheel’s report on Habanos’ 2024 revenue, published February 25, 2025.

• 2024 revenue was $827 million, a record.
• That was 14.7% above 2023 (Habanos’ own release rounds it to 16%).
• Europe still accounted for more than half of sales.
• China was the largest market, followed by Spain, Switzerland, the UK and Germany.
• Habanos raised Cohiba prices sharply after 2022, which halfwheel described as doubling them.

Shipping, packaging, returns and age verification

Cigars Parlor ships only to destinations where selling and delivering tobacco is legal, and eligibility is confirmed at checkout. Cigars carry health risks, including cancer and heart disease, and are for adults only: 21+ in the US, or the legal smoking age in your country. Age verification is required at checkout.

• Legal: Cuban-origin cigars are generally prohibited from import into the United States under rules enforced by OFAC’s Cuba sanctions program. Tobacco marketing and online-sales rules are especially strict in Canada, Germany and France. Check current local law before ordering.
• Packaging: cigars ship in protective packaging so the box and bands arrive intact. See our shipping page for details.
• Returns: because cigars are age-restricted, humidity-sensitive products, return eligibility is set out on our returns page. Read it before you order.

Cohiba Behike 52 FAQs

What is the Cohiba Behike 52?
The Cohiba Behike 52, also written BHK 52, is a Cuban petit robusto of about 4¾ inches by 52 ring gauge. It is hand rolled at the El Laguito factory in Havana and is the smallest of the three BHK sizes Habanos S.A. launched in 2010. Its blend includes rare medio tiempo filler leaf.

What size is the Cohiba Behike 52?
Habanos S.A. lists the BHK 52 at 119 mm (about 4 11/16 inches) with a 52 ring gauge, and most retailers round this to 4¾ inches. The factory vitola name is Laguito No. 4. Boxes are commonly listed as 10 cigars, so confirm the count on your specific stock.

How strong is the Cohiba Behike 52?
Reviewers disagree slightly. Cigar Aficionado’s 2010 profile lists it as medium, while many retailers describe it as medium to full. A fair expectation is a creamy, layered smoke with noticeable spice that builds in the second half. Experienced smokers will find it comfortable; true beginners may find it intense.

How long does a Cohiba Behike 52 take to smoke?
Retailer listings typically put the smoke time between 40 and 60 minutes, with about 45 minutes the most common figure. Your actual time depends on your pace, the cigar’s humidity and how often you let it rest. Smoking slowly, roughly one puff a minute, keeps the cigar cool and the flavors distinct.

Why is the Cohiba Behike 52 so expensive?
Three factors combine: the brand’s top-tier positioning, limited supply of medio tiempo leaf, and strong global demand. Habanos also raised Cohiba prices sharply after 2022, which halfwheel reported as roughly doubling them. For context, the BHK 52 launched in 2010 at about $26 per cigar, so today’s prices reflect far more than inflation.

What is medio tiempo tobacco?
Medio tiempo is a sun-grown leaf from the very top of some, but not all, tobacco plants. It is flavorful and strong, and it is scarce, so it appears in the blend only in small amounts. Habanos S.A. introduced it in the three Behike BHK sizes in 2010. Its low yield limits production.

Is the Behike 52 the same as the original 2006 Behike?
No. The 2006 Cohiba Behike was a separate release, about 7 11/20 inches by 52 ring gauge, made as 100 humidors of 40 cigars (4,000 cigars) with a $440-per-cigar MSRP, according to halfwheel. The 2010 BHK line is a regular, though scarce, production range in three shorter and thicker sizes.

How can I tell if a Cohiba Behike 52 is fake?
Buy from an authorized Habanos distributor or a La Casa del Habano, then inspect the box. Cigar Aficionado notes the gold foil box repeats holographic Taíno head logos and Behike and Cohiba lettering in a checkerboard pattern, with embossed text. Check the band hologram, box code and seals against its counterfeit guide.

Can I buy a Cohiba Behike 52 in the United States?
Cuban-origin cigars are generally prohibited from import into the United States under U.S. sanctions, so most U.S. stores cannot sell them. Rules can change and have exceptions, so check current guidance from the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC and your local law before ordering. Laws differ elsewhere, especially in Canada, Germany and France.

How should I store a Cohiba Behike 52?
Keep it in a humidor at roughly 68–70°F (20–21°C) and 65–70% relative humidity, away from direct light and heat. Rest a newly received cigar for a few days before smoking if it has traveled. Keep it apart from strongly flavored cigars, and recalibrate your hygrometer regularly.

Is the Cohiba Behike 52 worth the price?
It is worth it if you value Cuban craftsmanship, a documented award-winning history and a rich short smoke, and you can buy from a verified seller. It is not worth it if you are new to cigars or buying from an unverified source. For better value, compare the larger BHK 54 and BHK 56.

Should I buy a single or a box?
Buy a single if you want to taste the cigar before committing, or if you smoke it for an occasion. Buy a box if you are gifting, collecting or have a humidor to age it in. Either way, check the box code, seals and seller authorization before paying.

Is the Cohiba Behike 52 worth it?

The Cohiba Behike 52 is a short, rich Cuban cigar with a documented history, a celebrated 2010 award and a scarce medio tiempo blend. It rewards experienced smokers who buy from verified sources and store it well. It is not a bargain, and it is not for beginners. If it fits your taste and your local law, add it to your cart, complete age verification and enjoy it slowly.