Cohiba Behike 56 Review: Is the World’s Most Coveted Cigar Worth $128?

Yes. The Cohiba Behike 56 justifies every dollar of its $128-per-cigar price tag with a 90-minute smoking experience that stands alone in the Cuban cigar world. Built around the exceptionally rare medio tiempo leaf, this 6 5/8″ by 56 ring gauge powerhouse delivers layers of dark chocolate, espresso, and aromatic wood that no other cigar in regular production can replicate. It is not merely expensive. It is genuinely, demonstrably extraordinary.

The Story Behind the Behike

To understand the Behike 56, you need to understand what makes it different from every other Cohiba, and in fact, from every other Cuban cigar in production. The answer is a single tobacco leaf called medio tiempo.

Medio tiempo leaves grow at the very top of the tobacco plant, above the ligero priming that forms the backbone of most full-bodied Cuban blends. The critical detail is this: fewer than 10% of tobacco plants in Cuba’s Vuelta Abajo region actually develop medio tiempo leaves. The plant must be exceptionally vigorous, the growing conditions precisely right, and the harvesting timing exact. When these conditions align, the resulting leaf has absorbed more sunlight and developed more oils and sugars than any other priming on the plant.

Cohiba, established in 1966 as Fidel Castro’s personal cigar brand and produced at the legendary El Laguito factory in Havana, introduced the Behike line in 2010 as the ultimate expression of what Cuban tobacco can achieve. Three sizes were released: the Behike 52 (a short, punchy robusto), the Behike 54 (a balanced Laguito No. 5), and the Behike 56, the largest and most complete expression of the blend.

The Behike 56 is the flagship. Its generous 56 ring gauge gives the blend room to breathe and allows the medio tiempo component to express itself fully across an extended smoking time. A box of 10 is priced at $1,281.40, making this one of the most expensive regular-production cigars in the world. But “expensive” and “overpriced” are very different things, and the Behike 56 falls firmly in the former category.

Construction and First Impressions

The presentation begins before you even open the box. The Behike line uses Cohiba’s distinctive black and gold livery, with the Taino Indian head logo and a secondary band specific to the Behike series featuring a holographic security element. Counterfeiting is rampant with this cigar, and I cannot stress this enough: buy only from trusted sources. If the price seems too good to be true, it is.

The cigar itself is a beautiful object. The wrapper is typically a rich, dark Colorado Maduro shade, oily and nearly flawless. At 56 ring gauge it sits heavy in the hand, with a firmness that suggests dense, well-packed tobacco without any hardness that would restrict the draw. The triple cap is applied with the kind of precision you expect from El Laguito’s top rollers.

The cold draw is revelatory. Even before you light this cigar, you get a rush of dried fruit, cocoa nibs, and something distinctly sweet, almost like brown sugar. The draw resistance is perfectly calibrated, offering just enough pushback to slow you down without requiring effort.

I have smoked approximately forty Behike 56s over the past several years, across different box codes and production years. Construction has been consistently excellent, with perhaps two cigars requiring minor touch-ups on the burn line. For a cigar of this complexity and price, that track record is very good.

Flavor Profile by Thirds

First Third: The Overture

The Behike 56 opens with restrained power. The first draws deliver rich dark chocolate, immediately deeper and more intense than what you find in Cohiba’s Siglo or Linea Clasica ranges. There is an espresso bitterness that sits underneath the chocolate, not harsh but persistent, like the finish of a well-pulled ristretto.

Within the first inch, aromatic wood emerges. This is not the straightforward cedar you encounter in most Cuban cigars. It is more nuanced, closer to sandalwood or aged oak, with a warmth that fills the sinuses on the retrohale. There is also a subtle sweetness that appears intermittently, a honeyed quality that comes and goes and keeps you paying attention.

The smoke production is immense. Thick, creamy clouds billow with each draw, and the aroma is intoxicating. If you are smoking this around others, be prepared for comments. Even non-cigar smokers notice that the Behike smells different from ordinary cigars.

Strength at this point is solidly medium. The Behike 56 does not start with a punch. It starts with a handshake, firm and confident, making clear that there is considerable power in reserve.

Second Third: Where the Medio Tiempo Speaks

This is where the Behike 56 separates itself from every other cigar I have smoked. As the burn line enters the second third, the medio tiempo leaf begins to assert itself, and the effect is transformative.

The dark chocolate intensifies and acquires a bittersweet quality reminiscent of 80% cacao. Toasted nuts, specifically almonds and hazelnuts, appear on the palate and create a textural richness that is almost buttery. The espresso note evolves into something more complex, carrying hints of anise and dark fruit.

There is a sweetness here that defies easy description. It is not sugary or cloying. It is more like the natural sweetness you taste in well-aged tobacco that has been properly fermented, a depth of flavor that cannot be replicated through artificial means. This is the medio tiempo signature: a sweetness born from the leaf itself, developed through years of Cohiba’s proprietary extra fermentation process.

The retrohale in the second third is spectacular. Pushing smoke through the nose reveals layers of flavor that do not appear on the palate alone: dried flowers, white pepper, a mineral quality almost like wet stone. The complexity is staggering, and each draw seems to reveal something slightly different from the last.

Strength has risen to medium-full. There is a building nicotine presence that adds gravitas without causing discomfort, provided you maintain a measured pace of one draw per minute.

Final Third: The Grand Finale

Where many powerful cigars falter in their final act, the Behike 56 crescendos. The last two inches deliver the most concentrated, intense flavors of the entire experience. Dark roast coffee, bitter chocolate, black pepper, and a leathery richness converge into a flavor profile that is simultaneously bold and harmonious.

The sweetness from the second third persists, acting as a counterbalance to the building intensity. This is the genius of the Behike blend: at no point does the cigar become one-dimensional, even at full throttle. The wood notes return with authority, now closer to charred oak, and there is a new mineral quality on the finish, almost saline, that adds yet another dimension.

The final draws, if you can make it that far, are full-bodied and deeply satisfying. The cigar ends on a high note, leaving a flavor impression that lingers on the palate for a good twenty minutes after you set it down. This is the kind of finish that makes you sit quietly and reflect rather than immediately reaching for another cigar.

How the Behike 56 Compares

Behike 56 vs. Cohiba Siglo VI

The Cohiba Siglo VI is itself an outstanding cigar, arguably the best in the Siglo line, and it costs roughly $38 per stick, less than a third of the Behike 56. The Siglo VI delivers classic Cohiba character: cedar, cream, coffee, and a refined progression that satisfies from start to finish. What it lacks is the medio tiempo dimension. The Behike 56 possesses a depth of sweetness, a textural richness, and a complexity of transitions that the Siglo VI simply cannot match. Is the Behike three times better? That depends on your palate and your budget. But it is meaningfully, undeniably different, and for many smokers that difference justifies the premium. For a deeper comparison, see our Behike vs. Siglo VI guide.

Behike 56 vs. Behike 52 and 54

The three Behike sizes share the same blend but express it differently. The Behike 52 is a concentrated burst of 40 minutes, intense and immediate. The Behike 54 finds a middle ground with about 60 minutes and a more balanced delivery. The 56 is the most complete version of the blend, offering the longest development arc and the most nuanced transitions. If you can only buy one, the 56 is the definitive Behike experience.

Behike 56 vs. Trinidad Fundadores

The Trinidad Fundadores is sometimes compared to the Behike as a similarly exclusive Cuban cigar. While the Fundadores is elegant and refined, it occupies a different flavor space entirely: lighter, more floral, more contemplative. The Behike 56 is richer, darker, and more powerful. They are both exceptional cigars, but they satisfy different cravings. Choosing between them is a matter of mood rather than quality.

Aging and Storage

The Behike 56 is one of the finest aging candidates in the Cuban portfolio. Fresh, it is already outstanding. With three to five years at 65% humidity, the rough edges polish away and the medio tiempo sweetness integrates more deeply into the overall profile. At seven to ten years, the cigar reaches a level of refinement that is genuinely breathtaking, the chocolate becomes truffle-like, the wood becomes resinous and complex, and the transitions flow like movements in a symphony.

Given the investment involved, I strongly recommend buying more than you plan to smoke immediately. The transformation with age is worth the patience, and finding Behikes in the future is never guaranteed due to production constraints. For more on why Cohiba cigars command premium prices, our guide covers the full story.

Practical Considerations

Budget 90 minutes for this cigar, and choose your moment carefully. This is not a cigar you rush through during a commercial break. Find a quiet evening, pour something worthy (a well-aged rum, a fine Cognac, or a rich single malt), and give the Behike the attention it demands.

Use a straight cut or a punch rather than a V-cut. The 56 ring gauge delivers enough smoke volume with a standard cut, and a punch helps moderate the draw if you find yourself smoking too fast.

Eat beforehand. The nicotine content, while not overwhelming for an experienced smoker, is substantial across 90 minutes. A full stomach ensures you enjoy the experience rather than fighting it.

Browse the full Cohiba range and pricing to explore more from Cuba’s most prestigious marca.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Cohiba Behike 56 so expensive?

Three factors drive the price. First, the medio tiempo leaf used in the blend is exceptionally rare, developing on fewer than 10% of tobacco plants. Second, the cigars are produced at El Laguito by Cohiba’s most experienced rollers, limiting production volume. Third, the tobacco undergoes Cohiba’s proprietary extended fermentation process, which adds time and cost but produces flavors unavailable in other cigars. Supply consistently falls short of demand, which sustains the premium pricing.

How can I tell if a Cohiba Behike is authentic?

Authentic Behikes feature a holographic security band with the Taino head logo that shifts when tilted, micro-printed text visible under magnification, and a specific texture on the secondary Behike band. The box should have a Habanos serial number on the bottom that can be verified on the Habanos S.A. verification website. Most importantly, purchase only from established, reputable retailers. The Behike is among the most counterfeited cigars in the world, and if a deal appears unusually cheap, it almost certainly involves fakes.

Is the Behike 56 too strong for a new cigar smoker?

The Behike 56 is a medium-full cigar that builds in strength across its 90-minute duration. For someone new to cigars, it would likely be overwhelming, both in nicotine content and in the commitment of time and cost required to appreciate it. New smokers would benefit from starting with medium-bodied Cuban cigars and developing their palate before investing in the Behike. The cigar reveals its greatest rewards to smokers who have enough experience to recognize what makes it special.

How long should I age a Cohiba Behike 56?

The Behike 56 is excellent fresh but reaches its peak between five and ten years of proper aging at 63-65% relative humidity. The medio tiempo sweetness integrates more fully, the transitions become smoother, and the overall complexity deepens significantly. If you purchase a box, I recommend smoking one or two upon arrival to establish a baseline, then revisiting the remaining cigars annually to track the evolution. The patience is rewarded with one of the most refined smoking experiences available in tobacco.