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Cohiba Behike 56 Ceramic Jar Review: The Ultimate Cuban Cigar Experience
Review: Cohiba Behike 56 Ceramic Jar — A Cigar That Asks for Reverence
There is a quiet reverence that comes with holding a Cohiba Behike 56, especially when it rests within its ceramic jar. Certain cigars ask more of us. They invite patience. They invite presence. The Behike 56 is one of them.
When the lid is lifted, a gentle wave of tobacco aroma rises. Sweet. Earthy. Comforting. A cigar is never simply lit. It is introduced, observed, and appreciated. This is ritual as much as pleasure. It signals something rare, deliberate, and unmistakably Cuban.
The Presence of the Behike 56
The Behike 56 is the largest of the BHK line, a Toro measuring 6½ inches with a 56 ring gauge. Its proportions command attention, yet it never feels excessive. In the hand, it feels composed and balanced.
The craftsmanship is precise. The wrapper is smooth and silky. The triple cap is finished with a subtle pigtail. The construction is firm without being rigid. It does not rely on display. It carries itself with quiet confidence.
What truly distinguishes the Behike is the inclusion of the rare Medio Tiempo leaf. These leaves grow at the very top of the tobacco plant, where sunlight is strongest and nutrients are most concentrated. They are scarce. They are powerful. They are responsible for the depth and character that define this cigar.
The Behike 56 never rushes its story. It unfolds with intention.
The First Draw: Tasting Notes Begin
There is always a pause before flame meets foot. That pause allows the cigar to speak even before it is lit.
The cold draw offers cedar and soft earth, with a restrained sweetness that suggests complexity ahead. When lit, the first third opens gently and with refinement.
You Will Notice
- Honeyed sweetness resting on the palate
- Soft cedar and mild earth beneath
- A subtle floral note reminiscent of rosewater
- A creamy texture that coats without heaviness
It begins composed and assured. The smoke is smooth and measured, never aggressive.
The Middle Movement
As the cigar settles, the experience deepens. Butter becomes more pronounced. Honey remains present, now joined by a delicate citrus brightness that lifts the profile. The texture turns velvety, almost syrup-like, yet it maintains balance.
There is only a trace of spice. Through the retrohale, a faint lavender nuance appears. It is enough to remind that this cigar has strength, though it chooses restraint over intensity.
The burn remains straight. The ash holds firmly. The draw feels natural and effortless, reflecting careful cultivation and skilled hands.
The Final Third: Depth Without Aggression
In the final third, the strength deepens slightly. It asserts its pedigree without overpowering the palate.
- Salted peanut richness
- Lingering rosewater sweetness
- Cedar threading consistently through each draw
- A fading echo of sweet bread
The intensity builds gracefully. The finish lengthens. Even at its fullest expression, the smoke remains smooth to the end.
The Ceramic Jar: A Ritual Before the Ritual
The ceramic jar holding 25 Cohiba Behike 56 cigars is far more than presentation. It is preservation. It protects against light and fluctuations in humidity. It safeguards the oils within the wrapper and maintains the integrity of each cigar.
Lifting the lid releases the concentrated aroma of aged tobacco. Before a single cigar is selected, there is already an experience unfolding. It encourages a slower pace and a deeper appreciation.
Behike 56 Compared: How It Stands in the BHK Line
For those weighing the Cohiba Behike 56 against the Cohiba Behike 52, the distinction lies in ring gauge and smoking time. The BHK 52 is a slimmer Petit Robusto offering a more concentrated burst of flavor in roughly 45 minutes. The BHK 56, with its wider gauge, stretches the experience past 90 minutes and allows the Medio Tiempo leaf to express itself more gradually across all three thirds. Both share the same rare blend, yet the 56 rewards patience with a fuller, more layered journey.
Who Is the Behike 56 For?
This cigar rewards experience. A newcomer may appreciate it, yet the seasoned smoker will better understand its balance, its restraint, and its quiet power.
The Cohiba Behike 56 Ceramic Jar (25) is not about display or excess. It is about moment and mastery. It is chosen when the occasion calls for reflection and when time itself is meant to be honored.
Cigars at this level represent tradition shaped by soil, climate, and artisan hands. The Behike 56 stands as an expression of that heritage, offering depth, refinement, and continuity in every draw.
Ready to experience the Cohiba Behike 56 Ceramic Jar?
I’ve smoked the Behike 54 many times. Is the 56 really that different, or should I just stick with what I know?
Carlos, if you love the 54, you already appreciate the Behike blend. The 56 takes that same DNA but stretches it across a wider gauge and longer format. What changes is the pacing — the flavors develop more gradually, and the middle third in particular becomes richer and more layered. The 54 is intense and concentrated; the 56 is expansive and contemplative. Most collectors who try both end up keeping both in rotation for different moods.
I keep hearing about the ceramic jar vs the regular box of Behike 56. Is there actually a difference in how the cigars smoke, or is it just about looks?
Great question, James. The ceramic jar is not just presentation — it genuinely helps preserve the cigars. Ceramic insulates against temperature swings and blocks light, both of which can degrade wrapper oils over time. Many customers tell us the cigars from a jar taste slightly smoother after extended storage compared to a standard dress box. That said, the blend is identical. The jar gives you better long-term protection and, honestly, a beautiful display piece that doubles as a functional humidor vessel.
What would you pair with a Behike 56? I usually go with whisky but I’m open to suggestions.
Whisky is a natural match, Peter. A well-aged single malt with sherry cask influence — something like a Macallan 18 — complements the honeyed sweetness beautifully. If you want to try something different, a VSOP or XO Cognac works remarkably well, especially during the creamy middle third. Some of our customers also swear by a dark, full-bodied espresso alongside the final third, where the cedar and nutty notes really shine against the coffee’s bitterness.
How long does a Behike 56 actually last? I want to make sure I set aside enough time.
You will want at least 90 minutes, David, and closer to two hours if you smoke at a relaxed pace. The 56 ring gauge means there is a lot of tobacco to work through, and this cigar genuinely rewards a slow approach. Rushing it can bring out bitterness that simply is not there when you let each draw breathe. Block out the afternoon and give it the time it deserves.