Cohiba Behike 56 Ceramic Jar

Description

Back to the Leaf: An Evening with the Cohiba Behike 56 Ceramic Jar
I remember the scent of Big Sal’s basement more than I remember what poker hands we cobbled together that night. It was a combination of old cedar, expensive bourbon and that unique, pungent smell of success tinged with stupidity that only empty-walleted men of means can create. I was the outlier. I was “clean” for five years.

Product Specifications

No tobacco, no nicotine, just fresh air and the occasional sticks of cinnamon gum to keep my hands out of trouble. I told myself that I didn’t miss it. I convinced myself that my palate had shifted. But then Sal went into his closet and pulled out this white-and-black ceramic jar.

HardwareIt looked more like a piece of Ming dynasty pottery than a cigar box. He laid it right there on the green felt, beside a stack of blue chips. I felt that old itch. Not only was I peaking, but my curiosity was screaming.

I’d heard about these. The Cohiba Behike 56. Not only the cigars, but the limited-edition jar. I eyed the pigtail cap protruding from the ceramic rim and I knew my five-year record was about to be up in smoke.

I told myself that if I was going to slip, I might as well fall into a pit of the best tobacco Cuba ever grew. The Transition: The Cohiba Behike 56
That smoke? It was a cigar, the Cohiba Behike 56 from the Ceramic Jar… it was more than just a cigar. It was a homecoming.

I scooped him up and felt the heft of him, knowing that I had never held anything exactly like this before. This was no skinny lancero, or a regular robusto. This was a statement. I mean a Laguito No. 6, one that feels like you’re holding a heavy baton in your hand.

It’s heavy, it’s daunting and it requires you to clear your schedule for the next two hours. Product Specifications
Vitola de Galera
Laguito No. 6 (Double Robusto)
Packaging
Limited Edition Ceramic Jar (25 Cigars)
Build: The “Tribal Chief” Feel
I have to say, just holding this crazy thing is an experience.

The wrapper is a beautiful, oily Colorado shade— not too dark and not so light either, just that perfect honeyed tan you only get from top-shelf Cuban leaf. I moved my thumb down the side and didn’t notice a single bulging vein. It’s smooth, almost like suede. And that pigtail cap?

It’s a small touch that tells you the rollers at El Laguito were taking their time. They were in no rush on this one. The pre-light draw was a beauty. After five years of nada, I was eleven on the ol’ sensometers.

I clipped off the end and took a cold draw. It was sweet hay and costly leather. The resistance was spot on. You ever smoked a cigar that was like sucking a milkshake through a straw?

This isn’t that. There’s a little bit of give, just enough to let you know it’s packed tight with that rare Vuelta Abajo tobacco, but it’s open enough to promise thick clouds of smoke. It had heft, density, was perfectly balanced in my hand while I fumbled with Sal’s large torch lighter. Flavor Profile: A Two-Hour Journey
The First Third: The Awakening
The second that foot went up in flames I knew I was in deep trouble.

The first few puffs were unexpectedly elegant. On such a long hiatus, I would have expected to get socked in face upon the first sip, however I was given a creamy grassy hello. It was like walking through a patch of fine tobacco in the morning dew. It’s got a clear honey sweetness that lands on the tip of the tongue, and then comes a sort of light toastiness.

It’s medium-bodied at the outset and very approachable, but you can sense the complexity lingering beneath. The smoke is thick — I mean the white, fluffy clouds that drift above, turning the poker table into something out of a noir flick. The Second Third: In the Belly of the Beast
Entering the second third, finally le BHK 56 was showing its teeth, though in a polite manner!

The creaminess remained, but it was now accompanied by a luxurious cedar note and a pop of vanilla. It’s strange when you ponder it, but on the tongue, it’s a master stroke. I began to detect some nutty flavors — walnuts here and there? — and a final touch of caramel. This is where the 56 ring gauge really has an advantage.

With all that tobacco crammed in there, the smoke stays cool, so all those delicate subtleties dance around without being torched. I wasn’t even considering the poker game. I was just sitting there, watching the ash — a nice solid salt-and-pepper grey — hold on for like two inches. Solid construction, for sure.

The Final Third – The Season Finale
By last third, it hit me with full body.

Now here is where the dark chocolate and roasted coffee notes emerged to join the party. It became darker, richer, more intense. And there was a leathery note that brought to mind the interior of a new car, along with the fiery jolt that warmed the back of my throat. But even right to the very last, it never got bitter.

I smoked it right down to the point where my fingers were howling from the heat, but it stayed cool and smooth all the way. Though it took me a solid 110 minutes to complete, and I enjoyed every single second of it. The “Tribal Chief” nickname? I get it now.

It rules the room. Pairing: What to Drink
Now, I was at a poker night, so the selection was not huge, and I had a glass of aged rum — specifically a Havana Club 7 Year — and in my opinion it wasn’t the wrong move.

You want something you can chew, that has sweetness and a little bit of weight to it; this is a cigar big enough for there to be some back-and-forth with it. Sure, a peaty scotch could overwhelm the creamy notes from the first half, but if you prefer sweet bourbon or dark rum to maple syrup and whipped cream, it’ll be right up your alley. If you drink coffee, a double espresso would be a total knockout here in that final third when the chocolate and roasted notes really starts to dominate.

But do not drink anything that is too cheap: This cigar will make a bad one taste even worse by contrast. The Verdict
So, was it worth breaking a five-year tradition?

In a heartbeat. Behike 56 Ceramic Jar Single is a unique experience. It’s not just the leaf — though that is clearly some fine stuff from the Vuelta Abajo — it’s also about the entire ceremony. Feeling the weight of that 56 ring gauge, knowing you’re smoking cigar history as El Laguito has given much to collectors for over half a century and feeling that bit of added luxury that comes along with pulling a stick out of that ceramic jar makes you feel like maybe, just maybe in life you’ve actually accomplished something … even if your shirt’s on the table.

It’s fat, it’s peppery and it has complex cream in mass as well – all very hefty at the start but with surprising balance for a smoke of this size. Is it expensive? Yeah, it will cost you a rate that’ll make your wallet cry. Is it hard to find?

Absolutely. But if you ever do find yourself in a basement with the kind of sal man who would pop open a jar, don’t be a hero. Forget your “quitting” streak. Sit back, light up and let the Behike do the talking.

You won’t regret it. Final Thought:
If you are looking for something that smokes like a warm hug from a very rich Cuban uncle, here it is.

It’s elegant, it’s dense and it’s better than any hand of cards I drew that evening.