The best Cuban cigars have a mystique all their own. The effect of decades of market dominance lasts to this day, powering no end of efforts from American cigar lovers to find ways to get their hands on genuine Cubanos. In fact, the desire for Cuban cigars is so strong that there is a thriving market for counterfeits.
As an alternative, cigar makers like Nat Cicco create stogies like the HHB Classic. It’s built to offer something comparable to the Cohiba Behike BHK, specifically.
Now, we know what many people would be thinking after hearing that. It’s ridiculous for anyone to copy one of the best cigars of all time, right? Back in 2010, Cigar Aficionado called the BHK Cigar of the Year and elevated it to legendary status with a 97-point rating. So the HHB Classic isn’t going to go head to head with Cohiba’s finest any time soon.
BUT, at $40 a stick for the BHK, it’s nice to have a more affordable alternative to ultra-premiums like that. And that’s what Nat Cicco has made here.
(The name, by the way, is a reference to the initials of a family member of Nat Cicco’s founder.)
Many companies create Cubanesque smokes. So many have done it, honestly, that the term has kind of lost all meaning. The reason to give Nat Cicco a shot here is that they’re masters of balancing quality and affordability. For decades, they’ve made bargain price cigars that they simply called “Rejects.” It wasn’t just about the price, of course. They managed to make a decent cigar for the money. Today, they’re really among the kings of value cigar makers, especially when you try their premium smokes like the 92-rated Casino Real or the Aniversario 1965. They know how to make a really good cigar, but their focus is always on delivering as much bang for your buck as possible.
So the HHB Classic as a luxury copycat is not that crazy of a concept after all. This company is made for it.
To get somewhere into the ballpark of the Behike, the Nat Cicco HHB Classic is made with high-quality Nicaraguan long-fillers. This company's “flagship” blend is then finished with an Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper. It’s an interesting way to attempt to get at the classic Habano flavor, and it does quite a nice job of producing an enjoyable profile, even if it can’t really copy the original. The HHB Classic is rich and creamy, for starters. It’s woody at the core, with notes of cedar and oak. And the finish is noticeably nutty.
Not bad for a stick that’s a quarter the cost of the one it’s trying to emulate.
Please browse our selection of Nat Cicco HHB Classic cigars at your leisure.
