Franco-Spanish tobacco producer Altadis has launched the world's most expensive cigar called the "Behike." The limited edition of the Cohiba brand will sell for $420 each in commemoration of its 40th anniversary.

A batch of 4,000 Behike has been released with each box of 40 to retail for $18,846.

The name Behike means a sorcerer, doctor or priest from the pre-Colombian Taino tribe. The special cigars were made last year at famous El Laguito factory in Havana and hand-rolled by veteran employee Norma Fernandez.

The cigars had been kept in humidor containers for up to six years. They are of the same size as the Cohiba Lancero (192 millimetres/7.5 inches) with the 20.64 mm (0.9 inch) diameter of the Cohiba Siglo VI.

Altadis plans to market 15 boxes of the Behike cigars to Spanish aficionados.