H. Upmann Mag 50

I was holding onto this cigar until i got a new job, but i think its going to be a while and im not that patient. This is the new H. Upmann Magnum 50. This cigar was originally released in 2005as an Edition Limitada, but has been re released in 2008 as a regular production smoke.
This is a 6.3 inch by 50 ring gauge cigar, which is definitely a favorite size for me. Its a large cigar but doesnt have a ridiculous ring gauge. I love the presentation of this cigar as well. The really nice Upmann band with the 2nd band labeling it as a Magnum 50 has a nice bold look to it.

This is a beautiful cigar that ive really been looking forward to. Construction and draw are perfect, with a really nice clean predraw flavor of very good tobacco and a slight sweetness. Right from the start you know you are smoking a Cuban H. Upmann. There is this slight earthyness with a really nice toasty flavor. This thing doesnt mess around, it starts off right away with an amazing flavor, which i love in a cigar. There is also a slight raisin/dried fruit sweetness that is really enjoyable. The smoke is smooth and velvety on the palate, i cant get enough of this cigar!

With this being from 2008, i would expect it to be showing signs of youth, with grassyness and not a ton of complexity, but that is dead wrong. There is absolutely no bitterness or signs of youth at all. This cigar is ready to be smoked now, or layed down for 10 years to evolve into something even more amazing. I think some of the more subtle flavors might show up after a few years of humidor time, but this isnt one that i feel like i am wasting by smoking it in its youth. I havent tried a lot of other cigars with 2008 box dates, and i hope this is a trend for Cuban cigars right now. You dont need a special occasion to light one of these up, this cigar IS the special occasion!

At the halfway point in this cigar there is a very subtle spice note on the finish and some of that dried fruit has died down but shows up on the palate occasionally. I read a review on this cigar a while back that said this cigar becomes a bit darker as you get into it, and i can really see what they meant. I am still really surprised at the complexity this cigar is showing already, and the further i get into it the more i am completely entralled with the depth of this smoke. The body is just above medium and very full flavored. I dont have any negative things to say about this cigar. It is on the pricey side, but if you decide to spend the money on a box you wont regret it. What a treat.

H. Upmann Mag.46

The H. Upmann Mag.46 is one of my favorite Cuban cigars out there. Ive smoked through a box of them, but the one im smoking today is from my buddy Butch. This cigar has Upmanns new band on it, and i really like it over the previously used cheaper paper bands. This is a Corona Gorda sized cigar, one of my favorites.

The draw on this cigar is perfect, a cuban style draw with just the right amount of resistance. The constuction and wrapper on this cigar is flawless, with a beautifully applied triple cap adorning the head.
I havent smoked a ton of recent production cigars from Cuba lately, but im guessing this one has under a year or so on it by the taste. Yes, it has signs of youth, a little unbalanced but showing a ton of potential. With some Cubans, i feel like i am wasting them if i smoke them while too young, but i dont feel that way about this particular cigar. This one is still very good young, just not at its full potential. H. Upmann's cigars have always had this classic Cuban flavor profile to me, with tons of crisp toasted tobacco notes and lots of creamy coffee notes as well on the palate. The Mag 46 isnt what i would call an elegant cigar in the realm of Cubans, its much more wild than that with flavors that start strong and never let up. This is not an overwhelming cigar by any means, but definitely one that wakes up your palate. When you light this cigar, you know your smoking a Cuban. Cuban tobacco has a very distinctive "twang" that i have never seen replicated with any other country's tobacco.

This leads into the age old discussion of whether Cuban cigars are "better" than other cigars. In my opinion, its not that they are better, just different. Every country has a signature flavor to their blends, it just depends on what you like and what your in the mood for. If i want a big bold and spicey cigar, i usually go with something Nicaraguan. If i want something complex and creamy, i go Cuban. Its all about what you like for flavor for a cigar. There is a certain mystique to a Cuban cigars for a lot of people, the whole forbidden fruit aspect of it. It was like that originally for me, but now it just depends what mood im in and what flavors im looking for. The one thing i will give to the non cuban cigar companies though is their quality control. This is one of the areas i think that Cuban cigars can let you down a bit. I have had many more plugged (unsmokeable) Cubans than any other cigar out there, which is always disappointing, but sadly, is sort of expected when you buy a box of Cubans.

The H. Upmann Magnum 46 will always have a place in my humidor and is a must try for any brother of the leaf.