H. Upmann Magnum 50
Size: 6-3/8 x 50
Box Code: LSO JUN 08
Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba
Date: 10/17/08
Smoke Time: 98 minutes
Prelight:
This is a very nice looking cigar. It is well-constructed with no hard or soft spots, and the wrapper is very smooth and has a deep reddish-brown color. Prelight aromas were spicy and leathery with a hint of jasmine. Prelight taste was mainly cedar and black tea.
1/3:
The cigar started off with some pleasant leathery and spicy flavors. They blended well together, and there was not a harsh edge or bite at all. The draw was perfect, and I got nice, thick clouds of smoke every time. As this third continued, I began to detect a slight touch of hay at the back of my palate.
2/3:
The great flavor combination continued, and the spiciness became a little more pronounced. The leathery flavors still created a nice background to the cigar. The hay flavors in the back of my palate from the first third evolved into a creaminess – this really rounded out the flavor profile nicely.
3/3:
The flavors intensified slightly with the spiciness concentrating a bit, and the leathery flavors becoming a bit sharper. I was able to smoke this cigar right to the nub without it heating up excessively, and without any harshness or bitterness at all.
Overall:
An excellent cigar that was enjoyable to smoke. The flavor combinations and evolution were right up my alley. The nice leathery and spicy flavors were consistent throughout, and provided a nice foundation to some evolving flavors that I found at the back of my palate and in my nose. With this much character at such a young age, I will look forward to trying these with a few years on them to see how they develop!