H. Upmann #2

[ajgagnon]

Hello all,

Thanks, Pres, for hosting this little competition... it's great fun. I was so busy this week that I had little time for a cigar, but so excited to play that I got carried away and tried to keep mental notes for this review while on the highway yesterday. For the record I'll say that my 'assistant' took the photographs.

This cigar is from a box I bought in Santa Clara about two years ago. Across the street from one of the factories, just down the road from the main square, is a little cigar shop. It's a government store, but I'm not sure if it is a Casa Del Habanos. Anyway, the selection was good but some of the ceramic jars were out of my price range. I punish myself for not jumping on those opportunities, but with luck, life is long and I'll have time to repent.

On to the cigar. I love torpedoes/pyramides/belicosos. I like being able to choose how much to cut, I love the craftsmanship, and the shape lets me indulge in a wide ring gauge without smoking a jawbreaker.

This cigar looked very pretty and well-built, although the wrapper was a bit dull. I'm still not sure about Upmanns as a marca; I haven't tried the Winnies yet, but these #2s seem perpetually young. They've been resting for two years and besides being a wind tunnel, this stick was a live wire for the first inch. Young, spicy, and powerful, with pure tobacco flavour... I couldn't find much else except after the finish had settled in, about 2 minutes after a draw. Some nice sweeter elements and coffee were there, but buried deep.

After the first third, this cigar came alive, but the easy draw made it challenging to smoke without scorching. Toasted tobacco, some of that licorice character, and still the young-ish herbaceous flavours were there, with some cream starting, and some coffee. On the finish was organge rind (the white part, not the lively peel/verbena).

Suddenly, it went sweeter, delving heavily into sweet cream with shortbread cookie. The cream was almost like sweetened condensed milk... it was like Vietnamese coffee! Quite a contrast to the driving wind and rain on the QE2 highway.

This wide ring gauge cigar burned true and straight, although I'm not bothered much either way by that. Due to easy draw, this stick was destined to live a short life, but I found (like with other loose cigars) that if you squeeze or bite down on the cigar, the restriction can allow it to draw and burn as it should. To be clear, it's an act of desperation, but it can help.

Despite the strength, youth, and the trying circumstances, this was a good cigar. Due to the draw and wicked beginning inch, I would have to say this is an 87-88 cigar right now, but I hope the rest in my humidor continue to improve. There's clearly some quality hiding in there. I just can't belive some cigars need so many years to mature!

[ksblazer]

Nice review and pic's

The recent Upmann No.2's have been my go to pyramids lately

[DougB]

Thanks for the review. The HU no.2 is a go-to of mine that I love, though I agree that the draw oftentimes is too open (or maybe I clip too much?). I look forward to seeing what '10's and 11's will be like in years to come. Thanks again for the great review and the pics were cool too.

[headstand]

I've enjoyed the singles I've smoked of these - have a box waiting for me at the online humidor. There is an element of class the the #2.

On another note, the right hand drive had me perplexed for awhile. What is it?

[Charltonc]

looks fantastic. H. Upmann has been on fire lately. Sir Winston, #2, and Connie1. I have been loving the Connie1s from recent.

[ajgagnon]

I've enjoyed the singles I've smoked of these - have a box waiting for me at the online humidor. There is an element of class the the #2.

On another note, the right hand drive had me perplexed for awhile. What is it?

Probably didn't raise any Aussie eyebrows... it's a JDM Toyota Hilux Surf, the right hand drive 4Runner diesel. I used to do a lot of work with the biodiesel industry and wanted to be able to use it myself, and needed something bigger than a VW but smaller than a half ton.

Two parts fun, one part remorse. It blew up on me just after importing it (cracked head) and was a bit of work to fix. Now I'm working with an electric utility and just leased a Nissan Leaf! Time will tell... might be a glutton for punishment. So far it's stuck in Vancouver due to the rail strike.

[brazoseagle]

Great Review, and a great cigar, I love these.

I don't want to alarm you, but someone has seemed to have put your steering wheel on the wrong side of the car.

(Just kidding)