Almost 70 and still going strong.

[laficion]

It was a bit more then a year ago that I started a thread on a great find that I made

on a H.Upmann jar of 50 Crystales Dating back from 1941 to 1946.

Here is the link at the time for those who were not yet members;

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/inde...=98040&st=0

In between time, I sold the Jar to a good friend who bought off 35 cigars,

10 cigars that went off for a trade and 5 cigars that I kept.

This afternoon, I decided to smoke one of these, close to 70 years old, oldies and give you a review.

The Crystales had a factory name of Cosacos and a Parejo shape. The ring gauge was 42

and a lenght of 5, 3/8 inches. I have kept these cigars in my box humidor for more then

a year now at a relative humidity of 70 % but also,I've kept them in a H.Upmann Jar which used to contain

25 Noellas which by the way, was the same size as the Crystales.

I paired this afternoon's smoke with a nice cold Mojito.

I must admit that I was however very surprised to see that the cigars have matured quite well in the glass Jar.

Opening the Jar, I took a quick smell inside and was hit by a swiff of floral and cedar aromas backed by a strange

over all sweetness, I would guess vanilla.

All of the cigars have a very bumpy wrapper but what strikes my view is the very thin wrapper. Rare are the wrappers

today that are so thin. The cigar is well bunched at the foot and the pre-light taste is a dominate woody and floral tones.

First third / The cigar has a great draw and the taste of cedar and woodyness is very present. It has some spice but very mute

after retro-haleing. The burn is perfect with no faults at this stage. I was expecting more of an old dusty taste at first so, at this

point, the old timer is holding up OK.

The second third // That's where the cigar starts to become interesting from a few view points.

The flavour profil has picked up from floral with short hits of spice to a more interesting change. The floral tastes

starts to flow away and is replaced by a more nutty note and touch of pain d' epice. the cigar is getting a bit more

creamy but is still dominated by it's cedary notes.

Also, it was funny to see how the ash was coming along, If you look at the pic. you'll see that it has taken an odd turn

and more of a curve. Another thing was the fact that the ash was very flaky, I mean REALLY flaky. I've never seen ashes

that flaky. It seemed as if each draw on the cigar was taking the essence of what was left of the old tobacco and leaving

only a thin flake.

The last third /// The Upmann Crystales was truly holding it's own. the flavours did not really evolve into anything

much richer but it did stay on a mostly creamy, pain d' epice note, very smooth with no bite, allowing me to really

nub this old timer.

On the whole I would say that the H. Upmann Crystales was a very enjoyable smoke. The flavours were a bit mute

but they were there. For a cigar that is almost 70 years old, that's not too bad.

I can only imagine what this cigar must have tasted like in it's younger days, It must have been a real delight.

Cheers!!!!!

[android]

Wow, nice review. Thanks for sharing that with everyone Guy.

[nonameno]

Hello Guy,

Wonderful review and lovely photographs to accompany it. I find it especially interesting as I am a historian of the WW2 time period, so for me to see what men from that time may have smoked is very interesting indeed.

Thank you for sharing,

Curtiss

[zuma]

Thanks for sharing mate, great review and pictures...

[mbrody]

Bravo Guy!

[sharks]

Great review and pics! They have held up extremely well considering their 70 Years old.

Sharks

[thechenman]

Guy...impressive. Thanks for sharing that experience with all of us. I was entranced.

[LeafLover]

Wow! 70 year old cigar! I don't think I would have ever lit it up.

Thank you for sharing this cigar with all of us!

[maalouly]

Amazing

[investandprosper]

Wonderful review, and great pictures. Thanks for letting us share on this special occasion. I don't know if I'd have the heart to smoke a 70 year old cigar. Kind of like losing an old friend

[anacostiakat]

Great review of a great looking cigar.

[Ryan]

Very nice review and pictures Guy.

70 years is an old cigar!

Of the aged cigars I've had, not that old but > 15-20 years, Upmanns have been some of the best.

I often get a sweet-tea flavour from them that I really like.

[Guest rob]

Wow! A great review, Guy.

[mkz]

All I can say is

[cigarros]

Stunning review! Charming cigar. I can not believe that it was a witness of those distant times - WW2! Guy you don't cease to surprise us! Thanks for sharing))

[cgarner]

Threads like these make me want to age some of my smokes long term. Never had anything older than 06.

[MontrealRon]

Many thanks, Guy, for taking such effort to share this with us.

I could almost taste it...

[MontrealRon]

Threads like these make me want to age some of my smokes long term. Never had anything older than 06.

Go for it, brother!

I seldom smoke anything younger than '05,

and find that many still have a ways to go before they peak.

[bob25]

WOW !

Now that is an aged cigar.

I never had any cigar more than 2 years on it.

I keep telling myself to put some cigars aside and dont touch them,but its so hard sometimes.

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience with us,I have to say it looks pretty good for a 70 years old cigar.

[PigFish]

Bravo Guy... Bravo!

[CanuckSARTech]

Amazing, Guy. With your descriptions and pictures, my brain was trying to visualize, taste, and smell what the experience must have been like - but, I cannot comprehend that one enough to do it justice I presume.

Enchanting with the historical background and connotation to it.

Thank you for sharing. I'm happily envious.

Cheers, and well done.

[godfathermint]

Wow, the cigar looks so delicate I'd be torn on whether to smoke it or treasure it forever!

Great review though! Ca parait Genial! =D

[jsd]

Very cool. 70 years old is incredible. The oldest cigar I've ever had was 13. If I make it to 90 and smoke something I currently have it would only be around 65 years old. Wow, just wow!

[CigarmanTim]

Guy... I muddle my mint and you do not....what is the old way of doing it? I am bit of a traditionalist.

[Jimmy2]

Very nice Guy !!!!