Deep Dive: H. Upmann Magnum 50

[El Presidente]

 

Deep Dive: H. Upmann Magnum 50 

One of my favourite Upmanns. Flavour profile? Sir Winston sleeps with SLR DC. 

H. Upmann Magnum 50

• Do you like the  H. Upmann Magnum 50?
• Where does it stand compared to other similar cigars?
• Have you noticed a blend/flavour/body change over the years? If so, approximately when?
• How long does it take you to smoke a H. Upmann Magnum 50?
• Do the poll!

 H. Upmann Magnum 50 

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[99call]

Needs a long long time down to come into its own.     Are you desperately chasing a cab of SLDC?,   Well,  an old Mag 50 (correctly stored) will give you green ripe melon notes, peach/stone fruit.   I would suggest the clever money would be trying to find an old 50 cab of old Mag 50's.    they are also creamsicles.  top cigars

They are however a massively underwhelming cigar if smoked young.  People that give them poor reviews in their first 4yrs,  I totally get it, if smoked young, they often taste muddled or papery

These are ugly ducklings into swans given a long time down

 

[NSXCIGAR]

Young, old, in between--the Mag 50 is a very light cigar that just doesn't have much richness. The flavors are fine but I need a little more spice in the meatball. I've smoked many and wondered if they forgot the seco entirely. 

[KCCubano]

Bought 25 ct of original release. Fantastic sticks. Then bought a 50 Cab and ALL DUDS. Still have at least 25 left. Try one a year and no different than smoking a cigarette. Bought a 10 ct of 18s as heard were very good. Terrible. Gave most away. Will not buy again. 

[SCgarman]

2 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Young, old, in between--the Mag 50 is a very light cigar that just doesn't have much richness. The flavors are fine but I need a little more spice in the meatball. I've smoked many and wondered if they forgot the seco entirely. 

Agreed. Flavorless large boring cigar. I love Upmann, but not these. 

[miked6dmike]

I had my first Mag 50 from a full Sep-18 box last week and it was good, but definitely felt like it may have been a little past its prime. Either that, or the larger Mag 50 is too weak in flavor than the Mag 46.

[Monterey]

Complex and flavorful.  Needs some years down.  I recently had a 2008 one and it was one of the top cigars of the year for me.  Bread, Cream, and Fruit.  To me, more similar to the SLR DC than the Sir Winston.

Lovely cigar.

[NSXCIGAR]

4 hours ago, KCCubano said:

Bought a 10 ct of 18s as heard were very good.

Yeah, I fell for that one 4 or 5 years ago. Kept hearing the current run was the "best in years!" "Best ever!" Bought a 10 box to see if maybe I could finally figure this cigar out and nope, all 10 were as bland and flavorless as usual. 

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Yeah, I fell for that one 4 or 5 years ago. Kept hearing the current run was the "best in years!" "Best ever!" Bought a 10 box to see if maybe I could finally figure this cigar out and nope, all 10 were as bland and flavorless as usual. 

To be fair, not every cigar is for every palate. 

To me they are generally superb cigars. I am in no need for as you put it "spice and meatball" in every cigar. I have the BBF/46/898 and many others for that. 

Not every cigar rings everyone's bell. No two palates are structured the same. 

[NSXCIGAR]

32 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

I am in no need for as you put it "spice and meatball" in every cigar.

"Spice in the meatball" was a metaphor. Maybe should have said "salt in the soup" or something. You know--flavor. I don't mean it needs to be full like a BBF. I do mean it needs to have some character and richness. I find the QdO Coronas far, far richer than the Mag 50. Or even a Fonseca usually delivers more in terms of character and richness than the Mag 50. 

Mag 50 is one of the few cigars (RyJ WC is another) I've had that can taste like straight air. Now, I may have had some bad luck although I've tried probably 30 examples over the last 15 years. 

Obviously the Mag 50 and WC are pretty popular cigars so maybe I'm just not sensitive enough to taste what's going on. All I know is I've puffed on hookahs that are more flavorful. But hey--hookahs are popular too. 

[El Presidente]

I feel for you!

Mag 50 at their best are remarkably elegant cigars with lashings of melon/stonefruit/shortbread. 

We are all physiologicaly different, but if one's palate connects, they have a cigar for the ages.

[99call]

Like when a des Dieux is dry, tannic and woodsy to the point of unpleasantness, then one day around the 8yr mark, they turn into luxurious vanilla bombs.

The only difference I would suggest it that the Mag 50 doesn't really show much on anything until they turn the corner. I have a young box now and in trying one, they are airy and light and a bit uneventful, but there is that slight over ripe fruit note way way in the background, I know that is going to blossom into theat creamy peach Melba thing the SLRDC succeeds at way down the line

 

[Puros Y Vino]

Love this cigar. Two cabinets of Mag 50's back in 2009 was my first major cigar box purchase.  I still have about 20 sticks left over. An odd thing though I've noticed is that the cigar has become stronger/bolder with age?  Never experienced that before. 

[Chibearsv]

I’m also in the “I don’t get it” group but I’ve only had younger versions and also find them uneventful. I’ll put my remaining stock in the time capsule crate along with RASS, PLPC, Hoyo DC, and Lusitania; not to open until 2030 and see if I get them then. Stay tuned for the update. 

[Corylax18]

9 hours ago, 99call said:

Like when a des Dieux is dry, tannic and woodsy to the point of unpleasantness

A perfect descriptor for every Des Dieux I've ever had. Haha I do like the Mag 50 though. Preferably with at least 8-10 years on them. As Rob said different strokes, no one is right or wrong, we just have different tastes.  

[joeypots]

On 1/25/2023 at 12:00 AM, Puros Y Vino said:

I've noticed is that the cigar has become stronger/bolder with age? 

MRN mentioned this in his Encyclopedia. I’ve never seen it said anywhere else until now. H Upmann gets stronger/ bolder with age? How can that be? I’ve not smoked enough of the Mag 50 to have an opinion on the cigar.

[GavLew79]

I've had young Mag50 from our host that smoked deliciously from the off. Stone fruit, cream, wonderful burn, palate coating voluminous smoke. 

[99call]

3 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

no one is rightor wrong, we just have different tastes.

Correct, the difference between opinion and fact is key.

[amberleaf]

Don't get. They have a fairly typical Upmann profile but with the strength and body of a Fonseca No.1. The ones I've smoked have always been like smoking air for the first third, and only start getting interesting by the final third.

[toto]

One of my favs. Nutty with lots of peaches and cream.  From the few boxes I've smoked I do agree that it does evolve into rich and luscious smokes.

[SingleBarrel]

Had 3 from 2020. Very light and flavorful. Would prefer the 46’s & 54’s over them.

[Jackdani7401]

I have had a few, but it has been a while. I like that it’s quite a bit deferent from the Mag46. The 46 is a punch you in the face with flavor intensity, the 50 is much more subtle and delicate. The cream and baked cake notes are there, but again, you have to really concentrate to appreciate them. 
 

I wish these came up more often, they definitely have a place in my rotation. 

[jakebarnes]

I don't get em. I also haven't had one older than 3 years, so I might be missing something. Very much a wind tunnel for me. Mag 46 and Connie 1 all day if I am going for the Upman line. 

[KnightsAnole]

On 1/24/2023 at 3:17 AM, 99call said:

Like when a des Dieux is dry, tannic and woodsy to the point of unpleasantness, then one day around the 8yr mark, they turn into luxurious vanilla bombs.

The only difference I would suggest it that the Mag 50 doesn't really show much on anything until they turn the corner. I have a young box now and in trying one, they are airy and light and a bit uneventful, but there is that slight over ripe fruit note way way in the background, I know that is going to blossom into theat creamy peach Melba thing the SLRDC succeeds at way down the line

 

Creamy peach Melba? No hint of mushrooms?

[Wookie]

Love the 54, 46 and Sir Winston. 50’s have been a bit light for me. Hoping age will help mine. Think they are 2018.