Popular Post zeedubbya Posted March 11 Popular Post Posted March 11 This box came yesterday and I opened it up and it was just stunning, heart stopping almost. I stood by the humidor just staring at these wonderful cigars and a sort of panic came over me. HOW, am I going to smoke these and not just put them in the collection, back to sleep? They are just too perfect. Then, a thought washed over me. Made the hair stand up on my neck. WHY have I been hoarding all these years? WHAT am I doing! WHY, am I not smoking them, enjoying them? What’s holding me back? My life is likely more than 1/2 over and I love to smoke great cigars. I decided then and there- I am going to wear the watches I’ve put up, smoke my cigars, and enjoy all the things I’ve worked so hard for over the past 20 years. It’s incredible how this box of LUB OCT 2014 Upmann 2 (PSP), shifted my mindset. I am thrilled it did. he generous BOTL I acquired these from said to me— “you deserve these” and he couldn’t have been more right. *As a side note, I had been listening to @LizardGizmo and friends on an episode with a Connie A from LUB 2015… what a revelation. What a truly great run from Upmann factory. I am thrilled to have these and intend to share some with my close friends and smoke EVERY single one! No flash - wow! With flash WOW, and the smell-sublime! 27 2
gormag38 Posted March 11 Posted March 11 Gorgeous looking box brother! I just had the opportunity to purchase a fiver of LUB MAY 14 HU2s a couple days ago. I jumped at it and they're in transit as I type. Judging from your photos though, I'm thinking your wrappers may take the cake! 2
zeedubbya Posted March 11 Author Posted March 11 I’ve always thought possibly these late 2014, early 2015 Upmann 2 are rolled with tobacco from the Reserva release. If I recall (only had a partial box) the code for most of the HU2 Reserva was LUB JUN15 (Upmann factory) and they looked nearly identical to this cigar-maybe slightly lighter wrappers but very similar. Maybe they don’t put this much thought into it, but it seems very curious. For box code/tobacco run hunters like myself, I think it’s a great idea to look for other same size cigars from around a similar time frame as the Reservas and Gran Reserva. Just like the Dip 2 from Bushidos time, these are different than most Upmann 2-even the box smell is different. More like the way Winnie’s smell. Something IS different. Most assuredly elevated in many ways. 3
gormag38 Posted March 11 Posted March 11 5 hours ago, zeedubbya said: I think it’s a great idea to look for other same size cigars from around a similar time frame as the Reservas and Gran Reserva. Just like the Dip 2 from Bushidos time You could certainly be onto something. It's hard to think that Cuba would intentionally be doing this, but I see them using some of the tobacco that's 'around' in the factory or didn't quite meet the criteria for the premium boxes. 5 hours ago, zeedubbya said: If I recall (only had a partial box) the code for most of the HU2 Reserva was LUB JUN15 (Upmann factory) and they looked nearly identical to this cigar-maybe slightly lighter wrappers but very similar From the photos I have received, the cigars coming my way have lighter looking wrappers for sure. I'll post them here for comparison when they arrive. 1
BrightonCorgi Posted March 11 Posted March 11 One of my favorite cigars and those look the business. 2
Havanaaddict Posted March 11 Posted March 11 @zeedubbya WHY have I been hoarding all these years? WHAT am I doing! WHY, am I not smoking them, enjoying them? What’s holding me back? My life is likely more than 1/2 over and I love to smoke great cigars. I decided then and there - I am going to wear the watches I’ve put up, smoke my cigars, and enjoy all the things I’ve worked so hard for over the past 20 years. It’s incredible how this box of LUB OCT 2014 Upmann 2 (PSP), shifted my mindset. I am thrilled it did. The generous BOTL I acquired these from said to me— “you deserve these” and he couldn’t have been more right. I have been there also, had a close call with the grim ripper 10 or so years ago and from that day I smoke what I want too! I have never been a collector on purpose, I am a smoker! You can either buy aged or age them yourself, I have always done both! 2
Popular Post SCgarman Posted March 11 Popular Post Posted March 11 Smoke 'em while you can. Just remember MRN died with over two million dollars worth of Cuban cigars in his stock pile. Other people are now smoking them. Tomorrow may be your last day on Earth, you never know! The LUB14/15 Upmanns were cream of the crop good. 5
zeedubbya Posted March 11 Author Posted March 11 It’s strange how this thing of ours can make you have a moment like this. Really strange. I’m willing to bet no other hobby besides cigar smoking can have the impact on your state of mind like this can. I think I have 3-4 LUB coded boxes in my collection, including some CORO, strangely enough. I wonder where Upmann factory ranks as far as output vs the other big factories. 🤔 2
zeedubbya Posted March 11 Author Posted March 11 Anyone want to play a guessing game…which ones are mine, and which ones are Upmann 2 Reservas sold on BR? 🤔 2
eaglebear29 Posted March 11 Posted March 11 8 hours ago, zeedubbya said: Anyone want to play a guessing game… which ones are mine, and which ones are Upmann 2 Reservas sold on BR? 🤔 Bottom are yours and Top are the Reservas.
Chibearsv Posted March 11 Posted March 11 If I was buying, I’d select the bottom box of the 2. Give me those dark mottled wrappers please.
zeedubbya Posted March 12 Author Posted March 12 8 hours ago, eaglebear29 said: Bottom are yours and Top are the Reservas. Bingo…look better right? 1
LizardGizmo Posted March 12 Posted March 12 18 hours ago, zeedubbya said: For box code/tobacco run hunters like myself, I think it’s a great idea to look for other same size cigars from around a similar time frame as the Reservas and Gran Reserva I agree. I have on very good word that when the factory is rolling Gran Reserva or Reserva, they’re using the aged tobacco in the regular production cigars to meet demand. It happened just last week at Laguito. March 2025 from EL will be a memorable factory code. Additionally, my CoRo BOX from LUB 14 is brilliant - same time as the famous run of these Upmann 2s. There is definitely something to the mind-blowing consistency of these codes. 1 2
westg Posted March 12 Posted March 12 19 hours ago, gormag38 said: Gorgeous looking box brother! I just had the opportunity to purchase a fiver of LUB MAY 14 HU2s a couple days ago. I jumped at it and they're in transit as I type. Judging from your photos though, I'm thinking your wrappers may take the cake! Right at the top. If I am ever asked about a particularly good box code. LUB MAY 14 always my first thought. 2
westg Posted March 12 Posted March 12 22 hours ago, zeedubbya said: This box came yesterday and I opened it up and it was just stunning, heart stopping almost. I stood by the humidor just staring at these wonderful cigars and a sort of panic came over me. HOW, am I going to smoke these and not just put them in the collection, back to sleep? They are just too perfect. Then, a thought washed over me. Made the hair stand up on my neck. WHY have I been hoarding all these years? WHAT am I doing! WHY, am I not smoking them, enjoying them? What’s holding me back? My life is likely more than 1/2 over and I love to smoke great cigars. I decided then and there- I am going to wear the watches I’ve put up, smoke my cigars, and enjoy all the things I’ve worked so hard for over the past 20 years. It’s incredible how this box of LUB OCT 2014 Upmann 2 (PSP), shifted my mindset. I am thrilled it did. he generous BOTL I acquired these from said to me— “you deserve these” and he couldn’t have been more right. *As a side note, I had been listening to @LizardGizmo and friends on an episode with a Connie A from LUB 2015… what a revelation. What a truly great run from Upmann factory. I am thrilled to have these and intend to share some with my close friends and smoke EVERY single one! Gorgeous looking cigars! Enjoy 😉 1
zeedubbya Posted March 12 Author Posted March 12 4 hours ago, LizardGizmo said: I agree. I have on very good word that when the factory is rolling Gran Reserva or Reserva, they’re using the aged tobacco in the regular production cigars to meet demand. It happened just last week at Laguito. March 2025 from EL will be a memorable factory code. Additionally, my CoRo BOX from LUB 14 is brilliant - same time as the famous run of these Upmann 2s. There is definitely something to the mind-blowing consistency of these codes. RAE JUN15 was a SUPERB code and month. I wonder if I could do a deep search and pinpoint if there was a special cigar being rolled at VC Baez that year? Thanks for chiming in here Gizmo, listening to the Upmann2 and Connie A code Podcasts made me look a little closer at what I had in humidor and what I may be able to find. I will say, my LUB CORO aren’t as good, (relatively speaking) as some of my other CORO. Z 2
gormag38 Posted March 14 Posted March 14 I think yours are certainly darker than the ones I received. I also included a photo of them next to some EPO SEP 22 box I have. Hoping the light wrappers haven’t lost too much ooomph! 1
Glass Half Full Posted March 15 Posted March 15 Light wrappers in CCs can be wonderful. (As can dark, but chasing dark is not optimal IMO.) May be best to reserve judgement until you taste. 2
SCgarman Posted March 15 Posted March 15 17 hours ago, Glass Half Full said: Light wrappers in CCs can be wonderful. (As can dark, but chasing dark is not optimal IMO.) May be best to reserve judgement until you taste. I will always prefer lighter brown wrappers vs. the dark/mottled ones. Some here worship dark wrappers. Some of it is placebo, some is definitely the wrapper influence on flavor of the cigar. I have had milk chocolate wrappers on cigars like RASS, and they are great. Darker shades seem to make the cigar taste different, in a not so good way. 1
zeedubbya Posted March 15 Author Posted March 15 To me the key to the dark wrappers is they must be thin, very thin. Translucent, even. Where you can see the binder through the wrapper. Seems extremely rare on light wrappers.
vinnyvega Posted March 15 Posted March 15 I've only smoke from a few LUB boxes and they did not disappoint. I get my balls busted all the time for being a "code chaser". Enjoy every single cigar! 1
SCgarman Posted March 15 Posted March 15 6 hours ago, vinnyvega said: I've only smoke from a few LUB boxes and they did not disappoint. I get my balls busted all the time for being a "code chaser". Enjoy every single cigar! I had multiple boxes of LUB Upmann PC's and #2's. All fantastic. Just like the TEB08 RASS and BRC. Those RASS were a life changing experience!🤣 Like playing Black Sabbath at 78 speed and seeing GOD. 1
gormag38 Posted March 18 Posted March 18 On 3/15/2025 at 3:35 PM, Glass Half Full said: Light wrappers in CCs can be wonderful. On 3/16/2025 at 12:04 AM, SCgarman said: I will always prefer lighter brown wrappers vs. the dark/mottled ones Honestly I am the same; lighter wrappers > darker ones. There's obviously exceptions and I've had some EXCELLENT dark mottled wrapped cigars. I've also had some cigars that have gone past their prime that've had some lighter wraps on em. (Albeit the sticks I'm thinking of were mid 90s HDMdD, so no ball tearer to begin with).
Capn_Jackson Posted March 18 Posted March 18 Stunning! I need to adopt this mindset a bit more, with cigars at least. With everything else, I have never had that hangup, and enjoy things as they come and go. With CC’s, I have adopted a “save them” mentality, and probably need to let go…a little bit. 😆 Who knows what tomorrow holds?
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