H. Upmann Sir Winston

[mm12]

It being 75 degrees and sunny today, I decided to have my first large-format cigar in several months.

Lost the factory code on these as I threw out the outer cardboard a long time back, but I'm almost certain the box date is SEP 06. This box had sat pretty much unopened in my humidor for about 3 years, and the aroma was amazing. Very deep and rich leather and manure. The wrapper on these are Colorado maduro, oily and silky smooth. Construction is top notch, draw is perfect and has a very sweet toasted tobacco flavor to it at cold.

1/3: This cigar opens right up at full, with a flavor profile of very rich dark earth. No real spice on the palate or through the nose. Just smooth rich earth. As I get into the first third, a vanilla bean flavor begins to emerge in the background. After a while, this background flavor turns first to bitter chocolate, then to semi-sweet chocolate. As i get near the end of the third, some toasty flavors join the dark earth for a short time, then the flavor profile quickly shifts to dark roast coffee with a bit of chocolate in the background.

2/3: As I begin the second third, the dark coffee and chocolate flavor starts to become creamy, and after a few puffs, the cream begins to take over. Now I have very rich cream with a bit of chocolate and nuts in the background. This flavor quickly disappears as the rich dark earth flavor makes a sudden return, first with a nutty background, then with a chocolaty background. About halfway through the second third, the creaminess returns and joins the dark earth, and I have a decadently rich earth-flavored cream. Some black licorice flavors start showing up around the edges, and the dark roast coffee makes another short appearance.

3/3: At the start of the final third, the flavors turn very meaty. I have a flavor profile of (gamey) meat and dark coffee, and a fair bit of white pepper spice begins to come through. As I get into final third, the dark rich earth once again returns, bringing with it chocolate and black pepper. Fairly quickly, the flavors shift to leather and wood with just a hint of cayenne pepper spice. Some sea salt starts to emerge along with some chocolate. The cigar ends with a flavor profile of salty spiced chocolate.

This cigar was RICH. As rich as I've ever had. All of the flavors were very strong and robust, yet the cigar remained silky smooth throughout. No rough edges anywhere. Just pure silky smooth decadence. Right now, I give these a 95, and I definitely see potential for these to go even higher. I plan on coming back to them once a year to check in and see how high they can go.

[#2 man]

Great review !! Love Sir Winnies

[Mr. Japan]

Thanks for the review. I always love Sir Winston.

[bassman]

Rich is indeed the word. I have been VERY impressed with the 2010s.

[Colt45]

I'm still working on a box of from '00, with an '03 box waiting in the wings. Flavorful and refined, but no sissy - one of my top two churchills.

Thanks for the review.

[dicko]

sounds like a near perfect cigar!!