H. Upmann Magnum 50 EL 2005

[CBL]

A couple of months ago my friend found out that I had entered the FOH Blind Tasting Competition and wanted to know which cigars were in the bunch and how I did. We decided to do a little competition of ourselves and send each other 3 band-less cigars. As it was close to our birthdays (our birthdays are both at the end of May) we added an extra cigar as a birthday gift. His was a PL Encantos and he gifted me an H. Upmann Magnum 50 EL 2005.

This cigar has been really hyped on the Dutch forum my friend and I are both members at. People have this cigar in high regard and have been wildly chasing boxes since 2008. This cigar comes from a boxsplit my friend was a part of, but I missed out on due to a hectic and internet-less Chinese New Year

The cigar has a rustic wrapper. It's dark and veiny and shrunk a little over the years, the double bands can be moved back and forth freely without damaging the wrapper.

The smell of the cigar is really dark and full. After clipping the cigar it shows a perfect draw!

Toasting the foot is easy and a beautiful white ash is revealed.

1/3 - Straight off, the first draw gives me a hit of cool coffee! It's delicious

The smoke is very light and stays perfectly cool. Sadly the cigar doesn't have much bite, nor does is coat my mouth in any way. I'd say it's medium to even light bodied right now. All the tastes are extremely mild and subtle.

2/3 - The cigar starts to taste like a soy milk latte with espresso through the nose. It's completely coffee!

At the end of the second third the cigar becomes sweeter with some distant notes of bitter chocolate.

3/3 - The start of the final third reminds me of Aztec Hot Chocolate which is hot chocolate with chili and cinnamon, but the cigar isn't as sweet as the actual drink, probably due to a lack of cream/milk in the cigar.

The final few puffs of the cigar are really sweet and remind me of a Por Larranaga.

All in all this cigar was very pleasant but I do believe it lost some character over the years. It never got harsh nor did the draw and burn get out of control. The cigar lacked some creaminess that my palate was desperately in need off. The hit of latte I got at the beginning of the cigar and the Aztec hot chocolate really needed some creaminess to lift this cigar from good to great. If anything the cigar made me want to try a regular release Mag 50 to compare and see how they are with less age on them.

I'd give the cigar 90 points, but I think it was a little past its prime.

[shrink]

Your review was spot on. I've had a box of these aging, and have only been able to stomach a few up until recently. Despite the evidence of high quality filler tobacco, the EL wrapper gave these cigars the cloying taste of sweet molasses. That "maduro" wrapper is far more appropriate to a Partagas EL like the 2004 Serie D No. 1, where it didn't obscure the flavors.

Fortunately, in this past year, aging has made the Mag 50 EL more approachable. The wrapper has finally mellowed, allowing the quality Upmann tobacco flavors to shine through. But I agree, the cigar has lost it's way. I'm hoping that, like most Upmanns, a few more years will bring it to it's maturity.

[laficion]

I'd give the cigar 90 points, but I think it was a little past its prime.

Well done CBL Great review.

Yes, I agree fully with the fact that the Mag 50's 2005 have passed their prime.

I had 3 boxes when they came out and I saved I box for aging,( Me ? A box for aging ? )

All 3 cabs were simply beautifull, the Mags smelled like boxes of dark chocolate.

Needless to say that each and every smoke was divine, rich chocolate tastes, leather in the background,

earthy aftertastes with just the right amount of spices and creamyness. Anyway, all I can say is

that the 2 cabs didn't last long with smokes like that. After a few months, I really wanted to reach out

for that last box but I hung in and for me, I beat the test of time. THREE YEARS LATER, yes 3,

I couldn't take it any longer, I opened up my AGED box, took a cigar and lit it up.

OMG !!!!!!! what happened to my beauties, no rich aromas at cold, gone.

After I lit the cigar, no rich chocolate that came to meet my taste bubs and no everything else.

The cigar had lost all of the elements that, for me, was going to age these cigars to grand smokes.

It was all gone, all that was left, well, was just an everyday good little Upmann smoke, good but not

what I was expecting from a EL mag 50. In all evidence, the Mag 50 2005 were not smokes to hold

on to for more then 1 year.

Aging is REALLY not my thing.

[Wil]

Nice!

[LeafLover]

...and a nice burn to boot.

[dicko]

Nice review, thats cool how you and your mate share cigars!

Very interestign re the ageing discussion too

[Sutton]

Wicked review CbL ! especially for a non Upmann guy, I would like to find one of these guys to & "sample"

[CBL]

Nice review, thats cool how you and your mate share cigars!

Very interestign re the ageing discussion too

I just found out which 3 cigar he had sent me. I would've never guessed any of them, but one was a Monty Open.... the sadistic bastard

[CUBANO]

Great review, thanks.

[thechenman]

Thanks for the review CBL...one of my favorite ELs. I've only smoked a few of these that I've found as singles but have been pleased with all of them. The regular production Mag 50 is on of my favorites as well. The PSD1 mentioned in this thread is my all time favorite EL. If you run across any of those, do yourself a favor and pick them up. They aged very well.

[shrink]

I smoked another one of these last night. Very smooth, on the light side of medium-bodied. The flavors were subtle, toasty high-quality tobacco, very lightly sweet, herbal, some vanilla. Very good easy-going smoke, but nothing great. I think I'm going to put these away for a few years. I've never had an Upmann that didn't age well.

[Mr.T]

I had one too not long ago and agree with Shrink. I've got 10 left. I'll plan to leave them alone for a while longer.