the H Upmann Lonsdale

[PigFish]

Just decided to open these up.

I have smoked many a box of these and this would appear to be my last full box.

These are rich cigars, tight of draw will little smoke. They are robust in nature and taste as they were rolled yesterday without the tannins. These are aromatic cigars, brimming with pumpkin spice and nutmeg, almond and mint. A true classic now unfortunately lost.

-the Pig

[headstand]

They do look beautiful. Thanks for posting the photos.

[riazp]

Gorgeous looking cigar, Me want!

[aes8]

Wanna trade for a 5er of 99 EAT CCUG Boli Lonsdales?

[Guest rob]

Beaut looking tobacco!

What year are these ones, Ray?

[Michel1968]

owww... these are looking really good. Got a handfull of singles from 2000 but were not stored very well during the most of their lives, tough they meet the markers you describe. As any discontinued Lonsdale, a sad loss...

[Smallclub]

These are rich cigars, tight of draw will little smoke.

So tight that they're unsmokable in my experience: I never managed to find a good box. I have had better luck with the Upmann Gran Corona.

[nonameno]

Hello Fellow FOHers and Mr. Pig,

These are wonderful looking cigars and your description of their flavor sounds delicious. I wish they were still available to try.

I hope this last box will be the best of the lot, and last you for a long while.

Thank you for sharing,

Curtiss

[laficion]

They are really great looking Ray, I wish you the best ever experience

with this last Box

[PigFish]

Rob, these are '01's.

I am glad that it is noted that I am honest about cigars, even my favorites. These cigars are notoriously tight and I make not qualms about that. They have a reputation as noted by others as being un-smokable. As a result I will not trade them or gift them. Frankly.... I don't want to see them or find out that they have been put in the trash, they are far too good for that. These, as I cannot speak of the experiences of others, are smokable in my mind but in fairness, many I know would discard them due to how tight they are, and these too are very tight. I am very patient with them and will work them for all that they are worth for their abundant taste.

Sometime you have to work extra hard for an exceptional smoking experience. While I am not always up for the challenge, when in the mood I will take the time and reap the reward of these fine, but flawed cigars. I have never had a Sir Winston as good as these and while I have had Upmann Con. #1's from the 90's that were damn good, they don't even come close.

If you were to find these, and you consider yourself critical on a cigars draw, I would not recommend buying them. If you can suck start a leaf blower... you may find an exceptional cigar as your reward!

-Piggy

[ChanceSchmerr]

If you can suck start a leaf blower... you may find an exceptional cigar as your reward!

-Piggy

You have a true way with words, Ray!

[cigaraholic]

I've always been a sucker for a great cigar.

[anacostiakat]

Beauts! Love the vitola. Thanks for sharing.

[Smallclub]

.... I don't want to see them or find out that they have been put in the trash, they are far too good for that. These, as I cannot speak of the experiences of others, are smokable in my mind but in fairness, many I know would discard them due to how tight they are, and these too are very tight. I am very patient with them and will work them for all that they are worth for their abundant taste.

If you can suck start a leaf blower... you may find an exceptional cigar as your reward!

Interesting. In my experience, most cigars that are very tight and produce little smoke don't taste like they should taste. I've experienced this with Punch churchills, Black Prince and Ninfas, Partagas churchill de luxe and PdP No.1 and a few others: in the same box, those with a (very) tight draw don't taste like those that draw normally. The array of flavours is much more restricted, higher pitched, more vegetal, which suggests to me that the lack of air circulation in these tight cigars interferes with the aging process.

[Stalebread]

Interesting. In my experience, most cigars that are very tight and produce little smoke don't taste like they should taste. I've experienced this with Punch churchills, Black Prince and Ninfas, Partagas churchill de luxe and PdP No.1 and a few others: in the same box, those with a (very) tight draw don't taste like those that draw normally. The array of flavours is much more restricted, higher pitched, more vegetal, which suggests to me that the lack of air circulation in these tight cigars interferes with the aging process.

Last week I started on a Saint Luis Rey Double Corona from '05 or '06. I was surprised that it had such a tight draw with so little smoke. And not good flavor. Man! I hated to toss that cigar so soon but I was not enjoying it so toss it I did. (It's one of those self-imposed rules I have: if I'm not enjoying the cigar for whatever reason, I don't smoke it no matter its cost or age or heritage.)

I was thinking that the bad flavor might be due to poor/incomplete combustion. I had not considered the possibility of the aging process being flawed as you suggest. Either way, it was not worth the struggle.

[BobKincaid]

Those are just plain gorgeous, Ray.

There's a big difference in my book between "tight" and "plugged," key being the former being worth the work and the latter not.

Like you, I grieve HSA's having generally walked away from the Lonsdale vitola. To me, it's the single most expressive shape there is. Naturally, they start disappearing just as I get into the game. Feh.

[PigFish]

As this has become somewhat of a discussion regarding stiff drawing cigars I will add a little more. I can recount many stiff cigars, with little smoke that were exceptional. It is a reason why I work so hard at them. Some of the single best cigars that I have ever smoked have been cigars that, if I had lesser experience, I would have tossed.

These cigars include, but are not limited to these Upmann Lonsdales. Partagas Seleccion Pivadas, Partagas lonsdales, and the Partagas Petit Coronas... not the PCE!

I can tell you that I smoked another of these lonsdales yeasterday. They are somewhat addictive. The flavor is intense and complex. To be honest, my mouth hurt after smoking it!!! But, it was worth it.

The only gift that I can impart is that if the cigar is not lousy, work it a while and give it an honest effort. You may be gifted with one of the best cigar experiences ever. I don't know why, nor the mechanics of it, I just can testify to the experience. -Piggy

[Stalebread]

(snip)

The only gift that I can impart is that if the cigar is not lousy, work it a while and give it an honest effort. You may be gifted with one of the best cigar experiences ever. I don't know why, nor the mechanics of it, I just can testify to the experience. -Piggy

I hate to give back a gift, Piggy, and I certainly don't have your experience nor am I sure how long to wait to declare the cigar as "lousy" nor how to decide what an honest effort is but when the draw is tight, there is little smoke and the flavor is not good, I toss it and move on to the next one. Just a difference in approach to smoking cigars, I guess.

[kmagurk]

I know what you mean Pigfish. I have 8 cigars left from a box of 02 RyJ churchill's ,most of the ones have had a tight draw, but if you take your time and put a little effort you will be rewarded.

[CigarZen]

As this has become somewhat of a discussion regarding stiff drawing cigars I will add a little more. I can recount many stiff cigars, with little smoke that were exceptional. It is a reason why I work so hard at them. Some of the single best cigars that I have ever smoked have been cigars that, if I had lesser experience, I would have tossed.

These cigars include, but are not limited to these Upmann Lonsdales. Partagas Seleccion Pivadas, Partagas lonsdales, and the Partagas Petit Coronas... not the PCE!

I can tell you that I smoked another of these lonsdales yeasterday. They are somewhat addictive. The flavor is intense and complex. To be honest, my mouth hurt after smoking it!!! But, it was worth it.

The only gift that I can impart is that if the cigar is not lousy, work it a while and give it an honest effort. You may be gifted with one of the best cigar experiences ever. I don't know why, nor the mechanics of it, I just can testify to the experience. -Piggy

Piggy -- I agree with your about these, great blend but I wonder if HSA inadvertently doomed so many great cigars, some truly great blends with subpar construction? A shame. My fav in this category is the Partagas Lonsdale.

[PigFish]

I hate to give back a gift, Piggy, and I certainly don't have your experience nor am I sure how long to wait to declare the cigar as "lousy" nor how to decide what an honest effort is but when the draw is tight, there is little smoke and the flavor is not good, I toss it and move on to the next one. Just a difference in approach to smoking cigars, I guess.

Mate, I can’t help but think that you took my post as sniping at you. Please rest assured I was not. I was agreeing with the destiny of a lousy cigar while sharing some of my experiences with some who experience a stiff draw in a cigar.

The post was in no way a criticism of your experience, the manner in which you smoke, nor your preferences or patience with cigars. It was a statement regarding my experiences when I have encountered smokers who encounter a stiff drawing cigar and my experiences with stiff drawing cigars. It was nothing more than that.

If I have misread you, or if you misread me to the extent that you found it personal, please accept my assurance that it was not. How another smokes is none of my business. If I can share an experience that improves the smoking experience of another I will share the experience. What another does or does not do with the suggestion is up to them.

Cheers, Ray

[bassman]

I'll stick with a very tight cigar to the halfway point. Sometimes it will open up. If not by then, it has to go. Strictly my opinion.