Cisco Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 I just finished an Upmann Half Corona and I have to say that once again I am left sorely disappointed. This is the 5th cigar from a LAR ABR 13 box stored at 65f/65%, and like the three before it (smoked over the past month), it was bitter and tannic. I really like the Upmann marca and routinely smoke the Corona Major and Regalias, both of which I find to be excellent C&Cs. BTW, the other cigars from my humidor are smoking just fine so I don't think it's storage. Anyone else have an issue with the Upmann HC? Will these get better with time? I did enjoy my very first one and I'm wondering what happened. Perhaps a bad box or sick period? I was really wanting this cigar to perform well as it checks the boxes for a "winter smoke". Any insight is appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsy Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Have a few boxes from September 2012 and they are smoking awesome. Sorry to hear of your troubles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMJoe Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 I have smoked a bunch of these, and ALMOST all of them have been quite good in flavor, but more than half have had a very tight draw. If the draw were consistently good, I'd buy a lot more but for now, I'll stick with the couple of boxes I have left and see where things go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stogieninja Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 FWIW, i smoked one from a Feb 13 box at 65% and it was bitter, muted flavors, tight draw. Smoked another from the same box three weeks later at 62% and it was fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cisco Posted December 10, 2013 Author Share Posted December 10, 2013 Thanks for the responses. I recall reading some opinions on 2013 cuban cigars and some were mentioning "green" flavours. That would describe my experience with this box. Perhaps they are under fermented? I can only speculate. I do recall really liking the first cigar...weird...I think I'll let them rest for now and try it again on a month or two. Perhaps I'll try one from a local B&M for comparison. I'll stick with Partagas Shorts and RASCC as my "winter smokes". Both seem to smoke well ROTT in 2013. Stogieninja, you give me some hope that these will evolve into something better. I tried dryboxing the last cigar for a couple of days to no avail but, given your box is two months older, I'm hoping the variable here is time. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusguy Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 My guess is they are simply too young. I have really enjoyed the ones with 1+ years of age. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Festa Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 Maybe not? I have an SAB JUN 13 box at home and they are great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmac77 Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 I have never had an issue with the half corona both younge and with a year or two on them. A great little smoke when you are short on time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cisco Posted December 12, 2013 Author Share Posted December 12, 2013 Thanks for the replies. I have no doubt these can be good young, I guess I was wondering if this was a "box" issue or something common to the cigar's evolution. I really like the Upmann profile so I was surprised by my disappointment. I have little experience with these and, after so many good reviews, I was let down with the few I've have had from my box. I know the box is legit and my storage is good so it come down to the box itself. Now, coming from the wine collecting world, I do understand that there is no such thing as good wine, only good bottles. The same can be said for cigars, and I guess I got a dud box. I am hoping that age will correct these cigars, but they are not harsh just bitter and green, and I am very tannin tolerant. "Green tannins" would be my best descriptor, and I thought this might be common to the 2013 "vintage" (While I have not experienced many 2013 cigars, most have been very good ROTT). I was hoping to get some insight into this, but it appears that most 2013 HCs are good, so it appears not to be a vintage characteristic. I am not writing off this cigar and given all of the positive responses, it seems that my experience is an outlier (though, I have seen some pretty nasty reviews of these cigars as well). I will rest these some more and hope for the best. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sepp Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 I am going to throw in with the lot that love these little gems! A box from FEB 13 is smoking great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattW Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 I've had a few, some with a bit of time on them, some very fresh and I've never had any issues, cracking little cigar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordAnubis Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 I picked some up from a B&M and they had dark wrappers and gave a strong chocolate and raisin flavour. SImilar to the Mag 48 i thought, jsut a little more fruity. I then bought a box and am currently smoking through it (will update box code later tonight) and the three that i have had have been true Upmann sticks. Cream and bread, with a bit of choclate sweetness in there as well. I'm really liking them!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marker Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 These have been great from the few I have had. Typical HUP flavors in a small format. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maverickdrinker Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 good little stick. Heard mixed reviews from the 2013s. Might just need a little time. Very enjoyable when you are short on time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave O))) Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Love 'em. I can still taste the one I smoked yesterday arvo. Noice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shlomo Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 I like them too, but what difference does that make? If you don't like them and you like the Corona Major (I like those too) then stick to them. They are about the same price, but with the CM you get more cigar and a tube to carry it around in. Better value imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cisco Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 I like them too, but what difference does that make? If you don't like them and you like the Corona Major (I like those too) then stick to them. They are about the same price, but with the CM you get more cigar and a tube to carry it around in. Better value imo. I've actually come to the same conclusion. Though the HC format looks so appealing when short on time. The Canadian in me also does not want to waste half a cigar . You are right though. Thanks Shlomo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shlomo Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I've actually come to the same conclusion. Though the HC format looks so appealing when short on time. The Canadian in me also does not want to waste half a cigar . You are right though. Thanks Shlomo. Love the "Uncle Buck". Happy smoking bro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave O))) Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I like them too, but what difference does that make? If you don't like them and you like the Corona Major (I like those too) then stick to them. They are about the same price, but with the CM you get more cigar and a tube to carry it around in. Better value imo. Not if you're buying in Australia. Thankfully, *****int is fortunate to have an international clientele. Without it, survival would be close to impossible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shlomo Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Not if you're buying in Australia. Thankfully, *****int is fortunate to have an international clientele. Without it, survival would be close to impossible. Why? Whats the price difference between the 2 in Oz? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixa Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Why? Whats the price difference between the 2 in Oz? You have duty on top for OZ purchases so the smaller the cigar the smaller the duty bill on top of the normal price. Hence the half coronas which started the same price cost less in total. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mysko Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I like them as well. I have only smoked for 18 months, and these have been one of my single stick go-to cigars. I think they do very well without aging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shlomo Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 You have duty on top for OZ purchases so the smaller the cigar the smaller the duty bill on top of the normal price. Hence the half coronas which started the same price cost less in total. I see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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