H.Upmann Original Release Half Corona Review

[CaptainQuintero]

I grabbed a 5-tin of these when the first hit the shelves in Switzerland, I have to say that I haven't had any positive experiences with them. It's strange as Upmann is one of my favourite marcas and enjoy smaller smokes, even more so that everyone seems to love them!

Anyway this was the final cigar from the tin. Has two and a half years rest developed this cigar?

44 x 90

Straight off an unmistakable charred flavour, This is the first time in months that I've used a torch to light a cigar as opposed to a soft flame so initially I put this down to that.

These short smokes need to really start hitting the high notes from the get-go and these are consistent. Consistent in that they never do for me. A slow heavy start, thick smoke that isn't dissimilar to car exhaust.

A centimeter or so in and the flavour has settled into a lovely round profile. A profile that consists of bitter and sour tobacco, I'm not even sure if the leaves in this little guy were fermented they taste that raw.

The cigar promptly goes out.

Gentle re-light and thankfully the flavour has changed.

Now a taste sensation of what could only be what burning toe-nails would be like; a metallic ozone aspect, rounded off by a distinct element comprised of over matured beef.

This doesn't even taste like tobacco, it is what must be the result of a "Bring your child to work" day in the Habanos.S.A offices. I would expect even a fake to taste like tobacco.

Got to the band and stubbed the thing out on a wall and flicked it into the road. If it wants to behave like a cigarette then it can be treated like one. The exploding butt/ember gives off a burst of hot damp tobacco, finally something related to the plant this cigar is supposedly made with!

Probably not going to be buying any more of these.

No it doesn't get a score /100, it doesn't even reach the heady heights of my all time worst:

[AlohaStyle]

I think the tin makes a big difference. From my experience, the cigars from the 25-ct box were much better than the ones I smoked from a tin. I've only had a few from the tin, but I immediately thought the tin made a slight difference, I can only imagine giving them more age in the tin.

[Pixa]

You have such a way with words capt. I Love them maybe just a bad tin

[Firebender]

I was disappointed few times with HUHC, and haven't had a really good one yet.

Hopefully it will change soon because I have two boxes..

[...]

Love the review, sad the cigar was so bad

[riazp]

shocked these cigars have been nothing but amazing for me

[shlomo]

I've heard the tins were prone to having much harsher cigars. Were they stored for 2.5 years on the tin? I've never had a tin version, and like Riaz above, 99% have been very good for me, and I have smoked alot of these...

[Smallclub]

I've heard the tins were prone to having much harsher cigars. Were they stored for 2.5 years on the tin? I've never had a tin version, and like Riaz above, 99% have been very good for me, and I have smoked alot of these...

Didn't know about the tins; never had the tin version either. I still find it surprising. My first box was spectacular, and I'm about to start my 4th box.

[Laxman]

Must be the tins as I have smoked through a few boxes and all have been pretty solid. My only compliant is they are too short! Just as they start to kick in they are done.

[shlomo]

Didn't know about the tins; never had the tin version either. I still find it surprising. My first box was spectacular, and I'm about to start my 4th box.

Just what I heard from people who have had tins laying around a while. Anybody here have experience with the tins?

[canucks6024]

Very entertaining review!

[Optic101]

Nice writing CQ and sorry to hear about the quality. As others I have some boxes amd they all smoke very well and some really great.

[Habana Mike]

Friend shared one from the tin with me a couple of years back. As I recall neither of us were quite impressed.

Since then I've burned through at least a couple of boxes and enjoy them very much!

[davidl]

I have a full box , and they taste the same as in this review

[Cisco]

Thoroughly enjoyed the review CQ and I thoroughly enjoy the cigar. I've had some harsh examples but most HUHCs I've had have been flat out very good. I usually nub these cigars and I am on my third box of these within the last year. As others have said, it could be the tinned versions somehow being harsher.

[Phillys]

I have also had a great experience with these. Great rich Upmann flavors from the start, too bad yours where so bad.

[finecigar]

I have had hit or miss with HUHCs, with a few boxes ive sampled from each and seem to get this harsh, burnt flavor with about every other cigar, while some are delicious. Construction weird too with deceivingly nice looking cigar that falls upart

[CaptainQuintero]

This one was the worst of the five, however not by a long shot :s that is what is so surprising to me as they are almost universally loved, maybe just one of those things.

They were taken out of the tin straight away and have spent the last few years in my singles desktop at 60-65% ish.

The tin looks nice though!

I don't personally think the tin has imparted anything into the cigar, the flavours are just so off its like total raw leaf.

I can only think that they at some point were stored outside of a humidor like the new RyJ tins are in Spain. Those tins are as airtight as the Titanic but the Upmann ones really are solid; very tight seal. Still it's all I can think of, even though the store would not have kept them outside of a humidor, maybe the distributor did or they were held up during initial transport from Cuba etc. I'm grasping for ideas though now.

Probably just a horrible batch of badly fermented tobacco was used.

[Ramrod918]

Thanks for the heads up.

[CaptainQuintero]

Thanks for the heads up.

You will most likely enjoy them, ignore me! I think I either have a blind spot on these or I was just incredibly unluc