H. Upmann Half Corona AME JUL 13 Review

[rmill3r]

Cigar: H. Upmann Half Corona (44 x 3.5", AME JUL 13)

Review date: 9/15/2014 (1 year, 2 months)

It's too early for me to play "favorites." A lot more people have been digging into a lot more cigars a lot longer than I have, but one thing I can say for sure is that so far Upmann has delivered what I like best in a cigar in spades. The Half Corona was my first Upmann box (admittedly because the price was ideal), and I'm still working it down.

From what I can tell, this cigar has some mixed reception. Based on comments, reviews, articles, etc., I can't really tell if more people lean toward thumbs up or thumbs down! It's certainly a novel vitola, and the price is right, but how does the performance and flavor deliver?

Being only 3.5 inches (~89 mm), this is supposed to be a quick smoke. One thing I liked is that--compared to other quick smokes--this has a 44 ring rather than 42. It feels a little more durable between my fingers and I appreciate that. People claim these can be smoked in about 20-25 minutes, but my personal experience tends to lean more toward 40-45 minutes.

First half

Everything pre-light is just beautiful. It's sweet, cocoa, honey, and baked goods. The draw is rather tight (something I've experienced in most of this box), but I actually prefer that with this cigar. I will fully admit that I was a little rushed in the beginning and probably lit the thing too fast.

After lighting up, I'm initially hit with absolutely everything I have come to know from H. Upmann: hazelnut, milk coffee, cream, sweetness, and subtle baking spices. It's warm, soothing, and just absolutely lovely. Maybe it was this particular cigar, but something changed for me after a centimeter or so. The spice really amped up toward the end of the first half. The creaminess died away and it became a rather dry allspice sort of character. This isn't exactly what I prefer to experience in my Upmann, but so far this is one of the few HCs in this box that has acted up, so I'm not too concerned and almost appreciate the variety.

Second half

At the start of the second half, a huge change comes along. The dryness becomes cream again, but the flavors shift to herbal and fresh grass. This is the weirdest change as I don't think I've ever experienced this in an Upmann . . . maybe a Cohiba, but not an Upmann. Another noticeable change is that the draw opened up tenfold. It didn't open up to the point of being loose, but all of a sudden the flavors were much bigger and the retrohale definitely exuded those baking spices in droves.

Very quickly, though, as I was reaching the nerve-end-shattering burn that comes with nubbing a cigar you enjoy, everything returned to that classic (er, well, to me "classic") Upmann profile of hazelnut, milk coffee, and sweet cream. It was a delicious and satisfying end to one of the oddest Half Coronas I've had in this box.

Conclusion

The Half Corona is somewhat of a novelty but doesn't seem like a fad cigar. If you like Upmann, it's everything good about that marca in a tiny little package. With the substantial 44 ring gauge, it lasts longer than you would expect for a cigar that short, yet my biggest complaint at the end of each of these is always, "Where's the rest?!"

Rating: 89

[dogdays]

Good review , and good pics too. I will have to try the half corona.

[cottierm]

I share your conclusions on this one: good but too short.

[Optic101]

Nice one !!!

[TheFullMontecristo]

Nice review. I have 2 boxes on the way from a very recent 12:12.

[Brickhouse]

I love these. Perfect dog walking cigar.

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[tagheuer]

Thanks for the great review.

[jerryg05495]

great job, now I need to try one

[Hunter1974]

Just had my first and it was awesome !