H. Upmann Mag 46 LUB JUL 13

[Lasabar]

One of my first box purchases from the threads here earlier this year.

Cut: Double Guillotine

Pairing: Blue Mountain'd Coors Light Tall Boys and the Thursday Night Football Game.

Pre-light: There is a shimmer to the wrapper. Looks like little flecks of shiny orange all throughout the wrapper. Never seen this before. This cigar shipped and had a cracked foot so this will be sacrificed as the first one out of the box. I received this box exactly two months ago so they have had time to rest.

Construction:

Very good consistent wrapper with a flat top at the cap. One dominant vein on the cigar. The band is fairly tight but there is some wiggle on it, but I shant take it off for fear of wrapper damage.

Draw:

Firm, almost too firm. Seems pretty well packed at the cap and I notice a slight cracking about a cm down from the cap showing a bit of overfill. No stems/sticks but packed in there.

1st Third:

SMOOOOOOTH. Not a ton of smack me in the face flavor, but smooth cedar/wood and leather. The taste hangs in the mouth for awhile, coating the mouth. Very good mouth feel. I should mention this is my first Mag 46 ever, actually my first Upmann ever but I like where it's starting. The tight draw is producing tons of smoke but I feel the flavor is muted a bit with the tight draw. I'd poke it with a tool but I'm afraid of splitting the wrapper as the head is already a tad cracked.

2nd Third:

Ash hung on for about an inch and then politely fell off with a gentle wrap on the ashtray. Retrohale is producing some pure woody leathery goodness. A bit of some power is coming up through the nose. I find myself just smacking my tongue to the top of my mouth and the flavors still linger and re-awaken when not smoking. Some toasted tobacco and slight coffee picking up. The cigar seems to be "growing up" in flavor as I progress. I did carefully slide the band up to cover up the crack and hold things together.

Last Third:

Getting a bit darker in flavor but still an almost creamy mouth feel as it coats. More coffee and tobacco but very rich and smooth. Burn has been impeccable the whole night. Wood has upgraded to what I would describe a "Rich Oak" just been intensified along with all the other flavors. Very enjoyable.

4th Third?:

I could not put this guy down. So tasty and being my first H Upmann I thought it deserved some good smoking time! Got a bit bitter in the last inch, but that's expected when I smoke it down so far.

My lips hurt.

Total Smoke time:

Three full quarters of the Thursday night football game!

[soutso]

I have a box, LUB FEB14. I have not smoked any yet but I too have little golden specks on all of the wrappers. Kind of glitter like.

I suspect it's from the Gold outline on the band. Six of them have slightly split foots too.

My box does look and smell terrific though.

That last inch must have gotten pretty hot! Thanks for the review.

[Optic101]

Nice review with a challenging ending:)

Like them a lot and they do get even better with age.