H. Upmann No. 2 - Smoke and drink Pairing review

[slowsmoke]

This is one of the final cigars from my "new to cubans" sampler, and as such I don't know the box code.  Paired with Pendleton 1910, a 12 year Canadian rye.

Construction was even and firm.  The wrapper, while it didn't have any obvious defects, was on the pale/dry side, with a slight leather aroma.  After clipping it, the draw was absolutely perfect, which is always a relief.  I'm picky about draws.

The first and second thirds were pretty much indistinguishable.  Mild tobacco, some toast and nuts, a little coffee.  These are flavors that I like, and it was good, but none of them really stood out, and overall it was just a very mild smoke.  It was also constantly trying to canoe, requiring multiple touch ups, but it remained smokeable and never went bitter or tar.  I'm usually not one for gratuitous ash pics, but I couldn't resist this one.

In the final third, and I mean really at the end of the cigar, this thing suddenly woke up with a wonderful strong buttered toast flavor.  It was perfect and rich, and just seemed to get better as it went down to the nub.  It left a great finish.  If the whole cigar were that good, I'd be stocking up on boxes right now.  So, I'll say that I'm looking forward to trying more of these.  I do have a couple more from a recent 24:24 sampler, patiently resting.

The whiskey is one of my standby favorites, always in my cabinet, but this is the first time I can recall pairing it with a cigar.  It has some very nice vanilla and butterscotch flavors, and something that I have never seen in a review, but that I get every time clear as day, and it makes me smile - cornbread.  The flavors really made up for a somewhat bland smoke during the first two thirds of the cigar, and then added a nice sweetness to the rich buttered toast flavor of the final third.

Overall, kind of a boring cigar but with some promise at the end, and an excellent reliable whiskey that I think would go really well with other cigars.

 

[Islandboy]

Nice review! HU2 is a recent favorite of mine, sounds like you got a bit of a dud. But your description of the whiskey sent me on a hunt today, and I was successful! Can’t wait to try it. 

[slowsmoke]

9 hours ago, Islandboy said:

Nice review! HU2 is a recent favorite of mine, sounds like you got a bit of a dud. But your description of the whiskey sent me on a hunt today, and I was successful! Can’t wait to try it. 

Awesome, let me know what you think of it! 

[HopeUgood]

Great and honest review sir.