"King of the Apricot" old Upmann 50 or old SLR DC?

[99call]

So Rob and (more so) Ken have always lorded the SLR DC to deliver in cream and stone-fruit, in particular apricot.  I've sampled SLR DC's from two separate boxes (both 09), whilst some have been very good and apricot/ peaches and cream definitely present, they haven't been good enough for me not to consider selling on those boxes, and indeed have done so with no regret.

I have some Mag 50 from 09, and they literally have a sweet stench of apricot, and are heavenly to smoke. .  I'm now desperately frying to find a nice 50cab from 09. 

So FOH,   people obsess about SLR DC for the profile they can bring........have vintage Upmann Mag 50's  eclipsed them??

 

[JohnS]

10 minutes ago, 99call said:

So FOH,   people obsess about SLR DC for the profile they can bring........have vintage Upmann Mag 50's  eclipsed them??

I can't speak from experience in regards to '09 stock, however, I'd bet that 10 year-old Magnum 50's are not as likely to go as bland on you as 10-year old Saint Luis Rey Double Coronas can.

[99call]

1 minute ago, JohnS said:

I can't speak from experience in regards to '09 stock, however, I'd bet that 10 year-old Magnum 50's are not as likely to go as bland on you as 10-year old Saint Luis Rey Double Coronas can.

Yep, in retrospect, I'm very glad I got to try some, enjoyed the hunt, and I'm grateful for the tip-off Rob & Ken collectively gave us all (on how good SLR DC can be), but I think you're right John the 'dud ratio' with SLRDC's can be a little too heavy.  

I've not had a bad Mag 50, and have found them to sweeten up/improve quite dramatically with age.  As much as we collectively morn the death of great cigars, it's always really positive to see new legends coming along.......  I new hunt begins!! 

[cigaraholic]

The stone fruit flavor I find in great SLR DC’s and Churchill’s is white peach, I’ve never made it to apricot....but I’d be happy too. I’m just finishing up my 08 Mag 50’s so I’ll be breaking into my 09’s soon.....looking forward to going to apricot land.?

[CaptainQuintero]

  It's strange, I like the odd SLR but I find the mag 50 to be too fruity, it's almost like melon to me. I don't even know where ageing can go with them, I know where Upmann goes with time, but the mag 50 isn't Upmann at all to my tastes; it should have an SLR band, maybe even San Cristobal.

[99call]

4 minutes ago, CaptainQuintero said:

  It's strange, I like the odd SLR but I find the mag 50 to be too fruity, it's almost like melon to me. I don't even know where ageing can go with them, I know where Upmann goes with time, but the mag 50 isn't Upmann at all to my tastes; it should have an SLR band, maybe even San Cristobal.

When young I think the Mag 50s can quite easily be picked as Upmann,  but with even a little age, I do agree, they go on a sweet creamy evolution, whereby yes, I would struggle to pick them blind as Upmanns.    

I love that peach/apricot chemical Ester smell of a Mag 50, and I can see what you're saying with regards to melon.  There is definitely a point where it becomes slightly cloying, but I haven't reached it yet.    I opt out with San Cristobal though, to me that all in a lot darker register, whether is be Molasses, Dark Manuka, or Maple Syrup. 

[99call]

14 minutes ago, cigaraholic said:

The stone fruit flavor I find in great SLR DC’s and Churchill’s is white peach, I’ve never made it to apricot....but I’d be happy too. I’m just finishing up my 08 Mag 50’s so I’ll be breaking into my 09’s soon.....looking forward to going to apricot land.?

I sort of mean the chemical aroma of Ester's in general which would loosely refer to Peach, nectarine, apricot etc as a group. 

[TheMonk]

On 3/3/2019 at 4:02 PM, CaptainQuintero said:

  It's strange, I like the odd SLR but I find the mag 50 to be too fruity, it's almost like melon to me. I don't even know where ageing can go with them, I know where Upmann goes with time, but the mag 50 isn't Upmann at all to my tastes; it should have an SLR band, maybe even San Cristobal.

I agree that the Mag50 (and the Connie A, for that matter) could very well have an SLR band, but San Cristobal? ? Have to say it would never cross my mind! It's amazing how taste and perception can differ.

[earthson]

On 3/3/2019 at 6:28 AM, 99call said:

So Rob and (more so) Ken have always lorded the SLR DC to deliver in cream and stone-fruit, in particular apricot.  I've sampled SLR DC's from two separate boxes (both 09), whilst some have been very good and apricot/ peaches and cream definitely present, they haven't been good enough for me not to consider selling on those boxes, and indeed have done so with no regret.

I have some Mag 50 from 09, and they literally have a sweet stench of apricot, and are heavenly to smoke. .  I'm now desperately frying to find a nice 50cab from 09. 

So FOH,   people obsess about SLR DC for the profile they can bring........have vintage Upmann Mag 50's  eclipsed them??

 

I loved 08/09 Mag 50s for the musk and spiced apricots I think you mention.  My favorite aspect was how they would start very mild and 1 cm in, just explode and start building and building into a full-flavored finish.  I took a break from them as I experimented with the rest of Havana's offerings and when I returned to them in 14/15, they were sadly missing what I remembered loving about them.  Whether it was my palate that changed or the blend, I don't know, but it was disappointing after 2 boxes.  Oh well.