H Upmann #2 LUB NOV 14 (OFRW)

[Notsocleaver]

This is a special box of a special cigar for me. The Hup #2 was the cigar that sold me on cubans. I had had a few cuban cigars before with mixed results, but that first #2 was that cigar that was sublime enough that I didn't want anything else. My first boy was born in November of '14, so this is a special box as well. I try not to dig into this one too often as I want to save a few for when my son is grown up. These cigars came from a pretty strong run of #2s and construction in this box has been top notch.

Draw is perfect after a modest clip. We light it up and here we go. I love all H Upmanns, but it can be hard to differentiate them in my mind. Why smoke a #2 when you can smoke a Connie A? This cigars reminds me. To me, the #2 just has more of that 'cuban twang' than any other cigar I reach for. Its a pleasant sourness that takes the H Upmann shortbread and makes it more like sourdough toast. There is a touch of fruit in there, not nearly that of the Mag 50 though. The strongest second note is a chocolate hazelnut flavor that varies in intensity as the cigar progresses. Burn is a touch uneven, but not bad.

As the cigar progresses, ceder notes become more predominant. I'd say the #2 is probably the woodiest of the large format Upmanns. Towards the final third is starts to lose some of the sweetness, making the chocolate notes seem more like coffee to me. Not a terribly complex cigar, yet not one dimensional either. Towards the end it needs a few touch ups to keep the burn straight, but nothing horrible.

As this cigar concludes I am satisfied but not floored. The very best of these in my mind have a touch more fruitiness. Still, its a solid 91, and at a nice sweet spot age wise. Because of the sentimental value, I'm going to try to hold on to a few of these until the 20 year mark, but if that weren't the case I would be working through this box regularly. These have been my long time go to cigars and I still love them. They used to be the steal of the H Upmann line but the Connie A has creeped down in price and these have creeped up and that makes them a little harder for me to grab at them. The H Up #2 will always have a sentimental value to me though, so for that I'll always try to keep some on hand.

 

[RDB]

Really nice review, thanks. Interested that you note the strong ‘twangy’ sourness. I got that in spades with Blind Cigar no.1 - but I’d never had a HU2 before.

[dowjr1]

This is a great review...love the taste distinctions noted.

[Chucko8]

Well written and great pics. Thanks 

[Notsocleaver]

I hadn't realized this was the blind cigar #1. Reading all those reviews was fun, now I really wish I had gotten in on it.

[bbguardsp]

My favorite regular production cigar.  18-19 examples have took me back to the LUB 14s.  Great minds my friend.