Custom Rolled "Double Ligero H Upmann #2" - Spring '14 (SMRW)

[Notsocleaver]

So a few years back there were these custom rolled cigars with a blend that was described as being like a Monte #2 with twice the ligero. I was a fan of them and thought they were a lot better than the production Monte #2s coming out at the time and ordered a fair number. At one point I asked if they could tweak the blend closer to an extra strong H Upmann #2. I got these in time for the birth of my firstborn, so they are about 5.5 years old now.

The wrappers on these are oily with a bit of a brindle pattern. The cigar is well packed, with an appropriately firm draw with about a ¼ inch clipped from the head. Pre-light, this cigar has a bit of a floral smell to it, with some of that barnyard hay on the cold draw.

On the light, this cigar opens with a faint floral note, covered over with earth and black coffee. The age has helped settle the blend on these a little, but it still feels a touch wild on the open. As the cigar settles it gets a little sweeter and it starts to taste like something that could be an H Upmann. The ligero is certainly there, and its peppery nature does influence the blend. Cream and shortbread are overshadowed by black coffee and pepper in the first third. As the cigar tapers, the ligero does too, and the creamy notes become a little more predominate. A bit of that apricot fruit note comes through as well. The burn gets a little wonky around the mid point, but the cigar ultimately needed no corrections. The strength is certainly there. It is a touch stronger than the '13 Mag 46 I was smoking the other day, but would still probably just barely rate a medium to most people used to Nicaraguan tobacco.

I also got a box of regular production H Upmann #2s to mark my son's birth, one of those LUB '14 boxes that were so good at the time. I ultimately think I like those LUB '14s a little bit better. I have some really good Mag 46 and Sir Winnies from that time period too, which I rate as some of my favorites cigars right now. But these are still great cigars and they are uniquely mine, which has to count for something. I'd score it 91 if I was trying to be unsentimental, but I probably wouldn't trade these for anything.

 

[Chucko8]

Great review and pictures, thanks!

[billyh79]

I bought a bundle of these a while ago and remember them being really good.