H. Upmann Majestic - SMA DIC 18 (HURWR)*

[Sir Diggamus]

I made this choice of cigar as one of the ones I review this weekend because I anticipate there won't be a ton of folks reviewing this one, maybe I'll be wrong about that. This cigar was one I meant to try for years and just never got around to it, even though for years there was a person on one of the forums I was on that seemed to praise the Majestic anytime someone mentioned "value for the money",  "cheap but good", or anything in that vein. 

The Majestic left me with some interesting thoughts about resting cigars. The first three Majestics I tried were all singles I received last year. I rested the three at least 30-40 days before I tried the first one and it was good, but one thing I noticed was that the next one I had 70-80 days rested was noticeably better, and the third was even better yet by several degrees. I decided to pull the trigger on a box on the evening I smoked the third one. The box I received wasn't in transit an exceptionally long time, and I rested it a solid 30 days before I tried the first one. The cigar was TERRIBLE! It was super harsh with almost no discernible flavors, bad, bad, bad. It is literally one of the only Cuban cigars I have completely abandoned with more than 1/2 left. If someone handed me that cigar I would have claimed it was a fake, rolled with fingernails and horsehair, etc..., etc... But I tried one after about the 70 day mark and there it was, pepper and spice notes, it was mild and not at all representative of the same cigar that I previously didn't enjoy. So when I needed a cigar for this review I knew that this was one I was hoping to get a third crack at. 

This cigar was colorado in color and had a nice box press, It had a slightly sweet aroma prior to lighting. It had a little squish to it but didn't feel underfilled at all. A little berry on the dry draw. After lighting the first few puffs revealed a sweet cedar note, with light cream notes joining in shortly after that. The rest of the first third was had a nice spice note in the background and burned very evenly with a nice white ash that hung on for a while between needing to knock it off. 

In the 2/3 of the cigar the spice profile notched up a bit and made me think that this cigar is closer to the Mag 46 in flavor profile than most of the other H. Upmann cigars I have enjoyed. Cream and spice dominated for some time, not much of a change but very enjoyable. 

In the last third of the cigar some pepper notes joined in with the rest of the spice and a little anise on the retrohale. The finish was all cream and pepper at this point with little dabs of walnuts. I smoked the cigar to the nub very pleased with the result.

I know pretty much all cigars benefit from a short rest before smoking but generally after 30 days most are approachable or at least present you some representative statement on the profile for the near future. The Majestic is a cigar that surprised me with the amount of time needed for it to be at some sort of equilibrium. I wonder if this is common with this cigar or just the recent crop. 

I was very happy in the difference between the first one from the box and this one. It makes me look forward to the next one. I really like the size of this cigar (40rg x 5 1/2in) and wish there were other marcas that had this size included in their lineup. It wasn't overly complex, but had a few nice transitions in flavors and was a nice mild-medium in body. Again, a lot like the little brother of the Mag 46 in flavors, just not as punchy or complex. 

85 Rating 

 

[Hussein Ibish]

I have a box of 2014 Majestics that were very inexpensive and are extremely good smokes. There’s one problem with them, though. They are extremely loosely rolled, especially for a Cuban, and that forces the smoker to be cautious to smoke it slowly or else the last 5th will be too hot and almost falling apart. I’m glad to have them though. Quite good.