H. Upmann Propio EL 2018 BRE ABR 20 12DCRC

[saltbox]

Rested for 2.5 months at 62RH, 8 months box age. Haven't actually had a chance to smoke any regular production H. Upmann yet so will be curious to see how this compares to the few I have resting and getting ready for a smoke (Half Corona and Magnum 46 up first).

First third: Opens with shortbread, coffee, cocoa powder. The texture of the smoke is almost powdery, with a bit of caramel sweetness on the finish. The burn is annoyingly uneven, as one side burns much more quickly than the rest. After ashing, it turns out theres a bit of a hollow spot that ultimately runs through the length of the cigar.

Middle third: The shortbread falls away and leaves coffee and chocolate pudding.

Last third: The shortbread is basically gone at this point, and the chocolate pudding is the main note of the flavor profile, with some occasional touches of leather on the retrohale.

Overall: This one actually reminded me quite a bit of the Partagas Maduro No. 1 from the sampler, with the chocolate pudding notes. The construction and burn issues docked a few points. Not bad, but not particularly exciting or complex and for the going price for this short of a smoke, this one was a bit of a letdown. 88/100

 

My running scoreboard for the sampler:

Romeo y Julieta Churchill GEL FEB 20: 93

Partagas Lusitania EBO JUN 20: 93

Bolivar Belicoso Fino LTO JUN 20: 92

Quai d'Orsay Senador EL 2019 TUA MAR 20: 92

Trinidad Esmeralda BSM ABR 20: 92

Cohiba Siglo VI MOL MAY 20: 91

Partagas Maduro No. 1 TUE ABR 20: 90

Montecristo No. 2 RAT JUN 20: 88

H. Upmann Propio EL 2018 BRE ABR 20: 88

Quai d'Orsay No. 54 TOU DIC 19: 87

Cohiba Robusto SOV DIC 19: 85

[Kaptain Karl]

Nice review! I'm not gonna touch this or the Senadores for a few years. I'll never stop being jealous of your smoking view. That's just unreal!

Have you ever smoked at the Wingtip? I've been there a few times with my buddy who's a member, not quite your view but it's always a special experience. 

[saltbox]

22 hours ago, Kaptain Karl said:

Nice review! I'm not gonna touch this or the Senadores for a few years. I'll never stop being jealous of your smoking view. That's just unreal!

Have you ever smoked at the Wingtip? I've been there a few times with my buddy who's a member, not quite your view but it's always a special experience. 

Not yet! I actually only picked cigars back up recently, during all this COVID craziness, because I happened to move apartments and suddenly had a usable patio. Before that it had probably been nearly a decade since I dropped the hobby due to the sheer inconvenience of not being able to smoke at home, so I haven't been to any actual B&Ms yet.