H Upmann Magnum 46 REG DIC 17 (HURW)

[ayedfy]

 

H Upmann Magnum 46. Box code REG DIC 17. Paired with Irish breakfast tea, black & unsweetened. 

I had one from this box a few nights back and it was fine but didn't really grab me. Interested to see how this one goes with some closer attention. 

Cold observations: wrapper is veiny and the pack looks pretty tight, feels par for the course in my experience. Cold draw is actually a little looser than the last one, albeit still reasonably firm. 

Opening third: full bodied sweetness, molasses followed by fine leather. Draw opened up almost immediately. Mushrooms, nutmeg, then more sweetness with a lovely gingerbread note. Burn was uneven and flavours muted a little until I could bother to fix it. Body settled down to medium fairly quickly after the initial fullness. 

Middle third: a pleasant dry cocoa character introduces itself. Leather notes continuing but not dominating. Fresh barnyard profile establishing through the middle - hay, pencil shavings, more nutmeg. I saw somebody else mention digestive biscuits and I can definitely recognise a degree of that especially in this middle section. 

Final third: yet another profile tilt at the back end, suddenly creamy with a bunt sweetness, suggesting crème brûlée. We’ve gone from pretty good to great here. Stone fruits, vanilla malt, toasted almonds, blackcurrant. Every puff bringing out something new. A sustained warm butterscotch note carrying through most of this section as well. 

Had to fight some annoying tunnelling throughout, but the flavour on show more than made up for it. Just got better and better, full of surprises and boundless complexity. Regretting having my last one after half a dozen whiskies; now that I’m sober it’s slapping me around telling me I don’t know how lucky I am and if I don’t start respecting it I’m gonna wake up one day in an empty house with nothing but Guantanameras to keep me warm at night. I’m sorry sweetie I’ll never do you dirty like that again. 94/100

[GVan]

Good review, thank you!  One of the CC's that require a little aging to reach their best flavors.  5 years old is just getting there - I'm waiting on a few '19 and '20 boxes.  I'll be waiting for what seems like an eternity for the 5 to 7 year sweet spot.  Luckily, lots of others smoking well now - it's just when I see a review like this of a '17 that I wish I started buying these sooner.