H. Upmann Magnum 54 GOB FEB 20 (HURW)

[saltbox]

These review weekends make it easy to pick the marca I subject my wife to for weekend smokes. She got an H. Upmann Half Corona LTO JUN 20 while I smoked my Magnum 54. This one's one of the last few of the box of 10 I picked up, and while they've been enjoyable so far, I haven't been enamored enough to pick up a bigger box.

First third: opens with a nice creamy brown sugar and almond cookie. So far, much richer and sweeter than any of the other previous samples from this box. Off to a better start so far.

Middle third: the creaminess fades a bit and the profile picks up some dry tannic qualities. It's more of a dry shortbread and honeyed almonds now. The sweetness is still pleasant but the dryness makes the overall profile feel less cohesive and rich.

Last third: almond cake, cream, and coffee. The sweet becomes a bit more subdued; still present but a bit more in the background.

Overall: not bad, probably the best sample out of the box so far, but I'm okay not picking up another box of these. It just doesn't feel like it offers anything special over the other cigars in the marca, and the vitola is simply not as comfortable to smoke. 87/100