Upmann Sir Winston ELU OCT 14 (FEBW3)

[Capn_Jackson]

Today I’m lighting up a Sir Winnie that just passed its 9th birthday in October, courtesy of @Stogieninja. Such a good dude!

This wrapper is mostly smooth with a few bumpy veins here and there… delicious flavor capillaries. The wrapper is a great peanut butter shade of brown. Great resistance after a straight cut. Aroma is barnyard and cedar, and the cold draw is a little salt, some coffee, and undefined nuts. The light-up draw is absolutely decadent! Some mineral/salt at first, but deeper there is a lightly toasted sourdough, or maybe even rye. Still, some nuts that are yet to identify themselves. To quote Frodo “All right then, keep your secrets…” The draw is impeccable, and the body is big, right outta the gate.

As the first third gets rolling, the bread notes and some sweet honey, mixed with coffee, are central. However, going in a little further I get more stout flavors, and a twinge of blueberry cream. Also, the salt fades away, and something else is revealed. It is a mineral quality, but I can’t quite place it. This is going to sound strange, but it reminds me of… dirt. Not “damp earth,” not “mud,” but… dirt. It’s not unpleasant, though. I dig it. Might go outside later and … okay, no. Just as I’m thinking how gross it is that we all used to taste dirt as kids (No? Just me?) the first chunk of ash decides to let go and falls right on my black slacks. Cheeky little ash.

Burn line seems to be a bit wavy so far, but not problematic. The mouthfeel is kind of oily, and viscous. Strength is hovering right around medium. Since this is a such a big stick, I’ve got plenty of time to focus on the puff-only, with no retro. Usually this is where I find more bready qualities, and this is no exception. Definitely an earthy rye bread, with some kind of jam, maybe black currant or fig. The retro continues to be a little honey, coffee, and blueberry cream, with just a hint of rye. Also, cashews are heading into the mix, finally identifying that nutty flavor I got earlier.

Heading toward the second third, leather appears, overriding the berry note I was enjoying. That’s all good, I’m here for the ride. Just as I’m about to take my selfie, second chunk of ash falls, in the same spot. Cheeky, cheeky little ash.

In this second act, I start to taste maple, and things get even more rich. Leather is still there as well, giving me serious Mag 46 vibes. The rye flavor also gets stronger in the retro, making for a fascinating interplay between the palate and the nose. What a great stick!  

Here, by the way, is my selfie.  Smoldering, fiery, wild, and robust. Talking about the cigar, of course, not me!

Going on toward the halfway point of this cigar, I’m surprised that I don’t find a lot of floral qualities that I usually do in Upmanns. Lots of honey, for sure, but even more maple here at the midpoint. Not as much clover as sugar, like a maple doughnut. Cashews are still in the middle of everything as well, and dominant in the finish. Getting closer to the third act, the stout returns, and even a little bit of blueberry cream. The texture begins to get a bit more creamy than oily, a fun little change.

The last third begins by bringing back even more of that blueberry sweetness, and heavily leaning on the rye toast. Slightly burned butter, and lots of cashew notes here as well. Nothing is getting too hot, no bitterness at all, really exceptional flavors!

Eventually, the fruit starts to turn a little darker, more like prunes than blueberry. More spice comes into the mix, something like ginger and clove, or allspice. Definitely some anise, as well. Somewhere around this point, the bread and fruit notes exit and in steps some mushroom, melding great with the nuts and spices. At the close, the stone fruit gets darker but sweeter, and now I’m thinking raisins instead of prunes.

As I’m finishing this delightful smoke, “Stairway to Heaven” comes on the playlist, which I find very fitting. At 8 minutes, it is truly a Churchill of a song, with as much complexity and nuance as this great Sir Winnie. Along the way, I had to touch up the burn line several times. No detriment to the flavor whatsoever, but just a very slight annoyance. Strength never got past medium, but full-bodied flavor, which is great in my book.

This blend does so well at creating something savory and ever so slightly sweet, without relying much on the usual cocoa or chocolate, which I find is often overdone. Overall, I give this fine specimen a 97! Right up my alley!

[joeypots]

👏👏👏

[KCCubano]

I have gone through many boxes of SW over the years. They age as well or better than any cuban cigar out there. Great review!

[targa88]

2 minutes ago, KCCubano said:

I have gone through many boxes of SW over the years. They age as well or better than any cuban cigar out there. Great review!

Totally agree with all components.

Never had a bad one over the last 20+ years. Both in terms of construction and flavour evolution.

Great review.. never had the fruit/berry notes  - every palate is personal!😎

[Ford2112]

Amazing!! The cigar too...

[MrBirdman]

Very nice review. 

[Rhinoww]

Nice review (and a nice smoke).