Upmann Connie 1 GEM OCT 21 (FFSAug24)

[Capn_Jackson]

Nice, blisteringly hot weather we’re having down here in Texas. This one, luckily, I get the chance to smoke by a pool. I’m on a Habanos kick this week, smoking mostly through some stuff in the 2020-2022 time range, to see how they’re doing.

This box of Connie 1’s has a light-to-medium brown wrapper, mostly smooth but with a few ridges going down the stick. Good slightly firm resistance on cold draw. Getting salt, almonds, and some tangy wood.

Opening light gives me some honeyed graham cracker and a little spice. Some kind of dried fruit on the finish, seems like apricot but that doesn’t sound right. Going on, honey is still dominant but there is also a sweet jalapeño jelly that I’ve noticed in all of these Connies. Lingers quite a bit on the back of the tongue, but not overpowering. Gives a heftiness to this otherwise elegant beginning. The finish seems to be all crushed almonds and floral honey. Strength, as usual, below medium for me. Great oily, viscous texture which I love. Heading toward second third, I’m getting some nice rum raisin. Buttered toast, and less honey but more almonds. Marzipan. Great plumes of smoke, and excellent construction on this stick.

In the second third, everything gets a little thinner, more of a floral bouquet. The hot spices are gone, but sweet baking spices get more prevalent. Eventually caramel and butter come into play. Not so much almond anymore, but maybe some hazelnut. Around the midpoint, there’s a slight bitterness that I’m not used to in these. Unfortunately, it lasts on into the final act, but luckily dissolves into cocoa and coffee.

Not much change after that. Coffee dominates the ending, and not much else. The tail end starts to turn acrid, so I don’t bother nubbing. This is the first stick out of this box that turned bitter, and it did so right around the middle. Last third was simply not enjoyable at all.

This one gets about 75, and I think that’s being kind. Not at all indicative of the Connie 1 as a whole, or even this box, but this one today was truly just a dud.

[JohnS]

Sorry to hear that it didn't turn out as you hoped. Thank you for the review, in any case.

[zeedubbya]

As I was diving in humidor this eve for a certain someone 👀, came across this box, from 2015….MEG code. Pleasantly surprised to find 14 still unsmoked. I must have REALLY not liked them back then. Have a work dinner with the brass tomorrow night, I think I’ll toss 5 in singles drawer and bring this along. Nice, timely review @Capn_Jackson 🥂 

[SCgarman]

Inconsistent cigar. Had two boxes BRE code. One from 2017 and another from 2019. The 17's were off the charts great. Light brown wrappers, great draw, wonderful light bodied shortbread Upmann flavors. The 19 box which I still have are dark wrappers, many overfilled or even plugged cigars, darker, unpleasant flavors not typical of the Upmann marca. Like apples and oranges. Anyway, at current prices of these I'm not buying anymore. These were $200/box back when things were "normal". No way in hell I'm paying 500+/box and risking a box of nasty duds like the 19's. 

[zeedubbya]

Smoked 1 and handed out 8 of these to friends at a hosted dinner tonight. 9 years has done amazing things to them. What a joy to share a great aged cigar with some friends. Agree with @SCgarman though, they just aren’t a 20 buck stick. To have to sit on them for 8 years to get them to show some promise is sustainable at $8-10 each, NOT 20.

 

**Sorry to hijack your review @Capn_Jackson !

[Capn_Jackson]

3 hours ago, zeedubbya said:

Smoked 1 and handed out 8 of these to friends at a hosted dinner tonight. 9 years has done amazing things to them. What a joy to share a great aged cigar with some friends. Agree with @SCgarman though, they just aren’t a 20 buck stick. To have to sit on them for 8 years to get them to show some promise is sustainable at $8-10 each, NOT 20. 

 

**Sorry to hijack your review @Capn_Jackson !

By all means, hijack away!