H. UPMANN SIR WINSTON (FS1124) date unknown

[Ford2112]

Last night after a heavy dinner I decided it was time to light up one of the two Sir Winnies I had, courtesy of @Lfhard. I was relaxing in the Fish Bus on the dock of the bay. The sea lions were making a hell of a racket, and the surf gently pounded the shore nearby. The Monterey Municipal Wharf No. 2 is getting renovated so there is a traffic light about midway.  I had the end of the pier to myself on a glass calm evening. 

Onto the cigar! I kept these in my tupperdor,65% RH. Temps are a bit up in down where I am storing them so it isn't optimal. All my other cigars have been smoking lights out . This cigar would prove to be a disappointing endeavor unfortunately.

Pretty cigar. The smell is of pee, like when you walk in downtown San Francisco now, coupled with leather, barnyard. I clip the end and the draw is really firm, bordering on a plug.

I feel the cigar and it doesn't seem overfilled, no hard spot at the band. I roll the end lightly as I don't want to damage this thing. A - they are scarce and B - hyped the hell up! I draw a few times and say to myself it will open up. I lit that sucker up. Aroma? Not much surprisingly, seeing how the aroma at cold smelled like a public restroom.

1st third - A bit buttery, mellow, no sweetness, straight forward tobacco. I am not getting any twang. Interesting start, and not much progression for about 20 minutes of smoking. The draw did open up a bit. " Walk not run" - Hamlet. I would love to meet that guy someday. 

Relight. And its not like I am smoking slow either. It's a little chilly but humidity is low on the peninsula right now. 2nd third kind of ramps up with leather and tobacco, a bit of spice. So far it isn't rocking my socks off. 

I'm in a contemplative mood. What a weird time to be alive in the world eh? And what a weird time in my life. I live in a bus down by the river. Chris Farley was a riot! This last year hasn't been easy. Finances, health issues, some loss. Lots of good times though, I got to travel and fishing trips have been good, one in the Colorado rockies for trout and one up north for steelhead. 

An hour has gone by. I keep having to touch up this cigar with a few relights. The flavors aren't very nuanced. This is the cigar journey. Every cigar is as different as the plants they came from, the soil they are grown in, the climate in which they are grown, and the people who roll and the folks who smoke them. They are like snowflakes (don't be offended if you're a snowflake!). 

I didn't nub this. Overall due to construction issues (this thing was rolled a bit too tight) and a lack of complexity I give this cigar 3 stars. Sometimes the cigar journey is more about the act of smoking and the quiet time anyway. No regrets here! Still, the Punch DCs I have been smoking blow everything else I've been smoking through out of the water. 

I am feeling a bit queasy which is odd for me because I am an absolute beast when it comes to handling nicotine. Maybe it was the Carbonara I had, which was as mid as this stogie. I always think of Winston Churchill when I smoke. I wonder if he ever got the nicotine buzz? Nah, he was too much of a man for that!

I drove to my resting place for the night and by now I was feeling wretched. Something sure didn’t settle in my stomach! I won't go into it but my night ended a bit rough. Luckily my friend Dan bought my dinner!

Long review I know. I will be letting the other Winnie rest. May smoke it next summer sometime by a campfire. I hope the next one will redeem the Sir Winston name and reputation. Hope everyone had a great holiday.

[Fugu]

29 minutes ago, Ford2112 said:

I always think of Winston Churchill when I smoke.

Very fitting smoke, on the occasion of the man's 150th birthday, Robert.

Sorry to hear this one didn't live up to its fame!

[cnov]

Always a bummer when a looked forward to cigar doesn't go to plan, Cubans love to make you the victim of expectation!

Hope you're feeling better. The last time I had nicotine sickness it was from a plugged cigar, I wondered if I'd been trying to pull on it too hard?

 

[Ford2112]

I feel the need to clarify that @Lfhard is a stand up guy and he sent me one of the best Bolivar cigars I have ever smoked!

[joeypots]

Great review. Too bad the Winny didn’t live up to the hype but thanks for telling it like it was.