H. Upmann \"Tang\" Monarca

[CIGARHead]

Upmann “Tang” Monarca

ECA NOV 2002

Enjoyed with a Ron Pampero Annviersario Rum w/ splash OJ

The Appearance of the beautiful cigar commissioned by David Tang is a milk chocolate hue with a nice sheen of oils. Smell at cold is honey and tobacco.

Nice bunch at the foot.

I clipped the cap to find a near perfect draw and very clean tobacco.

1st Third: The Tang Monarca opens up immediately with citrus and honey. I would say this is medium in body, but it definitely has some strength and balance. The burn is sharp and the tobacco is super smooth.

*Intermission*

Ol' girl sees something or someone she doesn't like. Growling and barking like I do in the heat of passion.

2nd Third: The foremost flavors are of honey and citrus and tea. It is so well balanced that I feel like the leaves used to make this were put in using precise measurements like a when chef is baking a prized cake. Too much of one thing and not enough of the other makes for a **** cake. This is the chef’s prized cake.

Last Third: As the cigar slowly burns down the intensity picks up and there is honey and spice. The citrus is there but fading and dark chocolate come into the fold. I find myself not really thinking of anything, just in the zone. I love that when a cigar doesn’t need you to think about how good it is – it stands alone and commands it. Instead of getting hot or bitter the Monarca stays true to what Upmann is known for and stays clean and refreshing. Not a hint of bitterness.

I rate this beautiful cigar a high 95/100

Another BIG thank you to Mel for including this in our trade. Sum’***** has some great cigars!

[Don Candido]

» Last Third: As the cigar slowly burns down the intensity picks up and

» there is honey and spice. The citrus is there but fading and dark

» chocolate come into the fold. I find myself not really thinking of

» anything, just in the zone. I love that when a cigar doesn’t need you to

» think about how good it is – it stands alone and commands it. Instead of

» getting hot or bitter the Monarca stays true to what Upmann is known for

» and stays clean and refreshing. Not a hint of bitterness.

Nice review. I am drooling.

[strayvector]

Great review. I couldn't agree more. This is the single most well-balanced cigar I have ever smoked. The only other cigar that came close to this balance was an OR OpusX RDC.

[greenpimp]

Wonderful review. This cigar is on my short list of cigars I've got to try one day.

[Hugomarink]

Very cool. Thanks for posting.

[Mel]

I got these from Rob several years back and smoked through the first ten never realizing how rare they were. I think I smoked the first three when they were still travel sick. Domb SOB here. Austin you write such nice reviews I should send you some of all my cigars so I know how to desrcibe the taste.;-)

[CIGARHead]

» Austin you write such nice

» reviews I should send you some of all my cigars so I know how to desrcibe

» the taste.;-)

That sounds great. You know my address. Once I smoke them all, I'll send you a sheet that correlates each flavor to each puff I took. It may be long, but at least I'll have learned ya on the basics.;-)

[crossbow]

» » Austin you write such nice

» » reviews I should send you some of all my cigars so I know how to

» desrcibe

» » the taste.;-)

»

»

» That sounds great. You know my address. Once I smoke them all, I'll send

» you a sheet that correlates each flavor to each puff I took. It may be

» long, but at least I'll have learned ya on the basics.;-)

Great review. I have less than a box left and have not touched them since two years ago.

[jkorp]

Great review of a beautiful cigar. Great pictures too, thanks for sharing that.

Excuse me, I need to mop up the drool off my keyboard now.

[n2advnture]

» Great review. I have less than a box left and have not touched them since

» two years ago.

I think I'm down to like 2 left! (but have a couple of other single sizes hiding deep as well)

Tangs are one of my all time favs, especially the coronas

[stever]

Excellent review!

Love Upmanns, but have yet to try the Tang.

[Ken Gargett]

one of the greats

[CigarZen]

Great review Austin.

Rob was kind enough to hunt those down for us. I am glad he did!:-P

[Mel]

» Excellent review!

»

» Love Upmanns, but have yet to try the Tang.

They are very hard to find these days.:-( I have never seen the Coronas and only once had an opportunity at the #2.

[wp2]

Great review!!

Do you think your cocktail influenced your 1st impression of citrus at all? Just curious.

[crossbow]

» » Excellent review!

» »

» » Love Upmanns, but have yet to try the Tang.

»

» They are very hard to find these days.:-( I have never seen the Coronas

» and only once had an opportunity at the #2.

NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO ACQUIRE:

If one compares all three sizes....

Corona - Quick fix and instant amped Upmann flavours but too short lived

#2 - The best of the three..very balanced but more intense clean

straightforward tobacco flavours.

Monarch - it takes awhile to get to the full flavour but once rewarded -

one takes a hefty dose of the Upmann flavour for an extended period

[BolivarSmoker]

Just now reading this for the first time. I got my box a couple weeks ago and plan on posting a review in a few months. The plume on these beauties is amazing. Hope they are as good as the one reviewed here.