Quick Cigar Review - 2008 Cuban H. Upmann

I found this cigar at on online shop, in their "aged" section.  The boxes were sealed and the box dates and codes all checked out.  Although I wasn't worried with this particular shop.  This cigar was rolled in 2008, and bares the old style H. Upmann band, which was often confused with the Montecristo band.  $10 each.

Wrapper:  Cuba
Binder:  Cuba
Filler:  Cuba
Size:  Corona 5.6 x 46

After cutting the cigar and testing the draw I was immediately happy that the draw was only kind of tight.  Cuban cigars are notoriously tightly rolled.  Partly because well, that is just how they are made, and partly the high demand and low quality control in Cuba.  Anyway, the cigar only required a few pokes with a thin metal skewer down the top half of the cigar to open it up more to my liking. 

(Notice the dark patch on the cigar.  I cracked the wrapper while poking for a better draw.  Nothing a little cigar glue and donor leaf cannot handle)   :)

The first part of the Magnum 46 was pungent yet mellow at the same time.  A nice balance due to the age I assume.   The smoke was cool and cloudy, with an easy - no spice - retrohale (smoke out of the nostrils).  The flavors are well balanced with much cedar, cocoa, minimal spice, and of course that distinct Cuban "twang".  The twang flavor described by me, is anise/black licorice on a Cuban cigar that is ready to smoke, and a hot-minty-zest on a cigar that is right out of the factory.  The latter I find quite unpleasant. 

This is another problem with Cuban cigars, besides the tight roll, is the fact that they rush them out.  It is due to high demand.  Most Cubans, excluding some of the higher end brands (Cohiba, Montecristo, etc) should have been rested for at least a year longer before shipment.

Anyway, I digress.  This cigar is top notch, due mostly to the aged factor.  A couple years will do wonders for a cigar, this one has 8.  It has now become so well balanced and the flavors have married perfectly.  There is nothing harsh about it, yet no flavors are muted out.   This is the reason for the most part, that I have only bought Cuban cigars already aged.  They can be found, and usually for not much more than the standard price at the time.  

The cigar holds up all the way to the end with the same lovely flavors and experience.  I would give this cigar a score of 8.5 out of 10.  With a price of $11 each, I should try and find more!