Tag Archives: H.Upmann

by Craig Vanderslice | June 25, 2023 · 9:18 am

Smoking Through The Twisted Tasting Kit From Fox Cigars

Yes, Fox Cigar advertises on this site, but I purchased the Twisted Tasting Kit from them unsolicited, kinda for five reasons. I really like the Araposa Negra, and never mind having one more in the humidor (I’m smoking one now as I type! It’s absolutely delicious!), and I was quite curious to try the other four cigars. I started with the Araposa Blanca, a Fox exclusive made by Black Label Trading Co.. This is the Ecuador Connecticut answer to the Negra, and one thing BLTC does exceptionally well is make aesthetically appealing barber pole cigars. Another thing they do exceptionally well is make great tasting cigars, and this is a great tasting cigar. We know that shade cigars are low on my preference list, but this one was really, really good. It had a wonderful roundness to the flavor, if that makes any sense, it was full flavored without being overpowering, delicious without too much spice, it was very good. I may need to put more of these in the humidor, and I might need to sample Black Label’s other shade offerings.

In addition to the two Fox BLTC exclusives in the Twisted sampler, the other three were new cigars in the Altadis USA line up presented in a barber pole format. Historically I have not gravitated toward a lot of the Altadis cigar that are not made by A.J. Fernandez. I have a relatively open mind, although I’ll admit there are some cigars I have no interest in even sampling. Legacy brands such as the H.Upmann and Romeo y Julieta don’t fall into that category, I’ll give them a shot, even though I have pretty poor track record when it comes to liking cigars from the Tabacalera de Garcia factory in the DR. I gave the H. Upmann Barbier a shot first. This was a Toro, 6″ x 54, has Ecuador shade and Ecuador Sumatra wrappers, Indonesian Java binder with Nicaraguan, Dominican and Pennsylvania Broadleaf fillers. This was a very enjoyable cigar. It was smooth, rich, and had plenty of flavor. There was some sweet, bready flavors, and maybe the PA Broadleaf gave it a little oomph. I finally found a Dominican Upmann I like. Very nice.

I took a short break from this series to visit the Wooden Indian yesterday where they were hosting Erik Espinosa for the afternoon. I smoked, and very much enjoyed, a 601 La Bomba Warhead VII. I should buy more of these as I really enjoy the flavor. As always, the Wooden Indian staff was great, it was great seeing Erik, Mark, Jose, Bobby, and everyone else. I went home and took a nap.

After dinner I lit up the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Toro. The Twisted Tasting Kit included both the Toro and the Twisted Love Story, which is the 4¼” x 46 perfecto version. I’m shocked that they were able to get away with using the name “story” with this shape cigar, although it would come down to who has the bigger lawyers, I guess. Still seems weird to me. I’ll get to the little guy when I need a small cigar, but the 6″ x 54 Toro works better for me. Regarding all of these dos capas, or barber pole style cigars, all four have burned perfectly, and often the dual wrappers can cause a meandering burn line, not the case. They all burned perfectly. The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Toro has Ecuadorian Habano and Ecuadorian Connecticut wrappers, Nicaraguan binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers, with the Ecuadorian Habano wrapper seeming to be the only change from the Reserva Real blend. I haven’t had a Reserva Real in forever, like I said, it’s not something I reach for (it kinda has two strikes against it for me, it’s DR Altadis, and it’s a shade wrapper). All that being typed, it was an enjoyable smoke, with the Habano knocking the grassi/nuttiness off of the shade a touch. It was good. For my palate, the Black Label offerings in this sampler were better, but I like a nice “theme” week now and then, and this was a good one. It was a good deal too, I was happy with the purchase.

That’s all for today, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Araposa, Araposa Blanca, Araposa Negra, Barbier, cigar, cigars, Espinosa, Fox Cigars, H.Upmann, Reserva Real, romeo y julieta, Twisted, wooden indian

by Craig Vanderslice | April 17, 2022 · 9:42 am

Upmann, CAO and Black Label Trading Co. Cigars and a Rant

There seem to be few cigars in Altadis portfolio that fit my preferences. I probably say this every time I post about an Altadis cigar, and it probably doesn’t endear me to the marketing folks there! I do have some friends there that are aware of my feelings. I keep trying though. There are exceptions, and I can pretty much count on enjoying anything Altadis produces in conjunction with A.J. Fernandez. I smoked the z Nicaragua Heritage by A.J. Fernandez in the Toro size this week and was pretty surprised. This is a 6″ x 54 toro with a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper. The binder and fillers are all Nicaraguan tobaccos grown by A.J. Fernandez. I found this to be a powerhouse cigar, much stronger than I expected. I likened to to the Gispert Intenso. I personally liked it a lot, but I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who enjoys the original H. Upmann by A.J. (which I also enjoy!). It’s a totally different cigar, the difference between a Latte and an espresso, I would imagine.

I’ve had the occasion to smoke a couple of the new CAO Pilón Ańejo cigars over the past couple weeks, and the one I smoked yesterday was fairly impressive. The first one I smoked maybe wasn’t rested sufficiently from it’s travels. This 5½” x 54 robusto has an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper. The blend is rich and savory, consisting of Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers, a Honduran Habano binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. Curiously, this is a different blend than the original Pilón, which has an Ecuador Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan binder. That kind of blows my plan of doing a back to back comparison between the two! I like Sumatra wrapped cigars, so this one works for me. It was a good, smooth cigar without any problems. I found it to be enjoyable, pleasing woody flavors without much sweetness. A good cigar. I may still pull out a Pilón from the original release and see how it stack up against this one, just for kicks.

OK, here’s my rant of the week. I know it’s Easter Sunday, and happy Easter and passover for those of you who celebrate. Earlier this week the CRA posted this meme, and the subsequent apology, on their Facebook page, and it caused a bit of a kerfuffle.

There were those who defended it, thought it was funny, etc. While it might be funny in a Facebook group that is predominantly a men’s social group, it’s not the kind of thing I believe the folks at Cigar Rights of America should be devoting their resources to. Let’s set aside the misogynistic nature of the meme, make no mistake, the divisiveness of the message was no small part of the backlash that this caused. I take issue with the fact that I’m paying the CRA to advocate on behalf of the cigar industry, and I have been since 2009. It’ not a lot of money, but the point is that our money isn’t to pay for an entertaining Facebook group. Whoever is running things there, and I don’t think that’s clear since Glynn Loope left, should be posting legislative updates up the page, not funnies. The CRA complains about membership and wants to be taken seriously and fails to set a good example of why they should be in a public forum. I hold them to a higher standard. I think their apology missed this point. Anyway, that got my hackles up this week!

Last night I went over to Son’s Cigars where James and Angela Brown (and Levi) from Black Label Trading Co. were there holding an event. This was possibly the biggest event at the shop since they opened last summer. Angela Brown is rarely at events, and I had only met her at an IPCPR show several years ago, so it was nice to see her again. there was a contingent there from Mane Street Cigars in Woodbridge, NJ for the event, and I’ve known Alex, who manages the shop, for many years (here’s the story of when I met Alex). I selected and smoked a Lawless Churchill, 7″ x 48 (close enough), with an Ecuador Habano Rosado wrapper and Nicaraguan Binder and fillers. This was a delicious cigar, it’s really right in my wheelhouse. It has rich, dark fruit and cocoa flavors. I must grab a handful next week when I’m back at the shop. It might be one of my favorites in the line. Lovely cigar, lovely people, good times.

That’s all for today, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as A.J. Fernandez, Añejo, Black Label Trading Company, Black Works Studio, CAO, cigar, Cigar Rights of America, cigars, CRA, H.Upmann, Lawless, Oveja Negra, Pilon

by Craig Vanderslice | July 1, 2020 · 9:34 pm

Best Cigar Prices Grand Exhibition Cigar Line

After my recent visit to the Best Cigar Prices shop up in Drums, PA, Jason there sent me a few of their latest exclusive Altadis series, the Grand Exhibition line. I figured I’d give them a smoke this week and see how they were. Here’s what he wrote about them on the BCP site:

Cigars have been showcased at World’s Fair Exhibitions dating back to the 1800s. Commonly featured in the agricultural exhibits of various nations, these displays often gave the public their first look at real tobacco leaves, demonstrated the care and expertise involved in crafting fine cigars, and were even judged and awarded medals based on quality and workmanship. Indeed, the same passion and pride of cigar making that we know today was in full force at these international conventions held hundreds of years ago.

Paying tribute to the historic presence of cigars at the World’s Fair, The Grand Exhibition cigar line presents three opulent Nicaraguan blends from a trio of the most well known and respected brands in the world – all of which were once celebrated at World’s Fairs. The celebration now continues in your humidor with the introduction of the world-class flavor of Grand Exhibition cigars.

I decided to start with the H. Upmann Grand Exhibition Toro. As a general rule, the regular Altadis H. Upmann line is not a flavor profile which aligns well with my own preferences. This is made in Nicaragua, and is listed as a Connecticut wrapper, which is very dark for a Connecticut shade leaf. It’s certainly Connecticut shade and not broadleaf as it has a very clean appearance, and tastes nothing like broadleaf. The Toro is 6” x 50, and was well made, with a free draw and perfect burn. It had the classic H. Upmann flavors of the Upmanns I remember from years ago when I smoked the brand. There was a slightly sour, leatheriness that some folks love, but isn’t among my favorites. It wasn’t totally off putting, and the smoking experience overall made up for the flavors not being totally up my alley. For a cigar in the $6-7 price range, it’s a good buy if you’re an H. Upmann Fan. Anymore, the only Upmann I really enjoy is the newer H. Upmann by A.J. Fernandez.

Next up I smoked the Romeo y Julieta Grand Exhibition Magnum. This is the 6” x 60 Gordo in the line. These are also made in Nicaragua with a Habano wrapper, and are priced in the $7-$8 range. I haven’t smoked Romeo y Julietas in a while, save for the infrequent RoMEo, so nothing really to compare this to. Again, the construction was perfect. I’m one of the odd ones who doesn’t mind a cigar of this size, and it performed very well. It was very flavorful, rich, creamy smoke with nice tobacco flavors. It has some of the spice and sweetness I like and was enjoyable to the end. I was quite pleased with the RyJ.

Tonight I smoked the Montecristo Grand Exhibition, which is the premier offering in the Grand Exhibition line, carrying the highest price tag. They are in the $9-$10 range. The Montecristo also has a Habano wrapper, and is made in Nicaragua. Again, excellent construction, perfect burn and draw, an absolute pleasure to smoke. I smoked the 6″ x 52 toro, and I love toros. I have a feeling that Jason at BCP knew my Toro preference when he chose the cigars to send. It should be noted that all of these are available in Robusto and Churchill as well as the Toro, with the Upmann and Romeo lines having a 6″ x 60 Magnum and the Montecristo substituting a No. 2 Torpedo. The Montecristo had a really nice, well balanced flavor. I nice spice, some sweetness, and on the stronger side of medium. It was certainly my favorite of the three, although all were very good. I followed it up later with an Espada with a few years age on it with was also very nice, and compared favorably.

Thank you to Jason for sharing these fine cigars with me! If you find yourself in Drums, PA, which is near Wilkes Barre, you need to stop in to Best Cigar Pub for a bite and a cigar. It’s a great place and they have a great selection of cigars. That’s all for today, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Best Cigar Prices, cigar, cigars, Grand Exhibition, H.Upmann, Montecristo, romeo y julieta

by Craig Vanderslice | June 13, 2019 · 8:56 pm

News: Altadis Celebrates H. Upmann’s 175th Anniversary With Limited Edition Cigar

I think I was just saying a few posts ago how much I liked the A.J. Fernandez H. Hupmann cigar, now Altadis is partnering with A.J. Fernandez again for the 175th Anniversary cigar. I’m looking forward to this one!

CELEBRATING AN ICONIC BRAND: UPMANN 175^thANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION

A.J. Fernandez uses the rare medio tiempo wrapper for limited edition H. Upmann 175^th Anniversary

Altadis U.S.A. is celebrating a special milestone as the H. Upmann cigar brand turns 175 years old. The limited-edition H. Upmann 175th Anniversary will commemorate one of the oldest and most renowned cigars brands. This limited edition will only be expressed in the iconic Churchill size, in 10 count boxes that will number to 14,750. Fifty special-edition humidors containing 50 cigars will also be offered. The story of H. Upmann cigars is one of adventure, family, and passion for tobacco.

It all began in 1843, when German banker Herman Upmann took a leap of faith and moved to Havana, Cuba, to open a branch for his family bank. He created a small batch of cigars for his best clients, but quickly became impassioned with tobacco. A passion that led him to found his own cigar brand in 1844, joined by his younger brother August. The brothers purchased a small cigar factory and diligently learned to combine tobacco artistry and German ingenuity. 175 years later, H. Upmann is still known the world over.

For this special project, H. Upmann tapped A.J. Fernandez who brought forward the extremely elusive “Medio Tiempo” wrapper – grown on 1 out of every 12 tobacco plants above the ligero leaves -, to add complexity and flavor as the final dressing of this Nicaraguan puro. A.J. and his team carefully harvested this special leaf and utilized very intricate fermentation processes for over 3 years which, while extremely time consuming, bring out the very best in the medio tiempo leaf.

The H. Upmann 175^th Anniversary boasts unparalleled flavors for a unique sophisticated smoking experience. This medium to full body cigar starts with elements of coffee and some earthiness. As the cigar develops, the flavors intensify with caramel and salt notes together with roasted espresso bean overtones. The spectacular clean finish delivers a creamy and uncommonly velvet smoke with a rich and resonant balance of spices, dark chocolate and nuts.

From Rafael Nodal, Head of Product Capability for Tabacalera USA: “One of the things that I love about creating new blends, is the constant learning about tobacco. Working with AJ Fernández and the rarest wrapper in the world, Medio Tiempo, has definitely been a unique and rewarding experience. There are great cigars and then there is the H. Upmann 175th Anniversary blend. An unforgettable cigar.”.

Candela Diaz, Brand Manager for H. Upmann: “H. Upmann is one of the most storied cigar brands. It was impossible to pass up an opportunity to commemorate this brand that embodies brotherhood and love of tobacco. We look forward to unveiling the H. Upmann 175 at the 2019 IPCPR in Las Vegas.”

The H. Upmann 175^thAnniversary will ship to retailers in July 2019.

Vitola: Churchill 50 x 7

MSRP: $18.00 per cigar

MSRP for the 50 count H. Upmann Special Edition Humidor: $1,250.

About Altadis U.S.A.

Altadis U.S.A. has been crafting fine premium cigars since 1918 and is responsible for many of the world’s most renowned brands, including Henry Clay, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, H. Upmann and Trinidad. If you have ever enjoyed a premium cigar, there’s a good chance you’ve enjoyed a cigar crafted by Altadis U.S.A. Visit www.altadisusa.com for more information.

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Tagged as A.J. Fernandez, Altadis USA, cigar, cigars, H.Upmann, IPCPR

by Craig Vanderslice | June 12, 2019 · 10:07 am

News: Altadis U.S.A. Announces H. Upmann Hispaniola by Jose Mendez

Soon I won’t be able too keep up with the news items. Here’s some interesting news out of Altadis USA. The H.Upmann line the produce with AJ Fernandez may be my favorite Altadis product, I’ll be interested in trying this blend as I’m sure it will be quite different!

H. UPMANN HISPANIOLA BY JOSE MENDEZ WILL BE AVAILABLE AT 2019 IPCPR

H. Upmann takes adult consumers on a Dominican voyage

Altadis U.S.A., maker of world-renowned premium cigars, is introducing the newest in the H. Upmann series, the H. Upmann Hispaniola by Jose Mendez. The brand is partnering with Jose Mendez for this special project, which will serve as a passport to the island of Hispaniola.

In 1492 Christopher Columbus came ashore this island and named it Hispaniola (today known as the Dominican Republic and Haiti). Little did Columbus know that he had stumbled upon what would become one of the most important lands in all of tobacco. H. Upmann is paying tribute to this island through this new offering, that features exclusive varieties from the Dominican Republic such as Olor, Pilotico and Andullo tobacco– the last two developed exclusively for Altadis by the Mendez family, the largest tobacco grower in the island.

Andullo tobacco – indigenous to the island of Hispaniola and rarely used for handmade premium cigars – undergoes a specialized fermentation process that helps accentuate the qualities of the leaf. This tobacco is then used in the filler, which provides the cigar with strength, rich aroma and deep flavor rarely seen in any other tobaccos. The result is a unique smoking experience.

Rafael Nodal, Head of Product Capability for Tabacalera USA. Stated: “Jose Mendez & Co. has an amazing library of rare and special Dominican tobacco. Together with Siegfried Maruschke, grandson of Jose Mendez and President of the company, we have created a cigar which highlights the spirit of Hispaniola and takes us on a journey through the most representative tobacco varieties of the island”

H. Upmann Brand Manager Candela Diaz added, “We are very excited to expand the H. Upmann brand with the help of collaborators, such as Jose Mendez. It was quite the experience to see this ancient andullo tobacco brought back to life; our partners in Jose Mendez have done an outstanding job. We look forward to showcasing this one of a kind cigar in Las Vegas at the 2019 IPCPR,” she said.

The H. Upmann Hispaniola is a full-flavored, medium to full bodied cigar that features Dominican fillers and binder within anEcuadorian Sumatra wrapper. The andullo tobacco is mixed within the filler to create a richly complex smoking experience.

The blend will be available in 20 count boxes in three different vitolas.