H. Upmann Coronas Cigars - 1 Single

Ref # HU0400 Flavour: Light to Medium
Length: 5 5/8" (142 mm)
Ring Gauge: 42 ring gauge
Packaging: Single Cigar

Tasting Notes: Ideal for aging as after a year these really are a perfect every day smoke. The first half is slightly lighter, giving way to a more medium second half. Great burn and draw

Reviewed by Matt Beliveau (May 2002)

'm now a 26 year old former military officer and married to another former military officer. After nearly 4 years abroad while in the Army, I returned to civilian life and the United States a little over a year ago. I took a job in a management development program with a global consumer product (food) company. I'm currently living and working in the mid-western US.

It was rather difficult moving back to the US after several years of great access to Cuban cigars, while living in Germany. Fortunately I was able to fill up both of my humidors with my favorite Cuban vitolas prior to my move. I packed them away carefully prior to the movers arrival and marked the packages as antique wooden boxes. They didn't seem care, though that may have been a result of letting them take the remainder of the bottles in my liquor cabinet with them at the end of the day!

I've been rationing my supply over the last year while augmenting it from time to time with purchases from C.Gars Ltd. Needless to say it was a great surprise when a recent Saturday trip to the mailbox yielded a package from England. My wife and I had just walked tot he corner post box to drop off some bills we had paid and walked back towards our own post box to check the mail. She saw the package as soon as I did. As I pulled it out she said to me Ordering cigars again dear?

Actually no, I replied. These ones came for free! I then explained the Taste Test Challenge to her. I'm not sure that she really cared at that point, she was happy that I had not been sending dollars after Cuban cigars again. I guess what she doesn't know won't hurt her!

I went inside and immediately opened my package to find a trio of H. Upmann coronas. Much to my delight they had a nice bit of bloom on them. Obviously aged, they visibly appeared to have suffered from their long journey. I put them down to rest for a few days in a humidor prior to smoking.

A few days later I pulled the first one out and settled in on the back porch after dinner with a glass Sangiovese. The appearance of the cigar was near perfect. It had a great triple cap on it, a good wrapper with few, small veins. A sniff of it yielded a heady aroma, a surprise for a small cigar. My mouth began to water in anticipation. A quick clip of the cap, a toast and torch of the foot from the lighter, and the taste test was on! From the first intake of smoke the cigar drew like a dream, immediately filling my mouth with earthy tones. It stayed like this for the first inch or so and then subtly developed into a slight coffee/mocha-like taste. It was full-flavored, no doubt about that. However, there was nothing overpowering about it. In fact it had an almost soothing quality to it. As the sun drew down over the horizon, the cigar grew shorter and more enjoyable with each puff. I carefully removed the band as the glowing foot inched closer. I did not want to give this cigar up! I will swear that it had been aged several years and represented all that is good and right about quality Havanas. I finally had to put it down so as not to burn my fingers. I found myself yearning for another one like this but in a churchill size. I thought about going right for one of the remaining two but decided that the perfection of the moment should be enjoyed. The other two would have to wait their turn.

The second corona was brought with me a few days later for a round of golf after work. After the first one I was really looking forward to this one. Appearance-wise it wasn't as pleasing as the first. The cap was somewhat crooked and the wrapper had some larger veins running through it. Pre-light aroma though was still fantastic with a dark chocolate and cinnamon aroma. Again I used a guillotine style cutter to cut the head and a torch lighter for the foot. I teed off and away we went! Now walking and smoking a cigar is one of my favorite ways to enjoy a smoke and this proved no differently. It drew well at the first puff, though I did have some burn inconsistencies as it inched towards the band. This was due more to the high winds on the links than a construction problem in my mind. It drew a little tighter about halfway through the cigar. The flavor was consistent throughout, though not nearly as pronounced as in the first one. I may have been distracted by a poor game of golf on my part though. One thing I did notice that differed significantly from the first corona was that it didn't produce a lot of smoke while the other did. While it didn't disappoint, it didn't provide the same fulfilling experience as the first one. However, it had the distinct Havana taste that Cuban cigars do and that put a smile on my face for the entire front nine holes.

The final H. Upmann was removed from the humidor a few days later. Its appearance was similar to the first with a solid cap and smooth wrapper. It also had a bit of bloom on it, again an indication that these have been properly stored and well aged. The vitola was firm to the touch, with no signs of being under or over filled. I poured myself a glass of Talisker single malt scotch and retired to the back deck for a pleasant evening. Again I used a double-bladed cutter to snip the top and a Blazer torch lighter for a flame. From the first intake I knew that this was a great cigar. It had that Cuban twang in its taste and a rich earthy flavor filled my mouth. It was rather strong for the first inch or so and then settled into a smooth, rich taste for the remainder. Similar to the other two it left a perfect gray-white ash that clung to the remainder of the cigar as it burnt. It produced a good amount of smoke and drew well. It was also well complemented by the scotch. As the sun set I felt bittersweet having enjoyed three fabulous cigars this week but knowing that they were now gone. I recommend these highly to all cigar smokers, whether novice or connoisseur. Buy some and lay them down for a year or two. They are a great smoke with a wonderful flavor in a relatively small size. I will be adding some to my humidor in the near future. Thank you C.Gars LTD for the opportunity to be a taste tester!.