H. Upmann Sir Winston DEC10

[jerseyjay]

Additional H. Upmann Sir Winston, please check cigarphoto.net

It is time for another ‘forbidden fruit.’ This week we are photographing and reviewing H. Upmann Sir Winston. This pre-1960s release, packaged in a cabinet of 25, was named after former British Prime Minister – Winston Churchill. H. Upmann Sir Winston, hand rolled with premium tobacco leaves from the Vuelta Abajo region in Cuba, has been label as the best Julieta No.2 vitola Cuba has ever produced. With the high expectation, let’s get right to it, shall we ?

Visually, one is introduced to a silky, oily wrapper with excellent cap finish, no visible veins and well blended seams. Based on up-close inspection, H. Upmann Sir Winston was a well rolled firm product without any soft or hard spots. After clipping the cap, slightly tight draw. Fortunately with some manual intervention the draw improved. In flavor department, grassy / floral, almost dried fruit alike, pleasant taste which ultimately morphed into woodiness. Hints of sweetness, especially on the lips, and milk cocoa. There was also some spiciness on the retrohale but nothing like advertised. Burn line was decent, nothing exceptional. It started off a bit wavy and uneven, then corrected itself in the middle only to go down south once again toward the end. I had to relight couple times. The amount of smoke was excellent after draw intervention and ash, as depicted below, was superb.

Overall, good smoke. One has to appreciate the fact that this is a churchill – a smoke that will take you for a couple-hour ride. I normally don’t smoke churchills nor double coronas (non-cubans or cubans) so H. Upmann Sir Winston is not something I will reach for too often. Others have reported a full body experience which I personally can’t relate to. It had a little bit more punch, no pun intended, but definitely not a nicotine bomb. I have smoked quite a bit of H. Upmann Magnum 50s and 46s and I see myself reaching out for those more often than H. Upmann Sir Winstons.

 

[Knickerbocker]

Thanks for the review!

 

[JimmyC]

Nice review Jay and pic are excellent as usual... Thanks for sharing.

 

[KPP]

I love the Upmann Sir Winston for the very reason you'd prefer to go with a Mag 46 or 50 instead. It's not full bodied whatsoever IMO....full flavored? Absolutely....but more medium bodied to me. Especially when coming from all the heavy Nica stuff that are palate scorchers.

I've smoked 2008, and 2010....and both were fantastic. Lots of potential in the 2010 (tons even....and I too have a DIC 2010 boxcode). The 2008 was smoother, and had a little more in the flavor dept, but the 2010 was not far behind.

A truly exceptional smoke, and easily was a top 5 stick in 2011 for me. My wallet would be happier had I not stumbled across these...lol, but a smoking experience every cigar smoker should experience for themselves if/when given the chance. If you go in expecting to be blown away with Vitamin N, or a full bodied stick however, chances are you'll be let down.

My .02.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Thanks for the review... but sorry your cigar was limp!

 

[MaytagMan]

Thanks for the great review of a great cigar!

 

[Jfire]

I've had 01s, 03s, 7s 8s, 10s. It's those 03s that keep me buying current years hoping they'll turn into those one day. Nice review.

 

[njstone]

Nice review! I've had only 1, a 2010 as well. Good cigar considering it's lack of age vs. size. I have no doubt that they'll be great medium-bodied cigars in 4 more years or what not. For now, I'll smoke away on the '08 Mag 46s that are spot on atm. Actually, for now what I should have is the Half Coronas because it's too freakin' cold here, lol.

 

[SurpriseMVP]

Have not had one yet, but it's on my bucket list. Thanks for the review and killer photos as usual.

 

[hdlr]

Nice review, thanks. I picked up some '08's that I haven't tried yet. Maybe it's time.

 

[Sin]

Thanks for the review and pics.

 

[jerseyjay]

Thanks ! Appreciate your feedback.

Sounds like everyone is on the same page. Those monsters are most likely too young. I have been hearing all positive things about '08 so I guess I will rest the remaining (2010) four for couple years and revisit then. Until then, Mag 50s/46s will do

 

[Alwayslit]

Nice review. These are stellar with age.