First launched in 2017, the H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez signaled the start of a series of different collaborations between the historic German cigar brand and the modern-day tobacco-producing powerhouse down in Nicaragua. Two worlds combined, with a single blend in mind, and a hell of a lot of cigar critics and stogie smokers to appease.
But nearly a decade down the line, and this original blend from AJ Fernandez is still kicking, and customer and critic approval ratings continue to be consistent in favor of this first stab at honoring the cigar box inventing Upmann brothers. Yes, the H. Upmann 180th Anniversary edition is pretty damn spectacular and has been the talk of the town since its launch last year. However, it probably wouldn't have come to fruition if this first stab at recreating a classic hadn't taken off.
There is a reason why Klaro has consistently stocked the original version of the H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez for as long as I can remember. It's a big, broad-shouldered, classic AJF take on a premium cigar blend that doesn't hold back when it comes to strength, flavor intensity, and construction points. All of this is made possible by a mouthwatering mixture of a Sumatran wrapper and a Corojo '99 binder, reinforced by a potent concoction of Criollo and Piloto Cubano long-filler leaves.
Here at Klaro, we have found that we favor the Churchill vitola over all of the other sizes offered. An over-sized 7″ x 54 format that packs even more flavor and potency into its folds, and a burn that is nearly impossible to beat. It's a large cigar that is intended to appeal to those in search of additional puffing time and a bump in smoke intensity, while remaining smooth and consistent from start to finish. So, let's get to it, shall we?
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Unlit Impressions
Coated in a medium amount of oil, the picture-perfect Sumatran wrapper out of Ecuador that covers the outside of this cigar serves as your first tell-tale sign that you've got a solid stick on hand.
Seams are crisply fitted, and veins are not a touch sharp to the touch, with not a sign of discoloration or tobacco scrap to be seen anywhere. Aromas are light, nutty, and not overly Sumatran in that earthy, spiced, and occasionally spicy aromatic medley we often expect to encounter. Instead, there is this tasty little toasted granola smell, where the mixture of puffed rice, oats, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and a touch of butter all combine.
Slide down to that exposed end, and you will find that all of the sweet and spicy/spiced notes are inside the blend, with a full serving of fruit leather, brown sugar, and dried soil being the first thing detected. A roasted macadamia nut smell that is joined by some palm wood aromas, and the taste of freeze-dried strawberries finishes out with unlit foot aromas with a mighty fine flourish that brings you back for yet another sniff.
Cut the cap and take a tug, and you may be surprised by how spicy this grain silo-sized tobacco serving tastes unlit. Jalapeno pepper tastes and spiciness mix with dried light fruits and a dash of that dried topsoil, before mixing with more brown sugar-coated macadamia nuts and a generous amount of fermented acidity on the finish.
Being that this is categorized as an H. Upmann product, the traditional band design is utilized, which, in my opinion, looks outstanding in an aqua marine color with gold sitting beside it. This piece of paper appears even more impressive with that picture-worthy Sumatran wrapper sitting beside it.
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H. Upmann 180th Anniversary
Initial Smoke
AJ Fernandez's signature approach to spicy, full-powered startups is not lost on this blend, with a potent herbal punch joining the jalapeno and peppercorn fiery first few minutes. Retrohale cigar flavor profiles and aromatics are far more Sumatran in nature, with a sizable swath of sun-grown criollo and corojo tobacco tastes being the Cubanesque backbone of the blend. Altogether, a very lively light-up and first 10–15 minutes of smoking time that will wake even the dullest palate.
1st Half
Calming down considerably, without compromising in flavor or cleanliness, the tastes of salted macadamia nuts and undisclosed tree nuts edge in on the medium-spiced Sumatran wrapper profile. There's some tanginess to be detected, which is likely the result of the fermented tobacco forming its own grade of acidity once lit, and it tastes and smells stellar alongside those traditional Sumatran spiced fruit and tea notes.
Soil is also still at play, but in that dry, dusty sense, and with salted wholegrain crackers and herb tea taking the tongue on a lighter side quest, the first half of the blend leans more toward medium than full when it comes to body and strength. This all begins to change as the center of the cigar approaches, and the resins within that 54-gauge barrel begin to build, and the cigar reaches for full status.
2nd Half
Fullness is not so much felt as it is tasted, with flavors in the center of this reimagined cigar blend being unabashedly bold in Sumatran tastes and aromatics. Toasted vanilla beans and strong spiced tea and black tastes, herbal tinctures pulled from exotic tropical plants that no one can pronounce, and a pelting of nutty creaminess all collide in a magnificent tobacco-filled melting pot.
Spicier, darker, oilier, heavier, and far fuller, the final third of this hoagie sandwich-sized cigar takes the best components from the second third, and makes them even more meaningful. Outside of the addition of some chewy granola bar notes and a shift back to those classic Cuban tobacco tastes of criollo and corojo leaf, there isn't much in the way of transitions here. Instead, the cigar amps everything up another click or two on the dial, including those marvelous creamy nut notes, which keep all of the sun-grown spice and soil under control.
Parting Puffs
Blast past the final third, and set that Caribbean colored band in the ashtray, and you will find that the overall cigar flavor profile selects Sumatran leaf and an underlying nuttiness as the closing act. This does not add much at all to the overall profile of the cigar, but it does leave your taste buds and nostrils on a high note, even though the body, strength, and finish are at the tippy top. Not a touch of char, resinous funk, or fermented astringency was to be found on either cigar, which is fantastic if you think about all of the tobacco that has burned up until this point.
Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw
Speaking of burn, how about that construction, eh? AJ Fernandez remains an all-star when it comes to build quality and combustion, and outside of some ash drops along the way, this blend delivered an impressive performance. My only word of caution is that this cigar does tend to favor an open draw, so be wary of overheating issues if you choose to smoke one of these lengthier, Churchill-sized sticks.
Final Thoughts
Although it may not be knocking me over with flavorful formations and oily, dark transitions like what I discovered in the H. Upmann 180th Anniversary blend does every time (stay tuned, for that review is coming soon), this first jab at reimagining a Cuban classic is really right on in many regards.
Sumatran aromatics and flavors are fluid and fill in where the traditional sun-grown tobacco tastes taper off, and the overall nuttiness of the cigar and its increasingly creamy body really help make it memorable. I would be hesitant to call this my favorite Sumatran cigar in the Klaro collection, but it certainly is a solid one.
Now, I must reiterate that while a slew of standard vitolas are out there bearing this blend's fermented leaves, the Churchill vitola really does this premium cigar the most justice. That's a ton of tobacco, I know, and one hell of a lengthy puffing time-frame. But trust me when I say that it is totally worth the investment in time and intensity, as it combines old-world appeal with new world blending, fermenting, and aging ingenuity.
Flavor, Aroma & Transitions
Depth & Complexity
Construction, Burn & Physical Appeal
Backstory & Branding
Overall Balance & Repeatability
Stogie Specs
|
Cigar |
H. Upmann "H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez" |
|
Wrapper |
Sumatran (Ecuador) |
|
Binder |
Corojo '99 |
|
Filler |
Criollo '98 (Nicaragua) & Piloto Cubano (Dominican Republic) |
|
Factory |
Nicaragua |
|
Size |
7″ x 54 (Churchill) |
|
Strength |
Full |
|
Pairing Drink |
Pineapple Yuzu Tequila Fizz |
|
Rating |
4.3/5 |