Make sure to check out Tony’s Top 10 Cigars of 2017 if you haven’t done so already. There are some excellent smokes on the list. Before I get around to my top cigars of the year, I figured I would squeeze in another review and close out the year with another AJ Fernandez made cigar. This time with the H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez.

Altadis USA partnered up with AJ Fernandez earlier this year to create the new H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez. The cigar features an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper over Nicaraguan and Dominican internals. Manufactured in Nicaragua, the cigars are available in three vitolas: Robutso (5 by 52), Toro (6 by 54), and Churchill (7 by 54). The per stick price runs between $7.25 and $7.75.

You can purchase the H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez from our good friends over at Famous Smoke Shop.

THE FACTS

Price: $7.25
Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 by 54
Wrapper:Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo ‘99
Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo ‘98 and Dominican Piloto Cubano
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 20 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez wears a walnut brown wrapper that goes well with the color choice on the band. Two medium sized veins that are lighter in appearance run the length of the cigar, but, other than that, the veins are small. Scattered bumps and light oils are seen on the pleasant looking wrapper.  The cigar is rolled evenly and firmly. 

There is generic wood aroma, along with faint barnyard on the wrapper. Wood, coffee grounds, and black pepper are noted on the foot. An easy draw shows big cold draw flavors of cinnamon and cedar.

FIRST THIRD

Without delay, this Nicaraguan made H. Upmann pumps out full flavored, thick smoke. Not only are flavors full, there is a lot of depth to the smoke including flavors of  wood, sour apple, coffee, and pepper. The darker flavors of coffee and pepper stick around on the finish. As I retrohale the smoke, the pepper is bright and there is a BBQ smokiness. Two touch-ups are required before I can exit the first part of the smoke. 

MIDDLE THIRD

Pulling into the second third of the H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez, the wood and sour apple continue along as a sweet bread joins into the profile. The pepper flavor and spice has settled in both the mouth and on the retrohale. The BBQ smokiness that first appeared on the retrohale is pushing its way into the profile. The burn is now behaving for the most part as the ash is holds well past an inch.  

FINAL THIRD

This Nicaraguan made H. Upmann has lost some of its oomph. While the intensity of the flavors has dropped, the flavors remain balanced. The BBQ smokiness is now the dominant flavor with a sweetness tied to it followed by a bit of charred wood. The strength that started off in the medium range has held its ground throughout.

WRAP-UP

If you caught last week’s review, you know I walked away from the Monte by Montecristo AJ Fernandez somewhat disappointed. That was certainly not the case with the new H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez. The cigar delivered some full and complex flavors accompanied by a medium strength. The flavor evolution in each third held my interest and the BBQ smokiness I picked up on was captivating. For $7.25, I can highly recommend the H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez.

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According to Altadis’ website:

In 1844, German bankers Carl and Herman Upmann traveled to Cuba where they created an exceptionally unique cigar. They securely locked it away in their vaults to be gifted to their most important clients.

Now, 170 years later, that award-winning blend has been recreated in The Banker by H. Upmann. Enjoy the rich, full-flavored and spicy profile with a robust body and aroma.

Produced in the Dominican Republic, The Banker is available in three vitolas: (5 by 48), Annuity (6 by 52), and Arbitrage (7 by 56).

The Facts

Samples Provided by Altadis U.S.A.
Price: $7.75
Vitola: Annuity (Toro)
Size: 6 by 52
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican
Smoke Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes

Pre-light

The Banker has a dark brown wrapper that a good amount of oils that can be felt on my fingertips. The green band looks great against the dark leaf. The wrapper is smooth to the touch with mainly small veins across the leaf. The wrapper aroma is of raisin and chocolate, while the foot gives off a very pleasant mixture of chocolate, caramel, barnyard, and raisin. The caramel flavor reminds me of an irish cream.

Since these cigars arrived in three-count boxes, I am surprised to find a large indentation on the stick. Other than that, the cigar gives just slightly when pressed. Clipping through the double cap, I find a cold draw that is a hair more firm than preferred. The flavors on the cold draw match up to the foot aroma with some added spice.

First Third

The Banker begins with a hearty profile of leather and earthy notes accompanied by a bed of spice. On the back end of the flavors, some dry cedar is found, which really stands out the retrohale, along with peppery spice. Just past the inch mark, chocolate begins to peek through on the finish of the smoke. The burn is a bit wavy, producing a  layered, white ash that is holding firm well past an inch. I am beginning to feel a medium amount of nicotine as I round out the first third.

Middle Third

The pepper has kicked up a notch and some additional sweetness is balancing out the heavier flavors as I arrive in the second third.  As the flavors develop, the earth and leather move to a toasty bread-like flavor and the chocolate becomes more syrupy. The strength and flavor are in-line with each other at this point being at the low end of full.

Final Third

The nicotine is starting to make me feel a bit ill with a couple inches remaining in the cigar. But being a professional, I am going to push it to the very end. The earth flavor has stepped back in, the toasted bread is holding strong, and the chocolate continues to gain ground. I was caught completely off guard with the strength being a solid full.

Wrap-up

 The Banker by H. Upmann has a lot to offer at an affordable price. While it was a departure from what I would normally expect from Altadis, I was not disappointed with the direction they went with this stick. The Banker delivered a full flavor, full strength cigar with heavy notes of leather and earth, balanced out with the sweeter chocolate notes. While the profile became a bit odd with the toasted notes and syrupy chocolate mixture, all in all the flavors were good and satisfying. For the price, I would recommend that you give this cigar a shot. I have a few more in the humidor that I am already looking forward to smoking.

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