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.
Country of Origin: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba
Length: 7″
Ring: 47
Construction > Good
Burn > Good
Enjoy > Yes
Recommend > Yes
Buy > Yes
- click on photographs (slideshow / EXIF)-
#1 by czerbe on February 1, 2012 - 12:01 pm
Jay as always outstanding buddy, Question if this leaf from pre embargo just rolled now or sticks from pre embargo? Great Pictures love the long ash
#2 by admin on February 1, 2012 - 12:54 pm
Corey,
I look at what I wrote and I understand why you would ask this question. No, this is DEC10 production. I wish I had something that old. Thanks for the question / comment.
#3 by czerbe on February 2, 2012 - 10:45 am
Oh haha I got it, as you can see I’m not versed in the Cuban connection. Those are the Unicorn in my Humi. Great pics and thanks for the info.
#4 by James on February 2, 2012 - 8:19 pm
I’ll have to agree about the Magmuns. I’m smoking some 50’s and am very satisfied with the full spectrum and evolution of flavors throughout the cigar. It seems you were not wowed at all with this cigar like one should be when smoking one of the hallowed marques.
#5 by admin on February 2, 2012 - 10:09 pm
James,
It was good but not great. Yes, I expected more hearing all the hype. Having said that, I would still recommend one. I will definitely revisit in a year or so.
#6 by Bill (Cigar Snapshot Podcast) on February 2, 2012 - 9:58 pm
Great pics and review of a definite classic! Give it a few more years and I am sure that you will find it much improved. :)
#7 by admin on February 2, 2012 - 10:10 pm
Bill,
Agree and will do. Have you had one ?
#8 by Addiction on February 12, 2012 - 6:02 pm
Jay,
The 10 and 11 Sir Winnies are very approachable but even with the changes over the last couple of years Sir Winnies are really a 5-10 year project. If you were to put these away for a good long time you’d thank yourself later.
#9 by admin on February 12, 2012 - 7:38 pm
Thanks for the tip ! Looks like feedback is the same across the board. I will put what I have left away and will revisit in few years. Thanks !