1 review for H. Upmann Lonsdale
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H. Upmann Lonsdale
Overall Score
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Matt
Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Lonsdale
Size : 6.5/8 x 44
Wrapper : Indonesian TBN (Shade Grown)
Filler : Dominican and Brazilian
Binder : Dominican
Hand-Made
Price : $7 each
These H.Upmann cigars, which have no relation to the famous Cuban brand, are made by Altadis in the Dominican Republic. They are wrapped in a little used shade-grown Indonesian tobacco known as Indonesian TBN. TBN stands for “Tembakau Bawah Naungan” which according to an article on Indonesian tobacco means “tobacco under sheet”; or in other words, it is shade-grown. I don’t know off the top of my head of any other cigars that use this tobacco other than another Altadis brand. It does not seem to be a very popular wrapper choice these days.
The wrapper is laced with small veins and is the color of caramel. Outwardly it looks like a very well made cigar, neatly wrapped with a standard cap. It is well filled with no soft spots and the bunch of the filler looks very well done in both the foot and head with no stems or rib veins visible. The draw is very good, smooth with just the right amount of resistance.
It is no secret that I like lonsdales. I have stated multiple times that I think the lonsdale is an ideal format for a cigar and that it is my favorite vitola. I decided to visit the H. Upmann Lonsdale because I remembered that early on in my cigar smoking I used to enjoy this brand of cigar. I remember thinking that it was a good bang for my buck. Inexpensive, well made and very enjoyable. Over the years I have moved away from this marca, not on purpose but rather as just a natural progression. Other cigars grabbed my interest and the Upmann just faded from memory. I thought it would be interesting to revisit it now and it seemed natural to try it in the size that has since become my preferred format. Back when I was smoking these more regularly I was a robusto and toro fan.
The cigar started off a little tannic with an unpleasant bitterness on the finish. It quickly mellowed out. There wasn’t much there to talk of. No real flavor, no complexity. It was just a run of the mill, mild Dominican smoke. Slightly creamy with a basic tobacco flavor and no body to speak of. Now I know why I eventually moved away from these. Near the end it picked up a little bit with just a hint of spiciness and little more body, but it was far too little much too late. The burn was ok and the ash was a little flaky. The biggest problem I had was keeping it lit. It went out several times even though I wasn’t setting it down very often. This might serve a as decent easy going introduction to cigar smoking for some one brand new to cigars but I suspect, like I did, they will outgrow this cigar quickly.