H. UPMANN No. 2

H. UPMANN

No. 2

If Cuba’s best-known torpedo is the Montecristo No. 2, perhaps the country’s best-kept secret is the H. Upmann No. 2. An insider’s cigar, the H. Upmann No. 2 is a carbon copy of the ubiquitous Monte, sharing the same stately appearance, with its proud, pointed head and substantial 52 ring gauge. Cuba makes fewer H. Upmanns than Montecristos, so the Upmann is a harder find, but well worth the search, with a solid core of earthy flavor, nuts and coffee beans. These are hearty smokes, and for the past three years they have performed consistently well in our blind tastings. The H. Upmann brand is one of the oldest in the cigar world, dating back to 1844. The brand was born as the brainchild of a German banker named Herman Upmann (or Hupmann, depending on what you read). From his legacy, it seems that Mr. Upmann was a better cigar man than he was a banker, something that the cigar world truly appreciates.

Country: Cuba	Ring Gauge: 52
Filler: Cuba	Length: 6 1/8"
Binder: Cuba	Size: Figurado
Wrapper: Cuba	Price: £16.90

Distributed By: Habanos S.A.

Made By: Habanos S.A.

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PARTAGAS Lusitania

PARTAGAS

Lusitania

Often regarded as the best Havana cigar in the world, Partagas Lusitania offers a full-bodied taste which has become less powerful in recent years. This Prominentes cigar delivers a good balance of spice and peppery flavours with a pleasant earthy woodiness. A true classic. What this cigar lacks in appearance, it makes up for with a rich, complex flavor profile of leather, coffee, nuts and orange peel. Balanced and harmonious.

Country: Cuba	Ring Gauge: 49
Filler: Cuba	Length: 7 5/8"
Binder: Cuba	Size: Double Corona
Wrapper: Cuba	Price: £21.70

Made By: Habanos S.A.

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BOLIVAR Royal Corona

BOLIVAR

Royal Corona

Bolivar has always been a name close to the hearts of Cuban cigar lovers. Regardless of size, the brand offers rich, powerful cigars that often need a few years of aging to come into their best. At the moment, Bolivar Belicoso Finos from 1993 are smoking fabulously. They have loads of character still, but the almost heady nature of youth has evolved into something extremely complex and satisfying. That sort of special quality is why we chose the Bolivar Royal Corona as Cigar of the Year. The robusto, which measures 4 7/8 inches long by 50 ring gauge, delivers a sophisticated flavor bomb of a smoke with an array of rich character, including touches of chocolate, coffee and leather. The finish is long and it should only get better with age. This year’s production illustrates the better quality of the new generation of Habanos. Greater care in production, particularly in some of the new factories in Havana, is bringing the world better Habanos all the time. Current Bolivar RCs seem to take their inspiration from what we consider one of the golden ages for Cuban smokes, the late 1980s and early 1990s. That was when Cuban cigarmakers created and made some of their best cigars. The Bolivar band is not a big one in

Country: Cuba	Ring Gauge: 50
Filler: Cuba	Length: 4 7/8"
Binder: Cuba	Size: Robusto
Wrapper: Cuba	Price: £10.00

Distributed By: Habanos S.A.

Made By: Habanos S.A.

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ROMEO Y JULIETA Short Churchill

ROMEO Y JULIETA

Short Churchill

Cuba’s newest robusto debuted during the island’s annual cigar festival in March 2006 and the delicious cigar became one of the most sought-after in 2006. But production at the H. Upmann factory in Havana was always sporadic, so many markets did not receive the cigars, which were sold in both tubes and boxes. For example, at one time the Cubans had the cigars but they didn’t have the tubes to ship them. Then they had the tubes and not the cigars. Despite the glitches in establishing the Short Churchill in the market, the robusto, which measures 4 7/8 inches long by 50 ring, is a smooth and rich cigar worth seeking out. It’s medium to full bodied and packed with leather and coffee notes and a touch of sweet wood. Considering the popularity of its 7 inch by 47 ring gauge big brother, the Romeo y Julieta Churchill, the brand’s new robusto is destined to be another classic that any Cuban cigar lover will enjoy smoking.

Country: Cuba	Ring Gauge: 50
Filler: Cuba	Length: 4 7/8"
Binder: Cuba	Size: Robusto
Wrapper: Cuba	Price: £11.50

Distributed By: Habanos S.A.

Made By: Habanos S.A.

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MONTECRISTO Robusto Edición Limitada

MONTECRISTO

Robusto Edición Limitada

This is one of three of this year's Edición Limitadas, and it’s a big hit with aficionados around the world. For the last five years, a range of “ELs” have been launched each year, and the concept is all the same: create a shape, or vitola, that is not normally found in a particular brand, use a dark brown two-year- old wrapper and make about 10,000 boxes of 25 cigars. The Montecristo Robusto was part of the first batch of Edición Limitadas, which were released in 2001. So this is a re-release to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the line, and we think that the second production is better than ever. The 4 7/8 by 50 cigar delivers much of the usually cedar, earthy and tobacco character of a Montecristo, but the darker wrapper gives the smoke a little more kick.

Country: Cuba	Ring Gauge: 50
Filler: Cuba	Length: 4 7/8"
Binder: Cuba	Size: Robusto
Wrapper: Cuba	Price: £15.00

Distributed By: Habanos S.A.

Made By: Habanos S.A.

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PUNCH Super Selection No. 1

PUNCH

Super Selection No. 190

There were fears among Cuban cigar connoisseurs a few years back when Habanos S.A., the global distribution and marketing company for Havana cigars, decided to cut the production of various vitolas in many of the key brands, including Punch. This lonsdale, which measures a tidy 6 1/8 inches long by 42 ring gauge, didn’t appear to be essential to a popular brand like Punch, but it was kept on—so thank you, Cuba. Packed in cedar cabinet boxes of 25 or 50 smokes, the cigar delivers beautiful and refined aromas and flavors with plenty of cedar, tobacco and light coffee character. It’s a beautiful morning smoke, but we like it any time of day. It’s produced primarily in the new La Corona factory on the outskirts of Havana.

Country: Cuba	Ring Gauge: 42
Filler: Cuba	Length: 6 1/8"
Binder: Cuba	Size: Lonsdale
Wrapper: Cuba	Price: £11.40

Distributed By: Habanos S.A.

Made By: Habanos S.A.

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DIPLOMATICOS No. 2

DIPLOMATICOS

No. 2

When most people think of Cuba’s great torpedo, or piramide, they think of the Montecristo No. 2. It is Cuba’s best-selling figurado, with about 2 million produced each year. Most are made in the key factories in Havana such as H. Upmann, La Corona and Partagas, and only the best cigarmakers on the island are qualified to roll these 6 1/8 inch by 52 ring torpedos. However, a small production of the same cigar with a slightly lighter blend has long been produced almost exclusively at H. Upmann under the name Diplomaticos, and this year’s release is one of the best ever.

Country: Cuba	Ring Gauge: 52
Filler: Cuba	Length: 6 1/8"
Binder: Cuba	Size: Figurado
Wrapper: Cuba	Price: £12.30

Distributed By: Habanos S.A.

Made By: Habanos S.A.

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MONTECRISTO Petit Tubo

MONTECRISTO

Petit Tubo

So what if this is the same thing as Cuba’s largest production cigar, the ubiquitous Montecristo No. 4? We have found more often than not in recent years that the breadand- butter smoke of Cuba is of very good to outstanding quality, even if it is made in dozens of factories on the island. Throw it in a tube and you are ready for a night out on the town, without having to take your cigar case. The Montecristo comes in small cardboard boxes of five. The smoke delivers mild yet flavorful tobacco character and it’s quick and easy thanks to its petit corona size, or 5 inch by 42 ring dimension.

Country: Cuba	Ring Gauge: 42
Filler: Cuba	Length: 5"
Binder: Cuba	Size: Petit Corona
Wrapper: Cuba	Price: £8.50

Distributed By: Habanos S.A.

Made By: Habanos S.A.

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