I have always been a fan of H. Upmann. It's is definitely a name that has long been associated with fine quality cigars. Today, as with many of the original cigar names, there are both Cuban and non-Cuban cigars that proudly wear the Upmann label. For today's review I will be smoking the non-Habano variety.

For my review this week I have chosen the new H. Upmann Legacy. I must say when I first saw this cigar in Las Vegas during our meeting with Altadis, I was very excited. My cigar cohort, Steve "Big Mungo" Mungeer and I had just been discussing the fact that we just didn’t have a lot to offer from Upmann in our portfolio. After we were handed an info card and a sample of the Legacy, we both smiled simultaneously and nodded in agreement that this one would soon be in our humidors. It was one of the easiest sales pitches at the show. We saw it and we immediately wanted it.

The H. Upmann Legacy is a slick looking cigar with its double band and rich chocolate colored wrapper made of Ecuadorian Sumatra. I just love what the mountains of Ecuador do to the flavor of whatever tobacco is grown there. The clouds give the tobacco many of the same characteristics found in shade tobacco but without the hefty price tag. What also makes the tobaccos used in this cigar extra special is that they are all from 2008. This is a vintage cigar at a very affordable price.

The rest of the recipe is somewhat secret as they only divulge the binder being Nicaraguan and the filler a mix of Nicaraguan and Dominican. My palate tells me the Dominican filler is Habana Piloto seed and its Nicaraguan component is probably a mixture of Esteli and Condega tobacco. It's much harder to guess filler so I am not 100% on that one.

The strength of the cigar is on the medium to full-bodied side, and it has an assortment of flavors that come through. There is a nuttiness to the cigar along with some nice muted coffee flavors. By muted I
mean coffee with cream, not the heavy espresso flavors you get in a lot of Maduros. I don't get a lot of pepper in this one as what spice is there seems to be on the sweet side. A hint of cinnamon along with a little nutmeg make this a great cigar for any occasion.

While doing this review I drank a nice cup of espresso, which probably brought out the coffee notes a little more than the blender intended. There is also a touch of chocolate in this cigar, but the sweetness
is very subtle.

I think that Big Mungo and I hit a homerun on this one. I can't wait to get these in our humidors. If it's been a while since you smoked an Upmann, give the Legacy a try. You won't be disappointed.

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney. Follow me on Twitter @abccigarchris