H. Upmann Sungrown Short Chuchill (4.5x54)

This cigar begins a tour of random singles that I have had banging around my humidor for some time. All of them, including this one, are cigars that I have not written reviews for before.

This short, fat cigar is sort of ugly in appearance. The band is somewhat large for a cigar of this size and the artwork is busy. The wrapper is seemingly too light to be sungrown and it has prominent yellowing veins running the length of the vitola. The cigar seems to be too firm and I have some concerns about how it will draw. The pre light aroma has some interesting ideas of cinnamon and pepper. The pre light draw is somewhat lackluster showing only weak notes of sweet nuts.

The cigar opens with a profile that has all the hallmarks of a fine sungrown pedigree. There are some very solid notes of pepper, wood, sweet spice and rich tobacco. This particular blend could use some more depth and complexity, but overall the experience is pleasant in the opening moments. At the back of the palate there is a bit of an aftertaste that I would classify as salty and vegetal. The draw is a bit tight, but it is not causing any issues at this point in the smoke. The burn is slow and even and a nice white ash is forming.

The first half of the cigar continues to develop nicely. The main profile maintains a nice showing of pepper and sweet spice, still lacking in depth and complexity, but acceptable nonetheless. At the back of the palate there are still some salty flavors, but they are accompanied by a flavor that I would characterize as nutty. The draw continues to be too tight for my taste, but it still not creating any unfortunate labor. The burn is nearly even and the ash is a solid white mass.

The final half of the cigar is not as strong as the first half, in so much as you could classify the front half as strong, which it really was not. The profile starts to weaken and shows some pepper and spice, but there is a vegetal quality that is creeping in here. At the back of the palate and through the nose there are some heavy notes of cedar, but some strange flavors that strike me as being somewhat akin to what mildew smells like. The draw continues to be tight, but is still not terrible. The burn is lopsided, but again not causing any issues.

The finish is a touch bitter, but lingering and satisfactory pepper notes dominate. This is not the best sungrown offering I have ever smoked, I would be more inclined to smoke a Fuente Sungrown selection, but this was also not terrible.

Appearance- 83 not the most attractive smoke
Taste- 86 I will rate this slightly above average, but some more depth, complexity and consistency would make it better
Construction- 87 the tight draw throughout disallows further consideration for a higher mark
Strength- 87 a nice medium/full offering
Overall- 86 a solid slightly above average smoke

Trinidad Habana Reserve Short Churchill (4.5x54)

I should point out that I am seldom a fan of any Altadis offerings, but I have always liked Trinis so I looked forward to smoking this when I saw it at the local B&M recently.

The cigar is thick, but diminutive, and it is finished with a whimsical pigtail cap that gives this small cigar some charm. The wrapper is medium brown and leathery and has little veining. An inspection tells me that it is well constructed and I do not anticipate any issues. The pre light aroma has nice blasts of spice and dark fruit. The pre light draw shows a blast of cinnamon.

The cigar opens with a profile that is more complex than I expected. There are notes of cinnamon and rich wood in the opening moments that are deep and meaningful for so early in a smoke. At the back of the palate there are some great notes of earth and spice that underlay the main profile beautifully. The depth here is something and I find myself really settling in for this smoke. The draw is excellent, and provides just what I like from a cigar, just enough smoke. The burn is also sturdy and produces a dark gray ash that is a touch flaky.

The first half of the cigar proceeds much as it did in the opening moments. The core profile continues to develop more cinnamon and nutmeg qualities, while the wood tones continue to provide an excellent backdrop for the flavors. At the back of the palate there are still some excellent blasts of earth and spice. The draw is still excellent, and the burn continues to perform well.

The final half of the cigar shows some interesting turns. The core profile transitions into a presentation of pepper, wood and shows some maple flavors as well. At the back of the palate the early earthy tones transition into a more spicy presentation that plays with the maple on the front of the palate in an interesting way. There are some complex things happening here that would not be caught without proper attention. The draw and burn continue to perform extremely well.

The finish is a bit thin, but shows nice presentations of spice and pepper. This cigar is way above average experience and could be better with some more developed flavor presentations.

Appearance- 92 a very interesting and appealing smoke to look at
Taste- 93 great flavors with depth and character
Construction- 96 an excellent presentation
Strength- 88 a very nice medium, but more power would have complemented the palate in a more substantial way
Overall- 93 an excellent smoke, and for about $5 per cigar I would say a must buy