Today’s reviews cover a couple of cigars in the Robusto format, starting with the H. Upmann 1844 Reserve and ending with the CAO Escaparate Ecuador.

H. Upmann 1844 Reserve Robusto

The H. Upmann brand from Altadis USA is known for putting out quality smokes. The H. Upmann 1844 Reserve is described on the company’s website as possibly being “the finest H. Upmann yet.” That’s a pretty bold claim from a company with so much history. Speaking of history, the cigar’s name refers to the year in which the brand was started by Herman Upmann, a German banker. Is the 1844 Reserve the best H. Upmann has to offer? There’s only one way to find out.

I’m giving the H. Upmann 1844 Reserve Robusto a try, which measures 5 x 50. There are also five other sizes in the line: the 4 1/2 x 33 Demitasse, 5 1/2 x 44 Corona, 6 x 54 Toro, 6 1/8 x 52 Belicoso, and the 7 x 50 Churchill. The cigar’s filler is made up of Dominican tobacco. The binder is Nicaraguan, and an Ecuadorian Cubano wrapper completes the composition. In terms of strength, the H. Upmann 1844 Reserve as listed as being medium to full-bodied.

From the looks of it, the H. Upmann 1844 Reserve Robusto sports solid construction, which really comes as no surprise. The chocolate brown wrapper is smooth and has a good amount of oil on the surface. Only a few small veins are visible, but no major imperfections. The cigar appears to be well-packed with tobacco. The decorative band near the head adds a nice touch with its black, gold, red, and white color scheme. It displays the H. Upmann logo and the 1844 Reserve name. Before lighting, the cigar has an aroma reminiscent of wood. As for the cold taste, it's of cedar.

Once lit, the H. Upmann 1844 Reserve burns without any major issues to report. The draw is just right, and there’s plenty of smoke produced. The ash is solid and gray. There is no need for any touch-ups or re-lights from start to finish, which is a plus in my book.