Greetings once again!  Today let’s go over two premium selections from the H. Upmann brand that will appeal to both medium-bodied fans and beginners alike:  the Cabinet Seleccion Robusto and the Signature Super Corona.  As I always do with cigars from a brand I haven’t tried, I wanted to get a brief background on the company itself before I got to lighting.

H. Upmann is a premium brand of cigars that was founded all the way back in 1844 in Havana, Cuba.  Herman Upmann was a German banker who decided to produce cigars to help promote his newly opened branch in Havana.  The cigars became such a success that he decided to expand production, which resulted in the brand winning several awards and global recognition in the years to come.  The brand is now produced by Altadis U.S.A., who also produces cigars for other industry icons such as Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta.  H. Upmann cigars are mostly medium-bodied and target not only seasoned smokers but also those looking to break into the hobby.     

H. Upmann Cabinet Seleccíon Robusto

The Cabinet Seleccíon line was introduced in 2007 and is an exclusive line produced by not only H. Upmann, but other premium brands as well, such as Romeo y Julieta, Montecristo, and Por Larrañaga.  These special lines of cigars is comprised solely of blends of aged tobacco and are handmade in a very limited quantity by only the best workers in La Romana, Dominican Republic.  The H. Upmann Cabinet Seleccíon Robusto is considered to be a medium-bodied cigar.

The H. Upmann Cabinet Seleccíon measures 5x52 in its Robusto vitola.  It also comes in four other sizes:  the 5.5x44 Corona, the 6x54 Toro, the 6 1/8x52 Belicoso, and the 7x54 Churchill.  Its filler is composed of Nicaraguan tobacco.  The binder is Nicaraguan as well and an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper completes its construction.

The cigar has a very pleasant, welcoming appearance that screams “Smoke me please!”  I guess this is mostly due to its creamy brown wrapper that has a very smooth texture with the exception of a few small veins.  There is just a hint of an oily sheen when you put it under the light.  Giving it a quick feel reveals that it has been packed well.  There is a large band near the head in gold, white, and black that adds to its overall look.  The band has a regal design and has the H. Upmann name as well as Cabinet Seleccíon and the year 1844 on it.  Prior to lighting the cigar has an earthy scent and taste to it.