Cigar Review: H. Upmann Legacy Toro
11 Mar 2013
There are seven different H. Upmann blends listed on the Altadis website, including Reserve Maduro, Vintage Cameroon, Cabinet Selección, Sun Grown, and 1844 Reserve. The newest is a three-vitola line called “Legacy†that’s just hitting the market.
Legacy is handmade in Honduras with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper around “a savory binder from the cloud-cooled rain forests of Nicaragua and an intense mix of prized Nicaraguan and Dominican filler tobaccos.†It features “vintage 2008 tobaccos grown from heirloom seeds treasured for generations.â€
This recipe is notable because it marks the first H. Upmann with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. In addition, Altadis is not accustomed to tobacco vintage dates, so Legacy is somewhat of a departure in that regard. And the packaging is unlike any other H. Upmann.
The Legacy Toro (6 x 52) retails for $6.85. It has a rustic, rough-around-the-edges exterior, including a hastily applied cap and several thick veins that run the length of the mottled, moderately oily wrapper. The foot yields an earthy pre-light fragrance, and the head clips cleanly to reveal a smooth draw with some sourness on the lips.
Altadis is calling this an “exquisite blend†with a “vibrant, fuller-bodied smoke complemented by a myriad of subtle and complex flavors unlike any H. Upmann before it.†The three Toros I sampled—each provided to me by Altadis—started with a dry, woodsy profile of salted cashew, cedar, and dried apricot. The sensation is medium-bodied.
As the Toro progresses, it mellows into a smoother smoke with less spice and more earth and mustiness. I find the aroma to be more intriguing than the actual taste, which is pleasant though straightforward. The final third is slightly more intense but otherwise very similar to the flavor at the midway point.
Construction is top-notch. The gray ash holds firm off the foot, the burn is straight enough to not require touch-ups, the draw is clear, and each puff produces ample smoke.
This is a solid smoke at a fair price, though probably not one I’d pair with an after-dinner cocktail. Rather, for me, the Legacy Toro is better suited for the golf course. Or it would be a great choice to share with friends who aren’t regular cigar enthusiasts, as its smooth demeanor makes it very approachable. These conclusions result in a rating of three stogies out of five.
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photo credit: Stogie Guys
Cigar may be good but it sure seems like an ugly band. The regular H Upmann dress so classic, but this is orange, yellow green and brown… really?
For the record, I like the design and colors of the band.