Top 5 H. Upmann Cigars

July 20, 2022

Top 5 H. Upmann Cigars

Among the oldest premium cigar brands in existence today, H. Upmann Cigars are a staple in humidors all over the world. Founded by German banker Hermann Upmann in 1844 Cuba, the H. Upmann brand remains an extremely popular choice with smokers today for their wide variety and consistency of tobaccos that appeal to any and all levels of smokers from novices to seasoned aficionados.

As part of the Altadis USA family, H. Upmann cigars can be found in almost every shop nationwide displaying the vast portfolio of blends this legendary brand has to offer.

But with such a wide selection of choices, shopping for one may seem a little overwhelming. Put your worries at ease, we here at J.R. have taken the consensus from many of our seasoned smokers and put together for you our top 5 H. Upmann cigars we think you’ll absolutely love that you can pick up at the best prices on the web here at JR Cigar!

 

 

 

 

 

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H. Upmann 175th Anniversary

Wrapper Type – Nicaragua

Binder – Nicaragua

Filler – Nicaragua

Origin – Nicaragua

Strength – Medium – Full

Wrapper Shade – EMS

We start our top 5 H. Upmann list with the H. Upmann 175th Anniversary. As you can probably guess this blend was developed to celebrate 175 successful years for the H. Upmann brand and let me tell you these are some special sticks. Turning to the famous cigar maker AJ Fernandez, all the stops were pulled to make this anniversary more than memorable.

Crafted entirely with richly aged Nicaraguan tobaccos, the wrapper on these 7×50 Churchill vitolas are completely made up of Medio Tiempo leaves which are the highest, most sun-soaked, part of the tobacco plant that only grows on a hand full of plants. These leaves are then interlaced with broadleaf tobaccos to slow the fermentation process and help give the 175th its signature flavor.

The result is a more complex and developed blend that layers itself throughout the burn with rich medium-full-bodied flavors of leather, cream, white pepper, almonds, and hints of vanilla that delight the palate with every puff. If you want to taste the true luxury of H. Upmann, the H. Upmann 175th Anniversary is the smoke for you!

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H. Upmann Nicaragua Heritage by AJ Fernandez

Wrapper Type – Brazil

Binder – Nicaraguan Habano

Filler – Nicaragua

Origin – Nicaragua

Strength – Medium-Full

Wrapper Shade – EMS

Next on our list is another blend developed in collaboration with AJ Fernandez, the H. Upmann Nicaragua Heritage by AJ Fernandez. Released in early 2022, Altadis USA and AJ Fernandez hit the ground running with this top-notch expression of Nicaraguan power.

Using rich Cuban-seed Habano tobaccos grown on AJ’s Nicaraguan farms, this five-vitola line features a high-end Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper that looks stunning with its dark, dusky Maduro shade and offers a ton of deliciously good flavor.

Prepare your palate for a rich medium-full-bodied tapestry of flavors, including leather, coffee, oak, and peppery spice on the finish, but if you want a complete rundown of this stellar smoke, check out our Nicaragua Heritage review. If you are a seasoned aficionado who has not had an H. Upmann in a while, these gems are sure to leave a lasting impression!

 

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H. Upmann Hispaniola by Jose Mendez

Wrapper Type – Ecuador Sumatra

Binder – Dominican Republic

Filler – Dominican Republic

Origin – Dominican Republic

Strength – Full

Wrapper Shade – EMS

Moving on down our list, we turn our sights to the Dominican Republic and the famous tobacco grower Jose “Pepe” Mendez and his creation of the H. Upmann Hispaniola by Jose Mendez. Jose Mendez, or simply “Pepe”, is among one of the most prolific growers of cigar tobacco in the Dominican Republic.

The Hispaniola by Jose Mendez however honors both ”Pepe” and the island where he grows his top-shelf tobaccos by constructing a cigar that exuberates quality in this signature vitola, especially for H. Upmann.

Flawlessly wrapped in a luscious Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and bound with a Dominican Olor leaf, the sight of this cigar is quite exquisite sight to look at. Filled with various special Dominican tobaccos including Pilotico, an old and rarely used Cuban-seed varietal, and Andullo, which is fermented by tightly pressing the tobaccos inside palm tree leaves called yaguas, this luscious stick is truly a work of art from the inside out.

The result is an incredibly complex and intense full-bodied smoke that presents a vibrant tapestry of cocoa, almonds, rich peppery spice, cedar, and notes of tobacco sweetness, all balanced together in a harmonious dance. To experience some of the best tobaccos the Dominican Republic has to offer, and at an unexpectedly affordable price, H. Upmann Hispaniola by Jose Mendez should be your first choice.

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H. Upmann Cameroon Certified Vintage

Wrapper Type – Cameroon

Binder – Nicaragua

Filler – Dominican Republic / Nicaragua / Peru

Origin – Dominican Republic

Strength – Medium

Wrapper Shade – EMS

Harkening back to the incredibly popular H. Upmann blend of the 1990s, H. Upmann Cameroon Certified Vintage is a timeless smoke that all can enjoy. Back then, the Cameroon wrapper adorned almost every cigar that H. Upmann made, but due to supply issues in the mid-1990s the brand had to look elsewhere for suitable wrapper leaf.

Now that Cameroon wrappers are more widely available, only the best are utilized for H. Upmann Cameroon Certified Vintage. Underneath this beautiful, toothy wrapper is a hearty Nicaraguan binder and a core of aged long fillers from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Peru.

With a smooth and rich medium body that will delight any aficionado, these gems provide a balanced medley of nuts, toasted cedar, sweet cream, and subtle spices. Whether you have an appreciation for Cameroon wrappers or for balanced, flavorful smokes, you will enjoy the H. Upmann Cameroon Certified Vintage.

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H. Upmann Crafted by AJ Fernandez

Wrapper Type – Ecuador Sumatra

Binder – San Andrés

Filler – Dominican Republic / Nicaragua

Origin – Nicaragua

Strength – Medium – Full

Wrapper Shade – EMS

 

Rounding out our top 5 list of H. Upmann Cigars is another collaboration with AJ Fernandez (if you couldn’t tell, AJ Fernandez is a stellar cigar maker, go check out our AJ Fernandez buying guide) with H. Upmann Crafted by AJ Fernandez cigars.

With this blend, AJ Fernandez brings H. Upmann back to its Cuban roots with a flavorful and complex recipe of finely aged tobaccos. Starting with a core of Dominican and Nicaraguan long fillers and a spicy San Andres binder, these treats are seamlessly embraced by a top-quality Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper.

The result is a rich yet approachable medium-full bodied smoke brimming with notes of roasted coffee, sweet tobacco, hazelnut, baking spice, and cedar, an excellent afternoon or evening smoke to enjoy without overwhelming your palate. Adorned with blue and gold bands, these smokes simply exude luxury and are worth a spot in any aficionado’s humidor!

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H. Upmann Buying Guide

H.Upmann is one of the oldest cigar brands in existence.  Dating back to the mid 19th century, H.Upmann has a historic pedigree and was the favored brand of such famed cigar smokers as John F. Kennedy.  Following the Cuban embargo, a majority of H.Upmann cigars available in the US have been made in the Dominican Republic.

With such a wide portfolio, it may seem overwhelming to choose which H.Upmann cigar is best for you.  Luckily, we have put together this helpful buying guide to aid you in your search in the perfect cigar for you.

H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon

This cigar will always have a special place in my heart.  The Vintage Cameroon was one of my first, regular rotation cigars when I first joined the industry over 10 years ago.  It is also, to this day, one of my favorite cigars featuring the Cameroon wrapper.  This cigar remains one of the most popular and best-selling cigars in the H.Upmann lineup.

The Vintage Cameroon is handcrafted at Tabacalera de Garcia using aged Dominican, Peruvian and Nicaraguan tobaccos giving it a complex center.  The real treat though is the African Cameroon wrapper.  This toothy leaf boasts notes of leather, earth, cinnamon, and pepper, making this one of the most complex cigars of the era.

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H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez

I’ll have to admit that H.Upmann faced a little bit of a downturn for a few years.  The boutique sector of the industry was in full force, and the new H.Upmann offerings seemed to be lacking a bit.  That is until AJ Fernandez stepped in.  The H.Upmann by AJ helped revitalize the brand and today it has regained its position among the industry’s elite brands.

This smoke is rolled by hand at the AJ Fernandez factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.  It uses a combination of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos for the filler and binder, followed by a smooth and flavorful Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper.  Notes of coffee and nuts combine effortlessly with a dash of spice to create a plethora of rich and complex flavors.

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H.Upmann Connecticut by Grupo de Maestros

The Grupo de Maestros are among the most knowledgeable and respected blenders in the cigar industry.  They are responsible for some of the best-selling and most popular cigars in industry history, including the modern versions of Montecristo and Romeo.  To celebrate the accomplishments of these titans, AUSA released a special series of Montecristo’s known as the Montecristo Grupo de Maestro.  The tremendous success of this line leads to several follow-ups, including the smooth and creamy H.Upmann Connecticut by Grupo de Maestro.

This cigar is rolled only by chosen rollers at the Tabacalera de Garcia factory.  It uses vintage Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos for the filler and binder, along with a smooth and flawless Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.  Its profile consists of notes of cream, coffee, leather, and a dash of nuts.  This high-end entry into the H.Upmann lineup would lead the way for more to follow.

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H.Upmann Hispaniola By Jose Mendez

Here we have the most complex H.Upmann I have ever had the pleasure of smoking.  The Hispanola takes its name from the island home of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.  It was made to honor the Mendez family, the primary growers of tobacco for AUSA in the Dominican Republic.  This special blend was meant to showcase the unique tobaccos at their disposal.

The Hispaniola uses special Dominican tobaccos known as Andullo and Pilotico, which helps give it its signature spicy flavor.  The Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper adds in touches of earth and coffee, making this a full-bodied, complex but incredibly well-balanced smoke.

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H.Upmann 1844 Anejo

This is not only the newest H.Upmann to be released, but also the newest in the AUSA line of cigars that carry the Anejo name.  This cigar is another tremendous step forward for the brand, as it showcases that not only the high-end limited editions can be top notch, but they were also able to create an outstanding, regular production line.

The Anejo is rolled by hand at the company’s Honduran facility, known as Flor de Copan.  It uses a complex blend of Dominican, Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos for its filler, giving it unrivaled complexity.  Its Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is double fermented, which gives is a smooth aroma but also a zesty and fuller flavor profile.

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H.Upmann 175th Anniversary

Here we have the crème de la crème.  This is not only one of the best H.Upmann cigars ever made, nor just one of the best AUSA cigars, but this is one of my favorite cigars of all time.  From the blend to the size and the presentation, everything about the 175th screams excellence and it does a fantastic job honoring this historic brand.

Created to honor the 175th anniversary of the H.Upmann brand, this cigar was crafted for AUSA by AJ Fernandez. It is a Nicaraguan puro, using tobacco grown exclusively on AJs farms.  What really makes it stand out is the use of a rare, Medio Tiempo wrapper.  This is a solid medium to full-bodied Churchill, with incredible flavor and unbelievable balance.  This is a must-have for any true cigar aficionado.

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