H Upmann Magnum 56

Description

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On the teak railing of my friendElias’s 42-foot sailboat I was leaning against, it scrawled the
Mariposa
, as the sun went down overthe Gulf of Mexico. Thewater, that deep, bruised purple you only see when the horizon is ready to consume the light. We’d spent the day throwing for snapper and catching mostly a buzz fromthe salt air and slow pitch of the hull. Elias is one of those people who doesn’t say much, but when he does it’s usually something wise or a gesture that lingers.

Product Specifications

He produced from his leather travelling-case a short wandlike object with an appearance of being a miniature club. “Tonight’s grillcaptain,” he said, smiling. I was sincerely appreciative of the offer. It wasn’t only the cigar; it was that the moment was so hushed, so companionable, and for once the world felt small and easy. I looked at the band, my heart skipped a beat.

It was the H. Upmann Magnum56. I’ve smoked a load of Upmanns in my time, starting with the short little Half Coronas right up to the epic Sir Winstons – but this one felt unlike any I’d held before. It was heavy; it had some heft that made you sit down and listen.

You ever get that sense, where you know long before the cap’s even clicked that you’re going to be investing an hour and a half of your life turning something into a core memory? Thatwas me on the long But on days like this, I was begging a similar thing oftheDeck of the
Mariposa
— as I run my thumb across the roughpaper, wind whipping into my face and slipping-between us. I seized my torch, sheltering it from hte cold salt sprinkle, and flung myslefinto the task. That smoke?

The
H. Upmann Magnum 56
. This is no ordinary stick though, it’s a big name comeback that Habanos S.A. dusted off for the travel and duty free scene and I’m am so glad they did. The Specs
Construction: A Beefy Beauty
The first impression of the Magnum 56 is how big it is.

A 56 ring gauge is no joke. It is the fattest cigar in H. Upmann’s premium line of limited orspecial edition cigars, and held, it feels like a cut mahogany timber. It’s an “Unidades” in official speak, and it’s a bigDouble Robusto that seems large once listed but is actually very well-proportioned.

The wrapping on the one Elias gave me was a pretty Coloradocolor—a kind of ginger color, that flashed like tinned ore in the sun. It wasn’t greasy to the touch; instead, it was more matte in feel and texture — almost a bit toothy (which is why I find myself leaning toward it!). It tells me it is a leaf with character. I barely squeezed it, and it was rock-solid from top to bottom.

No soft spots, no lumps. The construction from either of those previous H.Upmann/Havana factory (I’m thinking it’s the big one on quality) out put, is top shelf for sure.

I chose the straight cut, and the pre-light draw was wonderful — just a bit of pull, like sipping on a thick milkshake through a straw. I was getting a touch of cold cedar and sweetness from the hay. It was that clean, promising and funky Cuban funk that Ihave come to associate with the freshest Vuelta Abajo tobacco. Now I have to admit I was just dying to get this thing lit.

Flavor Profile: The Three Acts
The FirstThird: Creamy Prelude
Itjust takes a bit of patience to get 56 to light up.

You can’t just blast it. I smoked it intentionally all the way down ((charred it at the head)), it was consistent when I lit the foot and did so evenly until I puffed. There it is, from the outset, Magnum 56 is classic H. Upmann.

This starts off nice and warmly sweet with just a hint of cedar. It’s not aggressive. It’s like “Howdy do” from the cigar before it jumps in and startshammering away. Ten minutes later I start to get some vague nuttiness (raw almonds? hazelnuts?) and maybe a touch of loam.

The smoke output was massive. The damp air of that boat with its thick white clouds set tohover the docks. The strength was a very nice medium at this point, and flavors so friendly and creamy. This is not, quite yet, the pepper bomb.

And it’s all about thetexture of the smoke — velvety onthe tongue. TheSecond Third: The Body Constructed
By the end of the second third, the profile had taken on darker and richer tones.

The creaminess took a back seat but the cedar morphed into more of an aged wood taste. I was getting zingy hits of roasted coffeebeans and this savoury, musky flavour that I’ve only otherwise found in well aged Cuban leaf. This is what the evolution from the 2015 Edición Limitada to its 2020 counterpart epitomises. While the EL also had two extra years of aging on the leaves before they were rolled, this 2020 version tastes like it has just a little bit more “life” and vibrancy.

It’smedium-plus-bodied now. I retrohauled (Hey, “retrohaled,” if Ewoks are a fair catch) and there it was: boldly present, inky black pepper. It wasn’t too overwhelming, but it did give a nice edge to the experience. The sweet cream versus spicy retrohale was just spot on to be honest.

The Final Third: The Punch Lands Full Uppercut and the Jaw Receives It
By the time I reachedthe last third of the journey it was night, and we sat beneath a blackblanket of stars

.

The Magnum56 was more animal than ever. The tastes turned toward cocoa and leather, with thebaking spices — cinnamon, possibly a bit of nutmeg — arriving late. The earth emerged firmer, almost as if wet soil after a rain. It stayed mellow until the end of the cigar, all that big ring gauge of course.

It never got bitter (or “hot” as the experts says), even as I approached within an inch. I knew I was slowing down, wanting it never to end. It was present, but itwasn’t screaming at me. And oh boy, it was a slow-motion disaster that glued my attention for nearly ninety minutes.”
Pairing: What to Sip on Deck
I was on the boat drinking a straight, dark Cubanrum poured over ice.

It was complementing the creaminess of the beginning and countered the leathery end. But if I were homein my studyI’d crave a dark cream-topped espresso. The Magnum 56 has this coffee-and-nut thing going on that’d just sing in concert with a nice caffeine buzz. I’d eschew anything too peaty or smoky, such as an Islay Scotch; you don’twant to overpower the peaceful cedar and musk in this cocktail.

You want something that fits the “smooth to medium” theme without elbowing it to one side. The Verdict
I’ve smoked my share of cigars everywhere, but  the H.

Upmann Magnum 56 I had last month impressed me. Or maybe it was the company, or that it’s a gift from a beloved friend but this cigaris one of flavor workhorses. By no measure is it a “quick smoke” — you’ll want to carve out time for this. We don’t recommend it to everyone, but it’s for the bro who wants a big manly stickwithout some of the hotspots that can bubble up on top strength sticks.

Is this something I would buy if I left my travel humidor at home from Dut free? Absolutely. It’s a neat vitola which offers an interesting wrapper to filler ratio and as 56 ring gauge provides a nice cool puff and lots of smoke, something hard to find in other Habanos! It’s luxury in texture, refined of flavor and a joy to light.

And I was delighted to hold it tonight, and weI bet you will too, once you finally clip one for yourself. Solid. Just plain solid. Final Thought:
If you see the ceramic jar iteration at an airport, do not ignore it.

Grab it. Your future self will thank you,as it lounges on a porch — or boat — smoking a peace sign of that moment.