Altadis U.S.A. announced two new H. Upmann lines before IPCPR 2019 Hispaniola by Jose Mendez and the 175th Anniversary. H. Upmann Hispaniola by Jose Mendez is a partnership between Upmann and Jose Mendez who grew the tobacco used in the blend.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
Hispaniola is the name of the Dominican Republic and Haiti given by Christopher Columbus when he landed on the island in 1492. The name Hispanola pays tribute to the island and uses tobaccos in the blend from the Dominican Republic such as Olor, Pilotico and Andullo tobacco. The pilotico and andullo were developed exclusively for Altadis by the Mendez family, the largest tobacco grower in the island. Andullo tobacco originally comes from the Dominican Republic and is not often used in premium cigars.
The H. Upmann Hispaniola is described as full-flavored and medium to full bodied. The blend uses an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper with Dominican binder and fillers, including andullo tobacco.
It comes in boxes of 20 in three different vitolas: Robusto, (50 x 5): $8.50, Toro (52 x 6 1/8): $8.95, Belicoso (50 x 6): $8.80. The cigars are rolled at Tabacalera de García in the Dominican Republic.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Belicoso Length: 6″ Ring Gauge: 50 Country of Origin: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra Binder: Dominican Republic Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua Factory: Tabacalera de Garcia Blender: Grupo de Maestros Number of reviewers: 4 – Ryan H. (Ryan H.) Jason H.(Jokey Smurf) Mickey T. (irratebass) John A. (Bostoneo) Price: $8.80 Age: 3 Months Release Date: July 2019 Contributed by: Altadis U.S.A.
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 88
“6×42 belicoso/torp very light milk chocolate colored wrapper minimal veins invisible seams firm bunch very light weight in the hand.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Aroma: 85
“Musty mildew *wet basement* type of scent on the body & foot, along with a chocolate aroma that lingers on the back ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
First Third
Blind Cigar Review: H. Upmann | Hispaniola by Jose Mendez Belicoso
Flavor: 89 Strength: Mild-Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“Room note is very nice. Notes of black pepper and cream with a little cinnamon. Cigar is medium less. Draw is fabulous.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“A nice and easy start to this cigar… the initial flavors are mild white pepper and cream with a bit of peanut on the finish… smooth and easy is the name of the game in the first third. ” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“Cigar becomes more light in the second third. Profile calms to a singular cream note and weak coffee. Very tasty and light, but with a good flavor. Burn is performing nicely.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“Rounding the bend into the second third, a dark woodsy profile with light hints of clove and cinnamon carry me in medium
Blind Cigar Review: H. Upmann | Hispaniola by Jose Mendez Belicoso
bodied land. No variation really takes place during this third, straightforward and predictable.” –John A. (Bostoneo)
Final Third
Flavor: 88 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“I’ve seen a significant shift in strength in the final third of this cigar… the flavors have shifted as well and now are a strongly roasted, almost burnt peanut and black pepper… as a full bodied cigar fan I’m happy for the shift… my interest is piqued.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“With a similar profile from the first two thirds, damp aromatic cedar continues the last portion of this cigar. Towards the end black peppery notes alongside brown butter provide the finale of this stick. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 88
“A really nice draw on this sample… bordering on to open, the draw allowed for plenty of flavorful smoke. ” –Jason H. (Jokey
Blind Cigar Review: H. Upmann | Hispaniola by Jose Mendez Belicoso
Smurf)
Burn: 93
“Burn was even, most of the time. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)
Construction: 90
“The burn performance of this cigar is commendable but I’ve knocked it down just a bit because the weather cracked at the head into the second third. It was a bit of nuisance for the rest of the smoke but certainly didn’t ruin it for me. ” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Overall Strength: Medium Overall Body/Complexity: Medium Experience Overall: 90
“Another box worthy cigar. Very light but very flavorful.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“This was a really enjoyable cigar that I didn’t want to end. The initial flavors wetter mild but drew me in and the full bodied finish was perfect to end my night. At the end, the roasted peanut transitioned into charred wood and black pepper with a leather note that would not let me put it down until my fingers were hot. I’m ready to light another one right now!” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“From the get go I had issues keeping it lit, uneven burn, boring flavors until the end when I got an oatmeal cookie flavor that was nice. I finally threw in the towel with about 2 inches to go.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“This was a fairly straightforward flavored cigar. Smack dab in the middle of body, it provided a basic set of typical flavors you’d normally find with a normal affordably priced cigar. The appearance was a bit underwhelming as well which spoiled the experience a bit. Overall, okay smoke, not unique, plenty of these out there in the world. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
Blind Cigar Review: H. Upmann | Hispaniola by Jose Mendez Belicoso
Overall Score – 89 – Good
Blind Cigar Review: H. Upmann | Hispaniola by Jose Mendez Belicoso
Summary
"This was a fairly straightforward flavored cigar. Smack dab in the middle of body, it provided a basic set of typical flavors you’d normally find with a normal affordably priced cigar. The appearance was a bit underwhelming as well which spoiled the experience a bit. Overall, okay smoke, not unique, plenty of these out there in the world. " -John A. (Bostoneo)
