H. Upmann The Banker Currency

"The Banker" by H. Upmann. This was a cigar that really piqued my interest (if you will pardon the pun) from the time that I first paid notice to it. This is a new cigar from a long established and reputable manufacturer, that I just had to try. So here's the review:

When I go to my local tobacconist to purchase a cigar, I often think of the experience in terms of investment. I work for a living just like anybody else, and I want to make sure that my hard earned dollars aren’t just going up in smoke… okay, allow me to rephrase; I want to make sure that when my hard earned dollars do go up in smoke, that they at least leave a pleasant aftertaste. So when I walk into the humidor, I gaze around at my options like an overzealously attired man at the Kentucky derby; I could take a gamble on a flashy new cigar, with ads in magazines that imply fortune and fame, or I could go with the tried and true methods. This time, I decided to take my money to The Banker!

This cigar arrives dressed to do business in a three-piece suit, with a band at the foot, a printed wax paper sleeve, and a band at the top, which conceals the traditional cigar band underneath. Each is printed with gold and white lettering on a green background that would appear to be quite a conspicuous reference to green paper money and the precious metal for which it once stood. All this decorum, however, hides not the pale, soft body of a money-counting scrooge, but an irresistibly dark and oily Ecuadorian wrapper, topped off with a pronounced triple cap. A draw on the unlit cigar is sweet and full, and tastes as though you are already smoking it before you even light a match. The first draws upon lighting produce much the same flavor, though stronger and with an almost liquid texture.

H. Upmann is a company known and respected the world over for making high quality cigars since 1844 when the company was established in Havana, Cuba. Herman Upmann was a banker from Germany who travelled to Cuba and established a cigar company. 171 years later, I think it has become clear that Upmann’s true calling was not lending money, but producing cigars so fine that JFK couldn’t help but to purchase 1200 Petite Upmanns on the night before he signed the United States’ embargo against Cuba.

Complexity is a term that I believe is sometimes just used to sell smokes, since it is a concept that is difficult to understand without a trained palate. However, in my experience, it is rare that you stumble across a stogie with deep dimensions of flavor like The Banker Currency. As you continue to smoke this cigar, you may begin to notice a viscous river of flavors flowing through your mouth, like warm clover honey, sweetly coating your palate, while firecrackers of spiciness explode in each new puff and dissipate into light sips of Indian chai. Take a second to ponder the aroma of the smoke. The unpleasant harshness that I tend to find accompanying many cigars (especially Nicaraguan varieties) is not present with this one. The gentle white cloud that wafts up toward your nostrils is sweet and aromatic, adding greatly to the flavor of the cigar itself. Try retrohaling the smoke to experience the true fullness of the spice that won’t overwhelm your senses.

Smoking this cigar conjures up images of an ornate hotel lobby, where you recline on a luxurious sofa around the fireplace with old friends as you contemplate the future while reminiscing about the past. Go ahead and loosen your tie, the time for business is over. Spend a little time relaxing and watching the condensation accrue on the sides of your brandy glass. Listen to the drone of sleepy chatter in the background as people come and go from the building, unbothered by the sweet aroma from your Upmann cigar. These moments are priceless, and the only Currency accepted in this establishment is the one that you are smoking.

It is entirely true that money cannot buy happiness, but a good cigar can make good times even better (and it doesn’t break the bank to buy The Banker)! A good Ecuadorian Habano wrapper like the one found on this stogie is not all that common – and far underrated. The flavor of this cigar holds true to the Cuban tradition from whence it comes. The Banker retains that bold sweetness throughout, transforming from honey to molasses as it grows darker, yet not harsher, toward the finish. Try pairing this cigar with a good Chai tea and experience the way the flavors build upon one another.

The Banker was a cigar that really piqued my interest, so I cashed in and invested in one. While Wall Street will leave you guessing, laying back a stock of H. Upmann’s The Banker in your humidor is a purchase that is sure to pay dividends of good memories when paired with good company and ample time for relaxation.

#HUpmann