The year was 1843 when a German import/export banker moved to Cuba to secure assets and grow his clientele. As much as Herman Upmann loved banking, he fell in love with the island and once he grew his banking business he got into making cigars a short time later. As we all know, the name of the cigar brand was called H. Upmann and continues to be for over 175 years later.
Back in November 2019, Altidas USA decided to celebrate and pay tribute to Herman and released a new blend known as the H. Upmann Herman’s Batch. The Herman’s Batch is a modern take on the original H. Upmann cigars from those that Herman created back in 1844.
The blend of the H. Upmann Herman’s Batch is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecaudorian Habano
- Binder – Dominican
- Filler – Dominican and Condega & Esteli regions of Nicaragua
The H. Upmann Herman’s Batch is expressed in four vitolas and comes packaged in 20-count boxes:
- Corona Gorda (5.5 x 46) MSRP $9.30
- Lonsdale (6.5 x 42) MSRP $9.00
- Robusto (5 x 54) MSRP $10.10
- Toro (6 x 52) MSRP $10.50
For this review I sampled the toro vitola.
Pre-Light Examination
The H. Upmann Herman’s Batch is a veiny medium brown cigar that has a light sheen and is finished with a well applied triple cap with a fuse. It is solid to the touch and has a nice weight in the hand.
Two bands adorn the cigar, both use a grey and copper motif. The primary band declares it as the Herman’s Batch and the secondary footer band displays Herman’s signature.
Pre-light aromas included a lightly pungent, fermented leaf along the barrel and an enticing baking spice note off the foot.
Once I sliced the cap, straight across the shoulder, I gave it some cold puffs that had rich earthy notes. The draw was a tad snug.
My triple flame torch did the trick to warm the foot and get the journey started with an initial pepper blast, especially on the retro-hale. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Pepper blast to start
- White ash forms on a thick char line
- Woody notes move in as the pepper recedes
- Medium draw
- Floral fruit aroma
- Vanilla bean rounds out the early profile
- Off burn develops
- Smoke volume is opening up as is the draw
- Mineral notes enter in the second third
- Butter follows
- Ash fell revealing an off centered cone
- Touch up was required
- Woody and spice notes become more forward
- Bitter cocoa powder notes
- Spice reveals as cinnamon
- Strength hits medium-full
- Lingering nut
- A second touch up is required deep in the journey
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 35 minutes
Overall, the H. Upmann Herman’s Batch was a rather complex cigar with enticing notes and aromas along with fine transitions. It did however have some burn issues through the journey including some off burns and a couple of touch-ups that were required. I would say you may want to check one out. I rate this an 88.
Point Deductions: (-1) Off Burn; (-2) Multiple Touch-ups; (-1) Off Centered Burn Cone; (-1) Mineral Note; (-1) Check one Out
