Inspired by the modern world of banking, the makers of the popular H. Upmann The Banker, that was introduced to the market in 2014, released a follow-up to the line in 2023 known as the “The Banker Daytrader”. They released it near tax day 2023 and coined the collection – “a new money release“.
Jennifer True, Senior Marketing Director stated:
“This introduction is part of our plan to expand The Banker line with small productions of specialty cigars from the renowned Grupo De Maestros, of Tabacalera de Garcia in the Dominican Republic. “While the world of finance may have changed over time, there’s something that has always remained consistent for H. Upmann, and that is the certainty that being true to innovation means being true to the brand’s DNA.”
The cigar is crafted at Grupo de Maestros in the Dominican Republic. The blend is described as:
- Wrapper: Ecuador
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Expressed in 3 different vitolas, the H. Upmann “The Banker Daytrader” are packaged in glossy 10-count laptop-shaped wooden boxes.
- Robusto (4 ½ x 54) – MSRP $13.49
- Toro (6 x 54) – MSRP $13.85
- Whale (6 x 60) – MSRP $14.19
For this review, I sampled 2 of the H. Upmann “The Banker Daytrader” toros that I picked up at the Cigar Circus in Clearwater Florida.
Pre-Light Examination
The Cigar Review: H. Upmann – The Banker Daytrader is draped in a fairly smooth, medium to dark brown wrapper that exhibits minimal veins. Th cigar feels well packed with no soft spots from head to foot. A triple cap finishes the construction.
Two bands adorn the cigar. The primary band uses a money shade of green and gold and presents the H. Upmann “The Banker” logo, boldy in the center. A secondary band using the same green and gold colors is placed just below the primary and declares this as “The Daytrader”. The secondary band also includes candlestick charts that are used by stock traders.
Running the cigar along the nose I picked up minimal notes along the barrel perhaps just a faint spice note, while the foot exuded a naturally sweet tobacco with a hint of graham cracker.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and moved on to some cold draw puffs that I found to be fine with restriction and offered a black peppery sensation on the lips and palate along with a sweet chocolate essence laying in the background.
Once I warmed the foot to an even orange glow, I drew in the first puffs of peppery spice to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- First puffs address the palate with a dose of pepper
- White ash forms on top of a medium thick and well-behaved char line
- There is a rye bread note and a touch of early bitterness
- Natural tobacco sweetness appears deep in first third and the notes start to blend
- Ash fell in a decent chunk revealing a flat but centered burn cone
- Spice notes enter moving into second third with a hint of fruit
- Caramel sweetness with a nutlike aroma adds to the experience
- Strength has moved up to medium plus midway
- Woody notes deep in second third
- Strength has reached full, and my puff rate has slowed
- Increased pepper notes re-enter the profile in the final third with an added earth component
- Full Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
The H. Upmann “The Banker Daytrader” Toro started with a heavy shot of pepper to the palate but then quickly brought forth bitterness that just did not bend well with the rye bread note I was getting. The second third was the best part of the profile as it transitioned into sweet caramel and fruit notes and then gave way to woody notes as the pleasant sweetness faded away. The final third offered a resurgence of pepper with a earth undertone. I feel this blend just could not find a good center of enjoyment and though the strength made it to full that too seemed to take away from the flavor. From a burn perspective it performed well keeping a well-behaved burn line throughout the experience. I would say if you are an H. Upmann fan, you might want to check one out. I rate this an 88.
Point Deductions: (-1) Harsh Introduction; (-2) Unbalanced Flavors; (-1) Flat Burn Cone; (-1) Early Bitter Notes; (-1) Check one out
