While in Belgium in October 2015 for the Royal Agio factory tour and InterTabac, we visited a Casa del Habano store in Antwerp. While there I picked up several regional exclusives and edicion limitada cigars. To my surprise, several of the earlier edicion limitada cigars were still available. Each year, Habanos SA releases edicion limitada cigars in different brands. In 2009, one of the edicion limitadas was the H. Upmann EL Magnum 48. This follows the ever popular Magnum 46, Magnum 50 and the 2015 Edicion Limitada Magnum 56. I’m a big H. Upmann fan so I was excited to see these for me to buy. Let’s take a look at the specs.
- Size: 110 mm/4.3 inches
- Ring Gauge: 48
- Origin: Cuba
Appearance and Construction
The wrapper looks pretty smooth besides a rough spot near the foot. The cap was perfectly applied and the draw was spot on. Overall, the cigar is very well made.
First Half
The cigar starts off great with flavors of oak, leather and nutmeg. There is a nice sweet buttery creaminess that reminds me of caramel. I get hints of chocolate, faintly, every now and then, but nothing strong. The burn is perfect and the draw is great. The strength at this point in fairly medium, but it seems to be ramping up.
Last Half
The flavors remained pretty much the same except now the chocolate note turned into a more milk chocolate note with the caramel fading. It still wasn’t a strong note, but it’s not just a hint of it anymore. It’s a background note, but it’s there constantly now. It is also picking up in strength as well to the higher end of medium to low end of full. It’s a very tasty cigar.
Overall
I really enjoyed this cigar. It’s a very good edicion limitada which, I have to say, seems to be rare for me. Not many of the edicion limitada have lived up to the hype or, better yet, the price. While this one wasn’t very complex, the flavors kept me interested enough that I wish I had bought more while in Antwerp. Still, it’s good to know they are still out there so I can acquire more to put away for aging. Give these a try if you come across them. It’s well worth it.
Here are some links to some of our cigar blogging friends that also did a review of this cigar:
And, of course, the master himself, the famous James Suckling
Do you get to try H. Upmann regularly? I know you said you’re a fan. I guess I’m just wondering if that’s based off of the ones you’ve had or do you have a connection that keeps a few in your humidor most times.
Thanks.
Yours,
B.S.
These are my least favorite EL and Upmann…they never did it for me and I had quite a few duds. I would take a #2, Connie #1/A and the various petite coronas over the Mag. 48. Glad you enjoyed it though!