Smoked: H Upmann The Banker Annuity

Smoked at: West Chester, Ohio

H Upmann Banker Annuity uses a dark brown, oily Ecuadoran Habano wrapper. It’s not only a good looking cigar, including the bands – one on the foot as well. The aroma matches the look. You can smell the aroma of licorice and leather on the foot and wrapper.

This cigar’s construction is top notch…and amazingly resilient given how I botched torching the foot. Gentlemen, check the flame on your torch before lighting the cigar. After all these years…a rookie mistake. They may send me down to Esteli’s Triple-A farm team for more seasoning. I’ll go from smoking tobacco to growing tobacco, I presume. Despite the near catastrophic beginning, The Banker adjusted itself to an even burn line, good cold draw with just enough resistance, and a tight solid ash that held firmly.

The Banker Annuity disbursed a high volume of flavor. Let’s call it cedar, roasted almonds, pepper, earth, leather, and coffee with a hint of citrus, spice, cocoa and licorice during the second third. I think I tasted some breakfast cereal notes (Cheerios? Honey Nut Cheerios?) by the final third. There’s a lot going on here – nice balance, transitions and complexity. The earthiness changes to a mossy, musty taste at the end. Not a bad taste – just an interesting final transition to a well balanced, complex profile and a very enjoyable smoke.