H. Upmann The Banker Staff Review
Brother, can you spare a dime? I’m no finance wiz, but today I’m smoking The Banker from H. Upmann in a 6-by-52 Toro called the Annuity. At first, The Banker sounds a bit gimmicky with sizes named Annuity, Arbitrage, and Currency. Altadis U.S.A, however, the parent company and producer of non-Cuban H. Upmann cigars, intended to pay homage to the brand’s founder, Herman Upmann, a German banker who got into the cigar business when he landed in Havana in 1843 to set up an import/export company.
Upmann is actually credited as the first manufacturer to package cigars in cedar boxes, a practice he invented in 1830, to advertise his bank by putting its logo on boxes of cigars he would give to his customers. Not only were the cedar boxes useful for marketing, they also kept the cigars fresh, imparted cedar tasting notes, and repelled cigar beetles. Considering cedar boxes remain the industry standard 180 years later, the practice was a major innovation.
The Banker cigars debuted in 2014 and have been a consistent offering in the H. Upmann portfolio ever since. The cigars are clad in a pair of dark-green cigar bands, one at the top and one at the foot, and they’re packaged in matching green boxes of 20 with a gold H. Upmann logo draped over the top. The Banker is blended from Dominican and Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos tucked under an oily, cinnamon-brown Ecuador Habano wrapper leaf.
The Annuity exudes a formidable bouquet of wheat and raisin when I press the foot up to my nose. The wrapper shimmers with an attractive complexion that bears a handful of veins upon a close inspection. The cigar exhibits an impressive and consistent density from top to bottom, indicating it’s been rolled to a high standard, and the cold draw is hearty and sweet.
The Banker unfolds with a sequence of spices, roasted graham cracker, and cocoa powder after toasting the foot for a couple minutes with my ST Dupont Maxi Jet Torch. Woody and decadent streams of smoke emphasize the cigar’s intense aroma as it travels through my nasal cavity, but the taste remains smooth enough to stimulate my taste buds without overpowering my palate.
Notes of cedar and coffee bean come into focus throughout the middle of this even-burning Toro. Despite a few moments of bitterness, the flavor is approachable as the strength kicks in. The Banker performs well, leaving a stiff ash that I can tap off the foot every couple inches. The other quality I appreciate is the cigar’s clean and cool draw. It doesn’t require a tremendous effort to coax voluminous clouds of smoke from the head. The cigar is not underfilled either.
H. Upmann The Banker shifts into a savory and spicy smoke with hints of salted caramel after I peel off the band to power through the nub. The Annuity is balanced but not the most complex or groundbreaking cigar I’ve smoked recently but I can see why it’s been around for a decade now. For around ten bucks, it’s a decent blend to pair with bourbon and share with your buddies when you’re hanging out in the backyard. Its tangy and woody finish leaves a strong impression as the final inch expires gracefully in my ashtray.
H. Upmann is an old-school, Cuban-legacy brand that deserves your attention, especially when it’s on sale. Predominantly known for the Vintage Cameroon and 1844 Reserve blends, H. Upmann is a recognizable name with potential. Altadis U.S.A. has steadily expanded the brand’s portfolio with releases like The Banker and H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez. And they just debuted the H. Upmann Anniversary Churchill, also blended by AJ Fernandez, to commemorate the brand’s 180th anniversary. Explore this classic lineup when you’re looking for an affordable alternative to Montecristo and order a few of The Banker cigars in your favorite size before investing in a box.
