This week I am reviewing one of the newest cigars from Altadis, H. Upmann ‘s The Banker.
I’m also adding something new, starting with this review. I’ll be assigning a numerical value from a 100 point scale for each cigar I review going forward.
From the cigar’s website, the story about The Banker is as follows:
“In 1844, German bankers Carl and Herman Upmann traveled to Cuba where they created an exceptionally unique cigar. They securely locked it away in their vaults to be gifted to their most important clients.” The website goes on to say that this blend has been resurrected in today’s “The Banker”.
The Banker’s tobacco profile is comprised of an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder and a mixture of Nicaraguan and Dominican filler tobaccos.
The Banker is available in three sizes: Annuity (52 x 6”), Arbitrage (56 x 7″) and Currency (48 x 5 ½”). MSRP for The Banker is $7 to $8.40.
For this review, I received several of the Annuity vitola from the manufacturer.
When you first look at The Banker, you really can’t see very much of the wrapper leaf. The cigar’s band and foot band anchors a large sheet of white paper that has the cigar’s logo in gold. Once you remove the two bands and white paper, you’ll see a third band and the medium brown color of the Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. The cap is a well formed triple cap. The cigar is firm to the touch and has a sweet, earthy aroma. The cigar’s foot is finished and has a sweet, berry scent.
Clipping the cap, I take an easy pre-light draw and pick up on some berry notes.
Once lit, the cigar has an even, scalloped burn. It develops a thin carbon ring and a tight gray ash that falls off after about an inch and a half. The smoke produced with each puff has good volume.
Moving into the first third of the cigar, I find that there is a very strong spice sensation in my sinuses. On my palate, I pick up on woody tobacco and some bitterness on the finish.
The second third of the cigar again has strong spice sensations in the sinuses. The bitterness on my palate subsides and is replaced by a very heavy tobacco flavor.
The final third of The Banker is similar to the second with the addition of a rich, long finish.
H. Upmann’s The Banker is one of the better cigars I have smoked from Altadis. I would consider it a medium strength, medium bodied cigar. Smoking it was an enjoyable experience and on a scale of 100, I would give The Banker an 86.