H. Upmann Hispaniola by Jose Mendez

In 1843, a German banker named Hermann Upmann moved to Havana, Cuba to open an import/export business for a German firm that bought and sold tobaccos. In 1844, he purchased a small local cigar factory, and soon after the first H. Upmann cigar was born. Hermann could never have imagined that his little endeavor would become one of the world’s best known cigar brands. He was known for his innovation in the tobacco business and is credited with being the first cigar maker to package his cigars in cedar boxes.

This unique twist on the H. Upmann brand is a collaboration with famed tobacco producer Jose Mendez. His goal was to utilize a few distinctly Dominican tobacco processes native to the island of Hispaniola.The blend begins with Dominican tobacco from several different regions cured in the Andullo style along with some rare and exclusive Dominican Pilotico leaf. The binder is also Dominican, but the wrapper is a nice rust colored Ecuadorian Sumatra. Tasting notes include flavors of cedar, cream, and pepper with hints of toasted breads, baking spices, and earth. It’s an exciting time for H. Upmann cigars, and the Hispaniola is a fantastic release.