H. Upmann No. 2 Torpedo Review

Overview

In an era when the cigar world tilts heavily toward full-bodied Nicaraguan leviathans, the H. Upmann No. 2 Torpedo stands as a quiet monument to a different kind of ambition — refinement over raw power. This is a cigar that understands elegance is not a concession. Produced at General Cigar’s La Romana factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic, the No. 2 Torpedo belongs to a lineage that predates most of the boutique fire-breathers crowding humidors today. It is a regular-production cigar that, by virtue of its sheer composure, feels almost like a sleeper. The vitola itself — a 6.13 x 52 torpedo with a closed foot and triple cap — is an exercise in classic proportions. The wrapper is a Cuban-seed Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade rendered in Colorado Claro, a silky light caramel-tan leaf with a subtle satin sheen that hints at the creaminess within. Beneath it lies a Dominican olor seco binder and a filler blend that combines Dominican long-leaf with aged Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos, each component chosen not for brute force but for balance. The result is a medium-bodied smoke (3/5) that builds complexity with the patience of a well-told story.

Lighting the closed foot requires a precise, angled cut — a small ritual that rewards the smoker immediately. The first third opens with clean, creamy cedar layered over toasted almond and a light pastry sweetness. A mild white pepper tingle on the retrohale announces the Nicaraguan filler’s presence without overwhelming the profile. The creaminess dominates early, with touches of hay and dried flowers rounding the edges. As the burn approaches the cigar’s widest girth, the second third unfolds with remarkable composure: roasted coffee bean and mild leather emerge alongside the persistent cedar backbone. The sweetness shifts from pastry to a subtle caramel quality, and for a few draws, a faint citrus zest — almost lemon peel — appears on the retrohale before dissolving back into the blend. By the final third, the flavor deepens into espresso and dark walnut, with the pepper gaining modest ground but never turning harsh. A clean, dry cocoa note lingers well after each draw. Construction is exemplary — the ash is dense and light gray, holding firm to 1.5 inches, and touch-ups are rarely required.

The H. Upmann No. 2 Torpedo is chronically underrated in a market that often mistakes strength for sophistication. It represents the Dominican tradition at its most refined: approachable enough for a relaxed afternoon or early evening session, yet layered enough to reward the experienced palate. This is the correct answer when someone asks for a genuinely elegant medium smoke that doesn’t sacrifice complexity for approachability. It is the cigar for the smoker who has grown past the fallacy that more strength equals more prestige. In the pantheon of premium torpedos, this one earns its place not by shouting, but by the quiet confidence of a blend that knows exactly what it is.