ReviewsCuban

H. Upmann Magnum 46: The Everyday Cuban

Name: H. Upmann Magnum 46: The Everyday Cuban
Item: Magnum 46
Rating: 90
Author: Marcus Hale

Reviewed cigar

H. Upmann Magnum 46

Brand: H. Upmann
Line: Magnum
Vitola: 46
Wrapper: Cuban
Binder: Cuban
Filler: Cuban
Size: 5.5 inches × 46 ring
Strength: Medium
Origin: Cuba
Price: $15–30
Smoking Time: 55 min

July 29, 2026

By Marcus Hale

Last updated: July 29, 2026

Construction

Draw

Flavor

Burn

Value

Overall / 100

Who should buy

Smokers who value smooth, everyday Cuban elegance
Habanos newcomers stepping up from mild cigars
Patient buyers who can rest a box a year or two

Who should skip

Anyone chasing strength or a heavy smoke
US buyers unwilling to deal with grey-market pricing
Smokers who want a cigar ready right out of the box

A quietly excellent everyday Cuban

The H. Upmann Magnum 46 is a corona gorda built entirely from Vuelta Abajo tobacco, a long-standing regular-production Habano frequently cited as one of the great aging cigars - it rounds out and sweetens with box time. It reads mild to medium: cedar, toasted nut, coffee and cream, smooth and clean. This is the genuine Cuban H. Upmann, not any US Altadis cigar sharing the name. I weigh value and versatility, and this is one of the most useful everyday Cubans in the range.

The reason to keep these around is easy, refined smoking. The draw is famously forgiving, the burn reliable, and the flavors - nutty, cedary, lightly sweet - come through clear without weight. It is a common recommendation for smokers exploring Habanos who do not want a powerhouse, and it earns that with genuine polish.

Two honest caveats. First, it is gentle - anyone chasing strength should look elsewhere, as this sits firmly on the mild-to-medium side despite a minority calling it fuller. Second, it is not legally sold in the US, so pricing there is grey-market and unreliable; there is no US MSRP, and Habanos pricing varies widely by region. Within the same blend, the Magnum 50 is a thicker, slightly fuller take. For a classic medium Cuban everyday benchmark, the Montecristo No. 4 sits in the same tier, and the Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill offers a comparably smooth medium with a wider ring. But the Magnum 46 is a standout aging candidate specifically.

Where it fits is the everyday-elegant slot - a morning or after-lunch Cuban for a smoker who values smoothness, nuance and versatility over power. It is a fine entry point to Habanos for someone stepping up from mild cigars, and a genuine reward for patience if you can rest a box a year or two. Just buy it from a seller you trust given the grey market, and do not expect it to punch - that was never the job.

Pre-light & Cold Draw

A tidy corona gorda in a smooth, tawny Cuban wrapper, rolled clean with a light oil to it. The Magnum 46 is one of those Habanos that flies under the radar - no flash, just a well-regarded everyday Cuban with a reputation as a fine aging cigar. My cold draw was easy and forgiving, offering cedar and a light nutty sweetness. Well-packed, no soft spots. This is not a showpiece cigar; it is the kind you smoke a lot of, which is exactly its appeal.

First Third

The opening was gentle and clean - cedar and toasted nut leading, a light coffee note behind, a whisper of cream. The draw lived up to its easygoing reputation, smooth and effortless with no fight. This is a mild-to-medium Cuban and it does not pretend otherwise; the flavors come through clear rather than heavy. The burn tracked even from the start. There is a relaxed, unhurried quality to the first third that makes it an easy morning or after-lunch smoke.

Second Third

Through the middle the nuttiness deepened - almond and walnut over the cedar - the coffee growing a touch and the cream staying constant. It is subtle, and that subtlety is the point: the Magnum 46 rewards attention without demanding it. My burn stayed reliable and even, no touch-ups. The one thing I will flag is that this cigar clearly shifts with age. A younger stick is sharper and grassier; a well-rested one, like mine seemed to be, rounds out and sweetens. That variance is worth knowing before you judge one.

Final Third

The final third brought a light burnt-sugar sweetness forward - honey and brown sugar over the toasted nut - the body holding gently at medium across about fifty-five minutes. It never turned strong or harsh, staying smooth to the end. This is a cigar that finishes as civilly as it starts. My honest take is that it will disappoint anyone chasing power, but as a refined, versatile everyday Cuban it is hard to fault. It does easygoing elegance about as well as anything in its tier.

Pros

Smooth, forgiving draw and reliable even burn
Clean, nuanced cedar-nut-coffee-cream profile
Excellent aging cigar that sweetens and rounds with box time

Cons

Gentle - too mild for smokers chasing strength
No US availability; grey-market pricing is unreliable
Young sticks smoke sharper; it really wants some rest

Frequently asked questions

How does the Magnum 46 compare to the Magnum 50?

The 50 is a thicker, slightly fuller take on the same blend, so if you want a bit more body go that way. The 46 is the more everyday, easygoing of the pair. I keep 46s around for the mornings and after lunch.

Is this a good cigar for someone new to Cubans?

Yes, it is one of the easier ways into Habanos. It is smooth, forgiving on the draw, and does not punch, so it will not knock a newer smoker sideways. Just do not expect power, because that was never its job.

Do I really need to age it?

You do not have to, but it pays off. A young stick smokes sharper and grassier, while a year or two of rest rounds it out and sweetens it noticeably. It is one of the better aging candidates in the range.

Why can I not find a straight price on it in the US?

It is not legally sold in the States, so there is no US MSRP and any price you see is grey-market and unreliable. Habanos pricing also swings a lot by region. Buy from a seller you trust before you worry about the number.

If I want something similar I can buy easily, what else works?

For a classic medium Cuban benchmark the Montecristo No. 4 sits in the same tier, and the Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill gives you a comparably smooth medium with a wider ring. But for aging specifically, the Magnum 46 is the standout of that group.

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