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Montecristo Especiales No 1
Size: 192mm x 39 ? Laguito No 1
Smoke time: 1 hour 25mins
Box date: Unknown. Bought as a single late 09. But, going by the band the cigar is earlier.
Appearance: Slim and athletic, with a rich, toothy, mid-brown Colorado wrapper carrying some fairly prominent surface veins and finished with a perfectly applied triple cap and pigtail. The band is Standard Band ?A? Not embossed (Discontinued 2003). Note position of dots between Montecristo and Habana.
Construction: Perfectly rolled, perfect weight and balance and just the gentlest of pinch all along the barrel. The pre-draw was slightly resistive, which I prefer, and the smoking draw flawless from start to end. The burn was absolutely spot-on and the dull-grey ash stayed compact and firm throughout the entire duration of the smoke, needing only five tap-offs (see photos). No re-lights, no corrections. If I could pick fault, I damaged a strip of the vestage triple while removing the band, but that was my clumsy error not the cigars.
Flavour: The pre-light aroma was damp earth and light tobacco. Forget thirds, the cigar doesn?t smoke like that. It started light vanilla over something beanlike on a clean tobacco base. The smoke quality in the mouth was sweet, velvety and honey-smooth. Quickly the initial flavours are joined by a dry, light version of the Cuban citrus ?twang? which blended deliciously and almost sorbet like into the other flavours. The cigar from that point went of into flavour waves, almost like a dance, sometimes citrus would take the lead, or toasted tobacco, or sweet carrot, or honey or a mixture of all or any. Sometimes the flavour would be soft and delicate and then in the next puff beautifully sharp and acidic. For most of the smoke the tobacco strength was light and only began a shift to medium well into the second third, and when the clean tobacco base became slightly more toasted and richer. Into what was the final third and the rise and fall of the fresher vegetal flavours was gradually replaced by deeper and more somber tones of earthy toasted tobacco with some inner hints of salt and light spiciness. For me, if anything the final passage was a slight disappointment (only slight mind), given the vibrance of what had gone before, but it still didn?t prevent me from enjoying the smoke right to the nub.
Overall: A Montecristo masterclass in construction and one hell of a great afternoon?s smoke. The Monte Especiales is a compelling cigar, it smokes like it wants you to enjoy it. Treat it well and the reward is amazing. Simply divine!
Size: 192mm x 39 ? Laguito No 1
Smoke time: 1 hour 25mins
Box date: Unknown. Bought as a single late 09. But, going by the band the cigar is earlier.
Appearance: Slim and athletic, with a rich, toothy, mid-brown Colorado wrapper carrying some fairly prominent surface veins and finished with a perfectly applied triple cap and pigtail. The band is Standard Band ?A? Not embossed (Discontinued 2003). Note position of dots between Montecristo and Habana.
Construction: Perfectly rolled, perfect weight and balance and just the gentlest of pinch all along the barrel. The pre-draw was slightly resistive, which I prefer, and the smoking draw flawless from start to end. The burn was absolutely spot-on and the dull-grey ash stayed compact and firm throughout the entire duration of the smoke, needing only five tap-offs (see photos). No re-lights, no corrections. If I could pick fault, I damaged a strip of the vestage triple while removing the band, but that was my clumsy error not the cigars.
Flavour: The pre-light aroma was damp earth and light tobacco. Forget thirds, the cigar doesn?t smoke like that. It started light vanilla over something beanlike on a clean tobacco base. The smoke quality in the mouth was sweet, velvety and honey-smooth. Quickly the initial flavours are joined by a dry, light version of the Cuban citrus ?twang? which blended deliciously and almost sorbet like into the other flavours. The cigar from that point went of into flavour waves, almost like a dance, sometimes citrus would take the lead, or toasted tobacco, or sweet carrot, or honey or a mixture of all or any. Sometimes the flavour would be soft and delicate and then in the next puff beautifully sharp and acidic. For most of the smoke the tobacco strength was light and only began a shift to medium well into the second third, and when the clean tobacco base became slightly more toasted and richer. Into what was the final third and the rise and fall of the fresher vegetal flavours was gradually replaced by deeper and more somber tones of earthy toasted tobacco with some inner hints of salt and light spiciness. For me, if anything the final passage was a slight disappointment (only slight mind), given the vibrance of what had gone before, but it still didn?t prevent me from enjoying the smoke right to the nub.
Overall: A Montecristo masterclass in construction and one hell of a great afternoon?s smoke. The Monte Especiales is a compelling cigar, it smokes like it wants you to enjoy it. Treat it well and the reward is amazing. Simply divine!
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