Search the Community

This Corona Extra is one of the brand new Montecristo Línea 1935 which is released for commemorates the founding of the Montecristo brand. Like Cohiba Línea Behike, Montecristo Línea 1935 is also the super premium lineup too. As soon as I light it up, it begins with dominant almond, cedar, citrus, cocoa, coffee, cream, leather, milk chocolate, mocha, nut, spice, toast, twang, vanilla and wood notes followed by slight hints of earth, hay, honey, molasses, shortbread and tobacco tastes. I am impressed that the signature Montecrsito flavour profile in this cigar is more powerful and exotic than typical Montecristo cigars. The only thing that makes me feel being challenged is I have to relight it many times due to so many severe cracks on its wrapper.  -Mr. Knight Brand: Montecristo Size: 49 x 130 (Corona Extra) Country: Cuba Box Code: N/A Price: N/A Score: 96

This Petit Corona is one of the bestselling Cuban cigars in the world according to the Habanos S.A. It is also one of the Che Guevara's go to cigars who was known for involving Cuban Revolution with Fidel Castro. As soon as I cut the cap of the cigar, I can already see the noticeable pleasant flavour from the pre-draw which is not usually present on young cigars other than aged sticks. The flavours are consisted of strong coffee, cocoa, nut, tobacco followed by cream, leather, spice and bitter chocolate with some earthy note. Then, the complexity and cedar scent are added from the middle of cigar and goes smoothly without harshness till the end. I am really impressed with the greatness of aged cigars and can see why it is strongly recommended for beginners. -Mr. Knight Brand: Montecristo Size: 42 x 129 (Petit Corona) Country: Cuba Box Code: AEM MAY 14 Price: Received as a gift from our member, Raskol (ndchow) Score: 94

Montecristo No. 5 – PGT NOV-06 (SMRW3/4) Opening Remarks: The wrapper on this aged Monte is very silky with a couple small veins going around, but nothing that feels rough and unpleasant when in your hand. The cold draw on this crusty No. 5 was a bit tight with muted flavors of tobacco and unbuttered wheat toast. I will review this in 1/2's due to its size. First Half: About 10 puffs in and the draw opens up very nicely. The flavors remain minimal with a nice silky smoke. Notes of hay and leather roll over the tongue with a pleasant little bit of white pepper on the retrohale. Before moving into the second half, the faintest touch of cocoa starts to show. Second Half: By now the flavors have changed in a slightly more favorable direction. Still with great construction and combustion, I now get slightly more cocoa than before with a pleasant roasted almond finish where the white pepper seems to have left all together. Closing Remarks: I usually enjoy this cigar more than I did but something tells me it was just a dud in the box. While it smoked very well and had a beautiful somewhat toothy white ash, it was just a little blah. I am usually by no means looking for loads of strength and power when I smoke Montes but this No. 5 left me wanting more. Burn: 5/5 (Perfect the whole time) Construction: 4/5 (Slightly tight on the cold draw/beginning but opened up perfectly after 10 puffs) Flavor: 2/5 (Very one dimensional with minimal note/flavor changes- not un-tasty, just kind of...blahh...) Smell: 4/5 (Pleasant creamy almost burnt marshmallow) Wrapper: 5/5 (Lovely, silky smooth, slightly toothy feeling) Overall Score: 20/25

Montecristo No. 2 Factory Name: Piràmides Popular Name: Torpedo Ring Gauge: 52 Length: 156 mm / 6.1 inches Diameter: 20.64 mm Strength: Medium to Full Profile: spicy, creamy, nutty I bougth this beautyful box of Montes 2 here from 24:24. Very intense barnyard aroma from the box. Perfect construction and dark oily wrapper's color. Colorado maduro wrapper leaf with a slightly rough surface and noticeable oiliness. Cold aroma combines notes of caramel, leather and white pepper. Cold draw with notes of sweet leather. From the first puff, an earthy taste is felt in combination with the skin and a slight sourness on the tongue. By the middle of the first third, sweetness and notes of cocoa appear in the taste. The second third meets a nutty taste with bitter chocolate, which gradually begin to be supplemented with notes of white pepper and coffee with cream. At this stage, the strength increases markedly and the taste becomes more intense, but at the same time it remains soft and rounded. In the last third notes of white pepper dominate, against which sweetness and nutty taste are preserved. Vitoal gives long nutty aftertaste. Usually my score for Monte 2 is around 85-87. This box 93-95! Thank you El Prez for this awesome box!

One of my late year smoking goals was to revisit some of the really memorable cigars from 2019. So I am late... as usual! Enter the Monte Esp. #2 vintage 2001. I have noticed a few near '01 vintage cigars showing up in this review series. So, lets talk a little about these cigars. Over and over again I see 99 to 01 vintage cigars maligned over the internet. I realize that I am an 'anti-establishment' smoker, but I have to wonder if any of these people parroting such rhetoric have actually smoked any of these cigars. In my time smoking Cuban cigars, I have to say that year over year, 01 vintage cigars prove themselves over and over as being some of the most complex, memorable cigar experiences. I covet mine... Considering how much I read about rH and temperature and storage from those without a clue, representing that they do have a clue, it would not surprise me that this is another case of internet puffing of knowledge not actually had. You don't have to go far to find an expert of everything here on the net. A recent thread about trying to tie cigar condition to aH tickles me as a recent example... I digress! I have smoked several of these this year. Look at what is left in the box. I hate to see them go, but I am not big on storing largely empty boxes. In this case I am making some exceptions. These cigars are so good, that I really don't want to commingle them with a bunch of nameless, homeless singles. They are simply too special for that. These cigars, including the one that I smoked this day, epitomize what I consider to be the Cuban cigar. This is a rich, firm drawing robust cigar. As you likely know, I store cigars rather dry. As a result, these have little bouquet. This does not mean the cigar is finished, over the hill, nor any of the many other prejudices that follow with 'nose' and a fine cigar. If you passed up on this cigar over your nose... you made a grave error. There was no 'foreplay' with this cigar! It opened, and opened to what might well have been the last third. It just turned on and stayed on. This was a rich, unctuous, high mouthfeel, lush and 'thick' tasting cigar. While the cigar had a moderately stiff draw, she breathed, thick, viscous, white smoke. The smoke was heavy and lingered. You could almost see it fall... The taste was bursting with stone fruit, plumb and peach but not sweet. Dried fruit is more accurate. Dense and lightly oily describes it best. The mouth feel is worth mentioning. While the last one of these was more complex with a bit more character, this slightly lesser sibling was no runt. I did not time my smoke. I enjoyed the beautiful weather, my wife and dog's company. The interesting elements from the cigar varied as if with the conversation and the music that we listened to. The tastes of spices, fruits and nuts all came to the table to serve me. This was a sublime smoke. I say this over and over. It was not the missing 22 ring of shallow filler that made this cigar what it was. You don't need 50 plus ring cigars to deliver like this. You need quality tobacco of the proper blend and a roller who knows and cares about what he/she is doing. If that is magic, well this cigar had that... Thanks for reading and sharing my experience. Cheers! -the Pig

Ahhhh, Monte's. Cocoa goodness. The marca I have the most of, almost all PSP from here (2, 4, 5, MC, and a few odds and ends). I do love some Montecristo. I bought this box back in April of this year. Great construction, good cedar and tobacco smell pre-light. V cut, good toasting, first puffs are the main theme throughout - cocoa and coffee. I don't get the cream in these that I do in the 2 or 4, to me the 5 is more coffee and richer (although the boxes of PSP 4's I have are divine cocoa cream monsters, they're ... different). Didn't time this one, but sat on the porch, enjoyed my morning and puffed away. The size and profile make these along with 4's and Party Shorts my favorite smokes. For me this is a 90 cigar, great and hopefully only getting better over the next few years. Like cocoa? Buy monte's, and if you like 4's try a 5.

Like Dumas, this cigar is one of the Montecristo Línea 1935, but much larger since it is designed after 80 Aniversario, a commemorative release for the Montecristo's 80th anniversary. It has powerful almond, cedar, citrus, cocoa, coffee, cream, leather, milk chocolate, mocha, nut, pepper, salt, spice, toast, twang, vanilla, wood notes, and then transitioned into deep butter, earth, hay, honey, molasses, shortbread and tobacco flavours. This behemoth is definitely fuller and richer than any other cigar I reviewed in the past, and yet delicate without being too aggressive or edgy. It deserves to be awarded the title, 'All Time Magnum Opus'! -Mr. Knight Brand: Montecristo Size: 55 x 165 (Double Robusto) Country: Cuba Box Code: N/A Price: N/A Score: 100

Rain, still all the rain. But better than snow I suppose. Dipping into a box of PSP Monte 4's I got from our hosts. They've been sleeping for a couple of months now, and I think settled in from the trip. Trying to stay out of the PSP boxes and let them age, but figured I'd try one for a baseline now. Pretty much my ideal size, harder to take the time to smoke much bigger, and the ring gauge is about ideal for me. Cream and cocoa bombs. About what you'd expect. Paired with some coffee, black. Good construction, felt packed. Not in a bad way, but solid. Smells of cedar and a little cocoa maybe. V cut, which I've been enjoying. Good draw, obviously very damp out since it was raining. Had to relight once, but mostly from me letting it sit. Nice even smoke, happy to have a couple of boxes of these sleeping to enjoy in the coming years.

Montecristo Churchills Añejados Brand: Montecristo Commercial name: Churchills Factory name: Julieta Nº2 Dimensions: 47 ring gauge (18.65 mm) x 178 mm long Paired with a nice Cafe Latte con Legendario Anjeo Punch Cut Aroma at Cold faint woodsy barnyard aroma Cold draw: Smooth draw light woody cacoa. First light: Even light a mild hint of cacoa and coffee, nutmeg and light oak wood. Reminiscent of an aged Monte especial. First third: Getting that delicate sweet twang that we search for in a good montecristo. Nutmeg/cacao/coffee and a slight vanilla bean flavour. This cigar is starting out brilliantly and seems to me to be aged longer than advertised. A bit south of medium strength and very smooth. Nice even burn and a good amount of smoke. 2nd third: Picks up to medium in strength but still very smooth delicate well balanced flavours of cacao/coffee. The nutmeg faded a bit but still there. The vanilla bean flavour now a little more prevalent than in the first third. Also a nice light woodsy flavour in the background akin to the sweet oaken flavours in a chardonnay. Both the draw and burn are still perfect. Nice white ash typical of an aged cigar that is holding on surprisingly well. Final third: Monte twang in full effect! Cacao/coffee and caramelized vanilla bean flavours abound all delicately balanced as one. A shade north of medium in strength but still as smooth as can be and nice and light on the tongue. Lovely bittersweet chocolate and cinnamon on the retrohale. Through to the finish of the final third this cigar has remained extremely well balanced with typical montecristo flavours and no harshness at the end. Exactly what you would expect with an aged cigar. The burn remained sharp to the end and a nice volume of smoke throughout. Conclusion: I was hoping for but not expecting too much from this cigar as I was sorely disappointed with it's stablemate the RyJ Pyramide Añejados. Well was I in for a treat. This cigar has developed extremely well with aging and seems to be hitting its prime upon release. I would put it up there with some of the best that Montecristo has to offer. I feel confident that all will enjoy this cigar both now and a few years down the road as it has that great balance of complex flavours and strength. Final Score: 94 Just realized that I forgot to take pictures before smoking this. Oh well.

I've had a couple of very busy weeks, with little leisure time lately, so I was due for a nice relaxing smoke. I reached into the humi for one of my favorites, a 2007 Monte No. 1 I acquired in a trade. Well, it turned out to be hard as a tent peg the entire length, and it was very, very tight. I struggled through it, but couldn't make much of it. That really bummed me out. Well, today I had to atone for yesterday's disappointment, so I went to a sure and reliable Montecristo No. 1 with code BUM JUL 15, sourced from our host. This code has been remarkably consistent, not a bad one yet. It felt firm, but not rock solid, and the reddish Colorado wrapper looks incredibly promising. I took the cigar out, a bottle of Hoegaarden, and grabbed my new camera to take some practice shots. Draw was perfect, just a tad of resistance. Cold aroma had hints of wood and barnyard, terrific. The magic started as soon as the torch heated the foot and I was off on my journey, this is exactly what I was craving. It started light and aromatic, with a woody, earthy aroma that is so characteristic of this vitola. First Third Deliciously balanced mix of mild coffee, a tinge of coca, nuts roasting on a fire, and a faint hint of citrus. The burn was flawless, the ash was white and solid. Bliss was settling on my patio. I read a few hints and tips about my new Canon G7X II camera and setup the WiFi bridge so I could transfer photos to my Google Drive and my phone. That is handy. As the first third evolved, refined quality and balance just stood out. I could taste some hints of vanilla in the intake, and I found myself titling my head forward to catch the smoke trail rising from the coal and inhaling it. There is a sweet and delightful aroma from this Monte, it reminds me off rich oak timber burning in a fireplace after a fresh snowfall. Intoxicating. Second Third Body evolved to a mild/medium and the flavor intensified. There is a lovely blend of coffee and cocoa present, vanilla too, but another refined earthy element seems to be wafting in, perhaps a touch of mild spice; paprika? Refined, balanced, smooth, creamy... a perfect melange of flavors, yet never overpowering, no acidic reactions or hot spots on the tongue, just incredible smoothness. The ash just hung on forever. Last Third Surprising how quickly I got to this stage. I wasn't smoking fast, but I was enjoying the taste and the moment so much my mind must have escaped reality for a time. Shifting focus back to the review I noted that the last third was much like the second, as near perfect as I could hope for. Coffee slightly amped up, with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa. What I sensed earlier as paprika has now turned to nutmeg. What a wonderful experience. I am savoring every moment of this near perfect cigar. Final Thoughts We all have our favorite flavor profiles, the certain blend that seems to have been made just for you, and when you find it you better stock up, and even though I bought a couple of boxes I regret not having more of these beauties. There is not a single fault I could find with this cigar, it was delightful from start to finish, pure cream and bliss. I rate this a 9.8 on my personal scale, a truly memorable cigar you want to smoke over and over again.

Enjoy! Stellar smoke!

Thought I'd give this a go with the obvious choice, a Montecristo. Albeit young. First Third Choco hit right from the get go. Creamy cadberry egg. Second Third Lashings of berry fruit and cocca powder. Third Third Graham cracker smores. Campfire smokiness (the Lagavulin probably influencing here). Fourth Third This stick never ends! Not that I want it to. Milk chocolate, fudge, Nestle Quik. Final Third Youth is kicking in. Strength is up, all cocoa powder here. Nub Third Tobacco. Smokey. Very hot. Smoking time is 2:20 min. Overall delicious way to spend a Happy Easter

I recently had a box of Montecristo Petite Edmundo brought back for me from the island that was purchased at the LCDH in Varadero at the plaza. The box looks like any other box of Petite Edmundos I've ever owned except that it has a yellow Montecristo Petite Edmundo sticker on the outside rightmost side of the box and a yellow Montecristo insert; both similar to that of the Double Edmundo presentation. The box that I have from April 2017 does not have this extra "flair". The barcode checks out on the Habanos website and they look/smell remarkable, so I don't doubt their authenticity just yet but I thought given the volume of Petite Edmundos bought/sold/consumed within this community someone could shine some light on this subject. I will update with photos when I get home. Thanks! Edit: Added location of purchase.

I was browsing the Habanos SA website earlier, waiting to retry the Verification feature when I saw that Montecristo has a "Tubo" that is a separate Vitola from any of the un tubed sizes. A 42 by 6 1/8" Corona Grande or pretty much the perfect size in my opinion. I have been poking around cubancigarwebsite.com and the internet in general, but I haven't found a lot of good info on these. I guess my main question is why haven't I seen these anywhere before? Monte is my favorite Marca. I regularly smoke 2s, 3s and 4s, but I know nothing of the Tubos. I don't hear anybody talking/raving or bitching about them. In fact, I haven't heard anything at all. What gives? Are they low volume/production or do they suck? From outside appearances, the marca, size, and convenience of the Tubes attracts me, but I dont know anything else about them. Does anybody have experience with these?

About the cigar Founded in 1935, the Montecristo marca remains one of Cuba's top-selling brands each year, with the brand's Montecristo No. 2 still the best-selling cigar coming out of Cuba. In 2004, Habanos S.A. extended the Montecristo line and released a 5 3/8" x 52 Robusto called the Montecristo Edmundo. Because of its success Habanos S.A. released two variations on the Edmundo vitola: the Petite Edmundo (a 4 3/8" x 52 Petite Robusto) in 2007 and—the focus of today's review—the Double Edmundo, a 6 1/4" x 50 Doble in 2013. Let's see how it smokes. Brand: Montecristo Cigar: Double Edmundo Country of origin: Cuba Wrapper: Cuban Binder: Cuban Filler: Cuban Length: 6 1/4" Ring gauge: 52 Vitola: Dobles Factory: EOT box code Box date: DIC 15 (December 2015) Released: 2013 Price: $399 / box of 25 (depending on source; does not include duties, taxes, etc.) Smoking story The review took place in mid-afternoon on a 75 degrees Fahrenheit day with about 40% relative humidity outside. Appearance The cigars come in a well-constructed cedar box and they look gorgeous. It's wrapped in a light brown wrapper reminiscent of coffee with milk. And it has a slight reddish hue. There aren't many veins, and those veins that do exist are small. The wrapper is fairly smooth with a subtle tooth. It's slightly oily, but not outstandingly so. The size of the cigar is nice. I'm glad they decided to go with a 50 ring gauge instead of 52, as that would've been overwhelming. I almost wish they had gone with something even smaller, like 48. Construction looks solid. The traditional triple cap is perfect, and the seams are minimal. The only negative is it seems a bit firm. The band is the classic Montecristo band, updated for the 21st century. Everything looks crisp, and the band's simplicity paired with the elegance of the cigar make for an enticing stick. Pre-light On the foot I'm getting cedar, raisins, and cacao. It's light but present The cigar cuts easily. The cold draw flavors are similar to the aromas, and there's a bit of pepper on the tongue and salt on the lips. Unfortunately, the draw seems fairly tight. It's not plugged, but it's tight enough that I expect some smoke problems and burn problems. In fact, I decide to cut a bit more off the cap to possibly alleviate the draw issue. It helps a little, but not much. This is something that seems to happen with more regularity in Cuban cigars, so I'm not surprised. But it's a bit disappointing. I'm hoping that it corrects itself as the cigar smokes down. First third The Montecristo Double Edmundo opens quite nicely. You're hit first with white pepper, salt, and cedar. Cream follows those flavors, along with a bit of tanginess. There's almost no sweetness to start, and behind it all is the dusty cacao that first showed up in the cold draw. As the first third progresses, some sweetness enters, along with a bit of milk chocolate. In fact, this particular type of sweetness and chocolate reminds me a bit of a Tootsie Roll (for those of you who've had them!). The cedar is still there, and now a bit of leather enters. As the first third winds up, the sweetness continues to increase. The finish is quite nice: a lingering, sweet, creamy cedar. At this stage, both the strength and body are on the light side of medium. Flavor is medium. As suspected, there are some construction issues. The draw is still too tight, and so the smoke production is lighter than I would like. It's not terrible by any means, but it detracts from the experience. Second third As this Doble puro heads into its second third, a bit of white pepper shows up. It's subtle but there. The cedar and milk chocolate remain, and a nice graham cracker note joins those flavors. Now the cigar shows some darker, dustier flavors like dry coco powder, toasted tobacco, dry earth, and leather. Some salt appears too. There's also a hint of black tea in the background. Strength and body have increased into solidly medium territory. The draw and smoke production have improved a bit. The burn has stayed relatively solid. So far it has required only two minor touch-ups. Final third Sadly, the last third is where this cigar falters a bit. It was really on the way to a great score. Had the flavors continued to increase in intensity and the construction held up, this would've been a low-to-mid 90s cigar. But it wasn't to be. There were some nice flavors in the last third. A nice sourness appeared, and there was chocolate, leather, tobacco, and pepper too. But there was nothing new, and the flavors became less intense and more muddled as the cigar progressed. The strength and body, if anything, decreased. And the smoke production and draw got worse. The cigar ended by getting a little bit too hot, damp, and slightly bitter. A disappointing final third to what was otherwise a lovely cigar. Score Flavor (63 of 70 points) Taste: The flavors were thoroughly enjoyable. The Monte loses one point because the flavors also somewhat common and another for the slight bitterness at the end. 23 points (-2). Complexity: The flavors worked very nicely and there were lots of them. The problem is they didn't change much, especially between the second and final thirds. 13 points (-2). Refinement: It got rough at the end. 8 points (-2). Body: At times (especially in the final third) the body was a bit light. That's probably because of the smoke production issues, so only one point gets deducted here. 5 points (-1). Strength: The strength was spot-on. It was a medium-flavored, medium-bodied cigar, and the strength (at medium) complimented that well; it didn't overshadow things. 5 points (-0). Finish: Nothing wrong with the finish. It lingered, it was sweet, it was creamy, it was full of cedar. Very nice. 5 points (-0). Aroma: Like the finish, the Aroma was also quite nice. Cedar and raisins at pre-light, and more cedar and coco in the room. 5 points (-0). Construction (16 of 20 points) Appearance: A quite lovely cigar. I couldn't wait to smoke it. 5 points (-0). Draw: It was too tight for the first third. It would have lost more points how tight it was, but it corrected itself about halfway through. 3 points (-2). Burn: Needed a slight touch-up but that due to my own obsessiveness about perfect burn lines. I think it would have been fine on its own. It really loses a point here because it got too hot at the end. 4 points (-1) Integrity: Toward the end the wrapper cracked a bit. 4 points (-1). Overall Experience (8 of 10 points) This was an enjoyable smoke. The first two thirds were quite exceptional, actually. It just fell flat at the end. I don't want to be too harsh. The final third wasn't bad; it was above-average. It simply did not live up to the other two thirds or to what I would expect from Montecristo. In the end, I imagine the construction issues plagued this cigar from the start by forcing me to smoke too quickly to keep it lit and keep the smoke flowing. Perhaps a bit more time in the humidor will allow it to settle down even more, though I doubt it. This might just be a specific box of Montes that I put down after the first two thirds. Final score: 87 points.

Montecristo Especial (2003) Review Vitola: Laguito No.1 38 ring gauge x 192 mm or 7.6 inches It's not often that one gets the chance to enjoy these 'long and skinnies'. Furthermore, it's regrettable to mention that there are less of these around nowadays. Then again, do you reach for them, or are they a special occasion smoke due to their length? I recently caught up some dear friends for an 'end-of-week de-stress' cigar get together when @jay8354 offered myself and @Fuzz these Laguito No.1s from 2003 to smoke. Like the similar Cohiba vitola, the Lanceros, these are truly a special cigar (as the name suggests), and more so when aged! Just as the Cohiba Lanceros tends to be smoother than the Cohiba Coronas Especiales (38 ring gauge x 152 mm), likewise the Montecristo Especial is a little under medium, more refined than a Montecristo Especial No.2 (which is the same vitola as the Cohiba Coronas Especiales). These are best smoked very slowly, but knowing my tendency to smoke through a fine cigar such as this one, I finished it before Jase and Fuzz. I think too that, in my defense, I simply was drawing too much per puff to get maximum flavour, it was that enjoyable. What flavours can you expect from a Montecristo Especial? They are known for their creaminess, which this one definitely was. Coffee, milk chocolate, tea, spice, nut, leather and bean flavours are also consistent with this cigar. What flavours were evident in this cigar tonight? I think Fuzz mentioned bean flavours and a sweet baking spice, which I would concur as the main flavours, along with a cocoa 'nuttiness'. The sweet baking spice flavour is mentioned in @polarbear's review of this cigar below... I must thank @jay8354 for the sublime opportunity to enjoy this cigar. I consider this cigar the 'king of Montecristo' and I lament that I don't smoke it more often. But don't just take my word for it. Understand that 24:24 sales that have this cigar listed tend to be high demand, and the references below attest to the fine quality that is evident in the regular production Montecristo Especial cigar.

Trusted source so I'm confident these are real. I've had mixed luck with montecristo in the past but he good ones keep me coming back for more. This is difference in appearance surprised me though. Let me know if you've seen anything this different come out of the same brand and pretty close ages. The lighter ones are UBM JUL 17. the darker ones are TEO JUN 17.

One of the best things about our FriendsofHabanos community are the regular competitions our host runs for the benefit of our community. It was one such competition in June this year, the Sublime Selfie Weekend Competition that, thanks to you, enabled me to win a prize of 5 regular production cigars. The timing of that competition was impeccable. I was coming to the end of a hectic June work period and looking forward to a well-earned holiday break, and this competition was coincidentally on the winter solstice so I made sure to get away as soon as I could to enjoy a cigar in the sunset. After acclimatising the cigars to my humidor for 90 days, I decided to review them in appreciation of their reception, and so give back a benefit to our members in sharing how these cigars smoked. The cigars in the image below are, from left-to-right; H.Upmann Magnum 46, Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills, Saint Luis Rey Regios, Cohiba Siglo II and the Montecristo No.2. Below are the cigars I smoked in order... Saint Luis Rey Regios Vitola: Hermosos No.4 - 48 ring gauge x 127 mm or 5.0 inches I started this review series with the Saint Luis Rey Regios. Why? I had an aged Saint Luis Rey Serie A the week before so I figured that it would be great to compare notes. Plus, with the Double Corona and Serie A in a current production hiatus or possibly deleted, it gave me a chance to see what Saint Luis Rey currently represents. The Regios has been in consistent supply in the last year, going by how often it comes up on 24:24 listings. Our host, El Pres, recommends smoking these sooner than later, and after researching the topic, I deduced that the Regios is indeed not a cigar that benefits greatly from aging, unlike the Serie A. This cigar was medium-strength, light toast and hay, with elements of a honey sweetness at times and a cocoa edge. The thing about this cigar is, it needed to be smoked slowly to prevent acridity, as that toast, hay and tobacco flavour was dominant, but when smoked slowly and allowed to remain cool, this Regios rewarded me with elements of those sweeter flavours. I wonder with marcas such as Saint Luis Rey and Trinidad, whether there is a 'fine line' between complexity and muddled blandness, you know, when it seems all the flavours roll-into-one. They can reward you and they can punish you, bring you joy and make you weep in frustration, yet you still feel inclined to persist because they can be so good. Cohiba Siglo II Vitola: Marevas - 42 ring gauge x 129 mm or 5.1 inches Cohiba is a marca that polarises cigar enthusiasts. Firstly, there's the marked-up price, which in the past 12 months was increased 10%, in comparison to most other marcas increasing by an average of 3% and then secondly, there's the flavour profile that leaves some people wondering where's the appeal (to them). I must admit, that the great majority of my friends who I share this noble hobby with, enjoy Cohiba (and Montecristo) just as much as I do, which is saying something when you factor in Australian taxes on cigars. So what was it like to smoke this Siglo II fresh? The grassiness was the dominant flavour, with espresso coffee just a little behind. There was a little honey, but not much and spice through the nose, but no cream texture to be found. It was distinctly Cohiba, but I admit I do like them rested at least 3 to 5 years. Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills Vitola: Montesco - 55 ring gauge x 130 mm or 5.1 inches If Cohiba and Montecristo represent two marcas I find great comfort in, than Romeo y Julieta and Bolivar alternatively represent two marcas which I find tend to make me suffer. If given a modern context, I wonder if Jesus would revise his famous saying in Matthew 11; "Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest, except if you've had a Romeo y Julieta cigar that is all toasted tobacco, then you are on your own!" Well, this Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills was such a pleasant surprise. In fact, of all these cigars, I'd consider this one to have been the best in light of their comparative youthfulness. It had excellent construction, great amounts of smoke per draw, the aroma at cold was a wonderful barnyard cocoa that instantly appeals to many an experienced cigar aficionado and it delivered. A touch under medium, this is not the type of cigar that obviates simplicity, it's not complex and that's not why you'd smoke this. Its combination of toast, tobacco and a cream cherry edge all throughout made it quite satisfying for me. Mind you, don't fret, I have Bolivar and Romeo y Julieta in my humidor, and it's cigars such as this one which make me re-visit the marca from time-to-time, even if the 55 ring gauge made me 'sip' it from the head. Then again, the larger ring gauge made me slow down and really savour this cigar. H.Upmann Magnum 46 Vitola: Coronas Gordas - 46 ring gauge x 143 mm or 5.6 inches I was reading over @ATGroom's excellent blog, (A Harem of) Dusky Beauties tonight, and apart from being elated that it's back online (I was only remarking to a few Sydney FoH members last night that it down since Cuban Cigar Website crashed in December 2016 - it's nice to be corrected in this instance), I was intrigued to learn that the H.Upmann Magnum 46 was the 9th most common vitola in Cuban Cigar Website members' inventories (the H.Upmann Half Corona was 8th). This Magnum 46 showed me how young it was. It had its H.Upmann espresso coffee and shortbread, but it had its toasted tobacco too, which made it a little over medium in strength. Perhaps some slight licorice redeemed this for me somewhat, as I did enjoy it well into its last third, yet my preference for Magnum 46's is a milder coffee, shortbread, cedar and hay expression, with a touch of spice. Then again, I think that this Magnum 46 was the type that @Chickenlassi enjoyed when he wrote this review a few years ago, you know, the kind of cigar that Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone would digest for breakfast, lunch and dinner without blinking! Montecristo No.2 Vitola: Piramides - 52 ring gauge x 156 mm or 6.1 inches I consider myself very fortunate to have had a great run of Montecristo No.2's this year, perhaps the last 8 to 10 have been all consistently superb. What can I say? I just love them, when they are 'on' that is. This cigar was exactly 'off' in comparison, it had excellent construction, a great draw and smoked well. So what was this issue? The wrapper shade! Yes, I prefer a lighter wrapper shade on my Montecristo No.2's, the type that give a lovely milk coffee, nut and cream combination. I find darker wrappers on Montecristo No.2's can make the cigar more intense, with more emphasised flavours of toasted tobacco and dark cocoa or chocolate, as this cigar was. But as cigars are a subjective experience, there's nothing wrong if you enjoy your Montecristo No.2's to be more intense in strength and flavour. If so, then this Monte 2 is for you!

Montecristo No.4 (1970s - Aged) Review Vitola: Marevas 42 ring gauge x 129 mm or 5.1 inches It's a special thing, to devote yourself, at times, to smoking a cigar, even if it's your weekly 'timeout' routine, it's another thing when the cigar you smoke is 40 years old. I must thank and acknowledge @Luca for gifting me this Montecristo No.4 to smoke recently. I've never had the opportunity to smoke a cigar even 20 years old. The question to consider, in regards to its age, is whether it had peaked. There were clues, during the cold draw...firstly, the wrapper was brittle and had frayed at the foot of the cigar a little, secondly, the aroma was muted. Upon lighting, it was easy to tell, that this had peaked. There was still faint elements of your standard Montecristo cocoa and nut, but no cream. The best way to compare it is to take your morning espresso coffee and add a litre of water to it. There'd still be a coffee taste there, just nowhere near as strong. In the middle third, the faint elements of Monte cocoa and nut had dissipated. There was no cream texture, no coffee elements and no toasted tobacco flavour either. It wasn't terrible enough to pitch, but it was smooth, overly smooth. The last third of a cigar is usually when it's at its strongest, was that the case here? The answer is no. The most flavoursome part of this cigar was the first third, the last third was merely an extension of the middle third in regards to flavour/s. Still, I'm grateful to @Luca for having this opportunity to smoke this cigar. Aging cigars is truly a subjective experience. A little while after having this Montecristo No.4 from the 1970s, I sampled a Romeo y Julieta 130 Aniversario cigar from 2005 that was so strong, I swear I could easily leave it another 5 to 8 years until I'd sample another if I had a box. I couldn't recall the last time I had so much water to clear my palate!

To say I am looking forward to this cigar would be an understatement. My favorite Marca and a great size to boot. I know the "Monte 80th" fever is in full pitch right now, but has anybody heard anything about this cigar since it was announced? I wouldn't be surprised if this cigar never showed, or if it does, in very low quantities. Considering the yearlong+ delay for the "2015" Monte 80th and the majority of folks who tasted both stating that the current release cigars are very different in flavor than the pre release cigars. I'm not sure where the Tobacco for the 16's is going to come from. The wrapper leaves are just about the same size (165mm vs 167mm) and they clearly had issues getting enough together for the 80ths. Maybe I am just being pessimistic, if I prepare myself for the worst case I can only be happily surprised if they are released. Right? Best case scenario they release them on the island early November to coincide with my trip.

Hello FOH community. 3 days ago I received my 4th order from 24:24. It was Montecristo No 2 HP (25). I couldn't believe my eyes when i opened it! But before i did it i felt such a strong barnyard aroma which came from closed box. The taxi's driver turn towards to me to see what is that smell. We almost got into an accident. But he came to his senses in time Friends, i wanna share you what i saw when opened the box. I've never seen before such beautiness! These cigars looks amazing, oily maduro wrappers, awesome construction along all sticks & of course strongest aroma which blows my nose! I think about how hard to find such a great quality box of Monte#2, because i tried to find it at all Moscow dealers & they are failed with quality. I created this topic to say some lovely words for Rob & all crew. You're the greatest Habanos dealers in all world. You make my life & i believe every FOH member's life better. It's pleasure to open 24:24 just for reading Rob's thought about anything & feelings about cigars in list. I love it. And finally let me tell you: HUUUGE THANKS FOR YOUR HARD WORK! GOOD LUCK, BE HEALTHY & BE HAPPY ROB, DIANA, GREG & ALL CREW!!! Alex. Photos of Montecristo No 2

Last night I had a quiet Friday evening with my wife, and smoked just one PLMC, which I didn't finish. I got busy with family stuff and left the cigar 2/3 smoked. When I woke up this morning I didn't feel like I'd had my fix yet, so I poured a cup of coffee, reached into the wineador for a reliable morning smoke - and emerged onto the patio with a lovely Montecristo No. 5. This box is draining quickly, I have found these little gems to be a wonderful any-time kind of smoke, morning or night, they don't disappoint. The morning dew was burning off, the birds chirping, and the sun starting to radiate heat as the temperature crossed over the 80F mark. It's going to be a sweltering day from the looks of it. I cut and lit the Monte, and immediately began to feel a calm descend onto me. The first flavors to envelope my taste buds was a creamy melange of cocoa, coffee and shortbread nicely balanced and smooth. Ahh, that is the captivating essence that makes these No. 5 perlas so delectable. The aroma that filled my patio was equally pleasing, with a woodsy tone that reminds me of kindling starting an outdoor fire. As the second third approached, the creaminess prevailed but coffee became more pronounced and a tinge of burnt toast and nutmeg joined the mix. The burn started to waver just a tad as it crossed the mid point, requiring a slight correction, but the flavors remained unmistakable Montecristo beans throughout. In the final stretch I was feeling relaxed and slightly drifting into daydreams, enjoying the faint morning breeze as the muted sound of a jet engine roared far overhead, bringing me back to the here and now. My wife topped my cup of coffee and I settled into the chair to focus on the closing arguments from this tasty perla. The flavor profile evolved further bringing more burnt toast, and more kindling, while body ticked up to a solid medium. As the final inch became too hot too handle I reluctantly put No. 5 down to extinguish as I savored the fleeting aroma. As I started to think of the day ahead I could still taste the coffee, cocoa and burnt toast on my lips while I drained the last bit of dark roast Pilon coffee.

Thought I'd start taking some notes and offering up some thoughts. Montecristo Edmundo (PCC Vintage stock), a 52x135 robusto Box code: OPA AUG 09 Smoked on: April 4, 2017 (aged 7.7 years) Bought: Via 24:24 on August 3, 2015. Notes from El Prez: PSP: I only put up Montecristo Edmundo when I come across them like this. When they are at this standard (and it is not often), they are the closest thing in regular production to the Monte 520 that you will find. There is depth and richness to the flavour no doubt elevated by the stunning wrappers. Construction is flawless. My review: Appearance: Colorado Claro, a bit lighter than most good Montecristos I've had. The wrapper is smooth and has retained a soft, oily sheen. Construction and cut: Overall very good. Slightly soft in places. Guillotine cut. Good draw. Aroma at cold: Brilliant. Alluring. Cocoa. Soft aged tobacco. Raisiny sweetness. Body: Mild-Medium First third: Faint baking spices. Soft through the nose. Brioche buns. Light smoke. Finish is on the short side. A bit of cidar and Cuban saltiness. A touch of woody spice begins to appear -- not much, but it lingers on the palate. Second third: Room note is noticeably pleasant. The cocoa wavers between bittersweet and baker's chocolate. A bit of light coffee flavor, but without bitterness of any kind. Salty character increases somewhat. Aroma is evocative of the old stacks in a library. Very sensitive to smoking speed. Smoking too fast creates excess heat, which turns the light woody character into mushrooms. Final third: Cocoa at the core, and the brioche is now a mild baked sourdough. A gentle, settled palate of aged tobacco. Touch of anise. Return of cedar and a background of lightly creamed coffee. A delight to retrohale. Last thoughts: Excellent mellow cigar of moderate age. No great evolution, but hints and accents gradually shift, maintaining interest. Must be smoked at a gentle pace. Absolutely wonderful aromas. Montecristo to the core. Glad to have most of a box remaining in the humidor. Rating: 90

This is my first experience with a #1, and it’s a cigar I’ve admired from afar for awhile now. I purchased it as a single in August, 2016, so I don’t know the box code. Initial thoughts/pre-light: The cigar has a very smooth, wrapper with a slight box press. It has a light sheen. I’m not sure of it’s age, but it doesn’t “seem” like it’s particularly old to me.. I love Lonsdales, because they feel elegant feel in the hand, and they’re easy to hold in the mouth as well if you’re doing something where you occasionally need both hands. Good construction on this cigar, no visible veins/seams to speak of. Perfect draw. 1st Third: Starts off a hair under medium to me, but solidly medium-bodied. Good smoke production. I’m getting cafe au lait, with beignets and powdered sugar. Very pleasant. Ash stays firm for a good 1.5” before falling off. 2nd Third: No evolution to speak of, but flavor strength picks up a tick. I’ve noticed a little brown sugar, and maybe a bit of fig as well. Bit players at most. This is a cafe, cream, and a little chocolate cigar for the most part. Final Third: Flavor and body becoming full. I’m losing some of the sweetness, but the coffee still remains. Starts to pick up some savory nuttiness. Final Smoking Time: 85 minutes. Verdict: I liked it a lot. Not particularly complex, but it was very flavorful, and didn’t require much attention in terms of the burn or construction. It just comes across as a great, well-made cigar to me. Can’t ask for much else on a warm, fall night. I’d definitely like to have a box around. Let’s call it a 90.

Hello all, Here in Charlotte and loving this group. From the "what you are buying" to the "daily smoke". I used to smoke only while on work trips in the UK and Europe at big dinners, started to get more and more into the CC habit here in the US. Have always loved the Montecristo #2 and have some stock from 2010 on wards. Have branched into Cohiba and some others but still getting my feet wet with all the brands, limited editions and regional's. I have also started trying some Nicaraguans, really enjoyed the Ashton Symmetry in the last few months. Overall, looking forward to the advice, info, fun and buying in this group. If you are in the Charlotte area, let me know your favorite places to smoke!