Christmas 2010 Cigar Review (Montecristo Joyitas TBR OCT 05)

[zuma]

Most of my end-of-year parties and family-get-togethers tend to have lots of children under the age of 10 (two of mine included), this fact together with the heat reaching the upper 30C mark in the near-south-western front of Australia, forces me to smoking late at night when everyone is asleep, specially the kids, and the air has cooled sufficiently.

12.55am. Not a soul in sight (or earshot), faint warm and wet easterly breeze, 27C… I chose a cigar that I haven't touched for a while: a minute Montecristo Joyita. They went painfully dry and rough about a year ago, so I let the last nine have a long nap. This stick ended being dry-boxed for four days; I had initially hoped to have it for new years eve, but due to lack of opportunity then it ended with an added couple of days.

I must admit that the stick chosen didn't look the best (those are long-gone) as it had a rather bumpy aspect, particularly near its cap, with hint of oil on the dark-colorado wrapper. It was relatively firm to touch.

At cold, it gave a fragrance of sweet leather and toast… clipping the cap, it revealed a nice not-too-easy draw that left a faintly sweet hay taste on the lips and palate.

After gently torching the foot, it opened with a well-rounded leche-con-cafe (milk with a dash of coffee) with hints of cinnamon, quite mouth filling and creamy in texture.

About half an inch into it, the sweetness nearly vanished, leaving a dry macchiato core - with burnt citrus rind and cinnamon. Medium body, but with stinging white pepper through the nose (didn't try that again).

Ash was nicely ribbed and whitish-grey, quite flaky, but the burn was perfect up to this point.

After 1 inch, the coffee built to a chewy espresso and vanilla on toast, becoming drier with citrus rind on the linger. Hints of cream seemed to come in and then wane, more as a texture than a taste, mixed in with dry citrus peel.

Just past midway, the vanilla became spicy whilst the espresso gave way to a sweeter but weaker coffee core more akin to lightly sweetened long black… the spice and dryness slowly strengthened in the midst of the coffee core, leading to a minty feel on the tongue and lips.

With 1 inch left: mint leather and espresso, well-balanced and smooth, hints of sweet anise on the linger, which slowly transmuted into strong cinnamon spice and thick espresso.

Nubbed 'til it hurt.

30min smoke. Quite amazing transformation with nearly a year's undisturbed rest. The mongrel spirit appears to have died in these, leaving a well rounded smooth smoke. If its siblings are similar in character, they will not last beyond the first quarter of 2011.

94/100

(third review of cigars from the same box).

[rfenst]

I have never had one that wasn't a very good, short, little smoke.

[#2 man]

I have never smoked one of these and probably wont as they were discontinued so thanks for the review and great pictures

[PigFish]

I think these cigars are wonderful, thanks for the review. But again I also enjoy the Cohiba Exquisitos. While neither cigar is a value and are really overpriced per gram of tobacco, I cannot deny the excellent smoking experience that I often get from them.

Great review mate! -Piggy

[CanuckSARTech]

Nice review and some wonderful pictures. Love that old green glass!

Thanks for sharing.

[OZCUBAN]

Great review Zuma

good to hear from you again

thanks for posting

Cheers OZ