Which Cuban Cigar has the highest rate of Satisfaction amongst members?

[asmith]

We are progressively finding out which Cuban Cigar has the highest rate of member satisfaction (and the lowest). I will run through the 30 most popular cigars during April/May/June and will provide an ongoing chart to see how the cigars stack up.

It should go without saying to only vote if you have actually tried one

Feel free to post your experiences and thoughts on the thread

Todays cigar: Montecristo Especial

Results to Date

[Lotusguy]

Love 'em. I don't understand why they are not more popular.

[riazp]

i've only had one, I loved every single second of it, need a box soon, I just wish habanos made more lanceros, I'd love to see a lancero from HdM, Upmann, RyJ, ect

[baragh]

A bit off topic, but how do people find these compared to the especial #2's

similar profile but just a longer cigar? or some noticeable differences?

[shrink]

A bit off topic, but how do people find these compared to the especial #2's

similar profile but just a longer cigar? or some noticeable differences?

The same question has been asked about the Partagas Serie du Connaisseur nos. 1, 2, and 3. I've smoked a lot of the Montes, both nos. 1 and 2, and it's my opinion that they are rolled of the same tobaccos. However, and it's a big however, the length of the cigar plays a significant role in how the cigar smokes, and how the flavor profile develops over the course of the smoke.

In essence (if the blend is the same), a shorter cigar will always begin with a greater display of strength and spice, because the smoke is filtered through less tobacco, and has less time to cool before being drawn into the mouth. The longer cigar will develop both greater complexity, and a more discernable evolution of flavors, in part because of the interaction between the oils, tars and congeners in the smoke and the tobaccos through which they pass. Heat also plays a critical role. The tobaccos in a shorter cigar are heated more rapidly, whereas in the longer cigar the tobaccos near the head remain cooler for a longer period of time. In a cigar like the Especial No. 1, this difference can be up to an hour.

Every cigar smoker is aware of this phenomenon: the cigar tastes different at the beginning, middle and end. However, in the longer cigar, this process takes much longer, with greater smoke filtering, relatively lower heat and the consequent slowing of the chemical reactions that produce complex flavors.

Simple, no?

[maverickdrinker]

love this cigar; cohiba lancero, trinidad fundadores and monte especials no. 1s. Beautiful cigars.

[Wil]

The same question has been asked about the Partagas Serie du Connaisseur nos. 1, 2, and 3. I've smoked a lot of the Montes, both nos. 1 and 2, and it's my opinion that they are rolled of the same tobaccos. However, and it's a big however, the length of the cigar plays a significant role in how the cigar smokes, and how the flavor profile develops over the course of the smoke.

In essence (if the blend is the same), a shorter cigar will always begin with a greater display of strength and spice, because the smoke is filtered through less tobacco, and has less time to cool before being drawn into the mouth. The longer cigar will develop both greater complexity, and a more discernable evolution of flavors, in part because of the interaction between the oils, tars and congeners in the smoke and the tobaccos through which they pass. Heat also plays a critical role. The tobaccos in a shorter cigar are heated more rapidly, whereas in the longer cigar the tobaccos near the head remain cooler for a longer period of time. In a cigar like the Especial No. 1, this difference can be up to an hour.

Every cigar smoker is aware of this phenomenon: the cigar tastes different at the beginning, middle and end. However, in the longer cigar, this process takes much longer, with greater smoke filtering, relatively lower heat and the consequent slowing of the chemical reactions that produce complex flavors.

Simple, no?

Thanks, interesting read!

[baragh]

The same question has been asked about the Partagas Serie du Connaisseur nos. 1, 2, and 3. I've smoked a lot of the Montes, both nos. 1 and 2, and it's my opinion that they are rolled of the same tobaccos. However, and it's a big however, the length of the cigar plays a significant role in how the cigar smokes, and how the flavor profile develops over the course of the smoke.

In essence (if the blend is the same), a shorter cigar will always begin with a greater display of strength and spice, because the smoke is filtered through less tobacco, and has less time to cool before being drawn into the mouth. The longer cigar will develop both greater complexity, and a more discernable evolution of flavors, in part because of the interaction between the oils, tars and congeners in the smoke and the tobaccos through which they pass. Heat also plays a critical role. The tobaccos in a shorter cigar are heated more rapidly, whereas in the longer cigar the tobaccos near the head remain cooler for a longer period of time. In a cigar like the Especial No. 1, this difference can be up to an hour.

Every cigar smoker is aware of this phenomenon: the cigar tastes different at the beginning, middle and end. However, in the longer cigar, this process takes much longer, with greater smoke filtering, relatively lower heat and the consequent slowing of the chemical reactions that produce complex flavors.

Simple, no?

Yep I actually know exactly what you mean, thanks for that.

I do feel sorry for the tobacco near the head of a very long cigar having to do a LOT of filtering

[bassman]

Good, not great IMHO. I much prefer the Cohiba CE to the Especiale.

[kgoings]

Love the No.1, its a close second to the Cohiba Lancero

[sg1234]

I smoked one from '02 a few months back and absolutely loved it! I have two in the humidor from 1981, one of which will be ash on my 30th in November.

[genevapics]

One of my favorites!

[thechenman]

The Montecristo Especial is one of the greats. I actually prefer them over the Cohiba Lancero. A truly great cigar.