MONTECRISTO 80 Aniversario. Special Commemorative Edition

[oliverdst]

Montecristo, one of Habanos S.A.’s most recognized brands around the world, has decided to present smokers with a special and one-of-a-kind vitola to mark its 80th anniversary.

Montecristo 80 Aniversario was specially selected by Habanos S.A. to commemorate the foundation of this larger-than-life brand back in 1935. The 20 habanos in this exclusive edition have been “completely hand-rolled with long filler”, following a selection of exquisite filler, binder and wrapper leaves from the finest tobacco plantations of Vuelta Abajo* (D.O.P.).

The vitola and the blend, especially strong, have been designed for smokers who prefer intense tastes.

The Montecristo 80 Aniversario is unique, with special sizes unseen in any other product within the Habanos’ regular vitola portfolio, since it’s been specially devised to lure smokers who prefer thick ring-gauge habanos of exquisite, well-balanced and intense blend.

This commemorative edition comes in an exclusively designed box made with Cuba’s finest softwood, featuring a fancy brown-glazed finish and all the edges beautifully beveled. The box lid sports the Montecristo round seal on top, inspired in the band design that stands out for its bright gilt shades.

This edition’s habanos also feature an exclusive and innovative presentation. For this occasion, the brand’s band is fully finished in gold, coupled with a second band that proudly depicts the edition’s motif: 80 Aniversario.

Montecristo is the best known and perhaps the most coveted habano brand, penciled in by many as the taste benchmark among all Cuban cigars. It was named after the character in “The Count of Montecristo” novel penned by Alejandro Dumas, a highly acclaimed literary work among cigar rollers at the H. Upmann factory in Havana, where the brand was founded in 1935.

Its exquisite blend is exclusively made with leaves hailing from Vuelta Abajo, the land of the world’s best tobacco. Its two blends –the original, featuring a mild-to-strong taste, and the mild strength of the Open line- deliver a distinct aroma that continues to captivate both the most seasoned smokers and those who are cutting their teeth in the realm of habanos.

Source: Habanos

[Lotusguy]

Yuck.

[finecigar]

What happened to those bands! Those look like the ugly NC "edicion limitada" phonies. What is the ring gauge?

[oliverdst]

What happened to those bands! Those look like the ugly NC "edicion limitada" phonies. What is the ring gauge?

I don't know the ring gauge, bro but I think there is a thread somewhere wwith many releases dimensions.

I am using cell phone at the moment, hard to search.

[Lotusguy]

55 is what I read.

Double Yuck.

[leftimatic]

Why not a 50 cab of 80th anniversary Coronas. Same amount of tobacco and nobody needs to dislocate a jaw.

What is with these donkey **** ring gauges anyway?

[El Presidente]

I already had 12 e-mails this morning wanting to be put on a reserve list and i am not even sure if I will see any

No idea on pricing/production or when/if available.

I have a gut feel these will sell well regardless of pricing. There is always a market for special release Monte, Cohiba, Partagas. Other Marques struggle (Cuaba).

Simply a case of different strokes for different folks. I won't be keeping a box for myself but that is a personal thing.

[SteveGriff]

Nice enough looking, I'm sure they will appreciate in value for the people who want to sell them on in ten years time or beyond.

[Smallclub]

“Alejandro Dumas”? What's next, Juan-Paolo Sartre? Guillermo Shakespeare?

[shlomo]

“Alejandro Dumas”? What's next, Juan-Paolo Sartre? Guillermo Shakespeare?

LOL

[canadianbeaver]

Stick a vibrator in one and see if it really smokes, baby.

Oops did I write that out loud?

[Habanos2000]

I already had 12 e-mails this morning wanting to be put on a reserve list and i am not even sure if I will see any

No idea on pricing/production or when/if available.

I have a gut feel these will sell well regardless of pricing. There is always a market for special release Monte, Cohiba, Partagas. Other Marques struggle (Cuaba).

Simply a case of different strokes for different folks. I won't be keeping a box for myself but that is a personal thing.

I wonder what percentage of buyers purchase these types of releases to smoke vs. purchase as an investment/bling?

[Lotusguy]

I wonder what percentage of buyers purchase these types of releases to smoke vs. purchase as an investment/bling?

I would wager a very high percentage are sold for resale. Then, miraculously, these cigars get rated as the best cigars ever (see Cohiba 1966) and they get resold to the must-have bling crowd.

Not that I'm cynical or anything

[LGC]

I'm willing to bet a lot of the folks that regularly flip sticks, at websites and auctions, are camping in line for these.

[shlomo]

I'm willing to bet a lot of the folks that regularly flip sticks, at websites and auctions, are camping in line for these.

Flippers? Are we talking about flippers again?!!? LOL

[CanuckSARTech]

I wonder what percentage of buyers purchase these types of releases to smoke vs. purchase as an investment/bling?

I would wager a very high percentage are sold for resale. Then, miraculously, these cigars get rated as the best cigars ever (see Cohiba 1966) and they get resold to the must-have bling crowd.

Not that I'm cynical or anything

And, not that there's anything wrong with that either. Those that complain about the re-selling activity, better damn near make sure that they've never sold anything for a profit either. Claus or Brandon, in no way am I aiming that directly at you (want to clarify that specifically), but rather towards the bevy that always seem to come out of the woodwork and ***** about that. The "well, Monsdale customs only cost $5 CUC in Cuba, so you shouldn't be charging me more than $7 USD" crowd, "since we're BOTL's and all that" they say (of course, only when it helps their pocketbooks).

Drives me nuts when people ***** about that.

Fine. Go out and get it yourself. Can't get to Cuba to get customs? Fine. Don't ***** about the re-sale price, if you're not willing to pay it. There's a market for it, and if people are wanting to pay it, why not do so as the seller??? (Again, I think I've resold only maybe a handful of boxes in my life [of which 2 or 3 were Boli GM's that just weren't developing to my taste], but there's nothing wrong with it either, for either party, as long as everyone consents to the terms).

Can't afford a bling cigar? Fine. But don't ***** about it when people do, and then rave about how good it was, and are just upset and now frustrated cause someone else gets them and you don't. Again, I completely agree with many that price or brand doesn't make the cigar better. But since the above post mentions them, Cohiba 1966's - yes, many of us panned them generally. IIRC, I was heavily on the fence, and the strong initial pricing really wounded me. However, these have turned out to be AMAZING cigars in the long haul, and I've gobbled up a bunch of them myself.

As for these Monte 80's...

If the ring gauge is at 55, then yeah, it's probably not something I'll be going for. But, I like my rich and bold Monte's when they're right. I like some of the aspects of this release. I definitely want to try some, if not buy a box.

[Vinnyc]

I read a review on these from the festival. The person couldn't have rated it higher and based of that review I will be looking to pick up a few.

[Lotusguy]

I read a review on these from the festival. The person couldn't have rated it higher and based of that review I will be looking to pick up a few.

I'd be careful - many times the festival cigars have been a very different cigar than the final release.. I'd wait for more reviews of the regular release first.

[Lotusguy]

@keith - I certainly have resold with profit and I am not against that. It's not like cigars are life essentials and people are being gauged. People can always chose not to buy.

However, I find the "pump and dump" phenomenon that happens with the high profile LE and RE releases curious.

[Skyfall]

"pump and dump"

I had a minor "acting" role in Pump and Dump 7.

[USA]

I have tasted it twice and for me it's an absolutely fantastic cigar. Of course I hope the market release is as good as the cigars from the 17th Habanos Festival.

[rristevski]

I will be getting boxes of them

[nick2021]

Man, people are already wanting to get on a list for this cigar since its posting---crazy lol

[Lotusguy]

Man, people are already wanting to get on a list for this cigar since its posting---crazy lol

They could put a Montecristo or Cohiba band on an actual dog ****, make it a limited edition with three bands, and put it in a shiny box - and people will be lining up to buy it.

I am beginning to sound like PigFish

[Jnaube]

Had the chance to smoke two of them in the last two weeks. They are beautiful cigars. Very meaty. Honestly, very different of the Monte limited edition profile. These cigars show big ageing potential. They will probably cost a lot of money but it would be a shame not to give them a try if you have a chance.