Montecristo #4 and age?

[Anth87]

Montecristo #4 has always been my go to - love it.

Whenever I get boxes I've never got one with age and usually 14-15 months from box code , box is finished

Prez posted some BRC in 24:24 recently and commented that when they age they can lose the intensiveness of the chocolate / leather

Just got a psp box from our host got about 18 months age on it, dry boxing one for a few then will smoke

My question is, is this a good cigar that gets better with age (never had an aged one) or better smoking around the two year mark? I've never seen a box of #4 so awesome so thinking maybe should lay it down

I.e Cohiba Siglo vi people like around 3+ years what are people's thoughts on the lifespans if monte #4s when they're "on"?

Thanks

[PapaDisco]

I've never had an old one either. If you're worried about them losing flavor while you try to age them, you could always do the shrink wrap thing.

[UpInSmoak]

I have a Monte 4 PSP box from Dec 12 that I just opened up a month or so ago. Rich, full, and bold. They are approaching 3 years and still have legs to go. They smoke good now (90-92pts) but I don't doubt that a few more years they will be even better. To

My tastes I think 5-6 years would put them at their peak. They are my oldest box of Monte 4 so I will continue to smoke from them, but have put half a box aside to smoke in a few years time.

[deejank]

i'm wondering if my Monty 3's are that different vs the no. 4 blend. if so i guess its safe to assume it will taste similar to the profile @upinsmoak detailed?

[Sophistic]

Smoke em young, def lose intensity after 3-4 years, monte 3 are a bit milder on avg and need a bit longer imo.

[CaptainQuintero]

No ideas on the 4, I've somehow never had one!

The 3 loses the chocolate/coffee hints and gains a dried fruit and vanilla core for me.

[MrGTO]

My 5s are at 1 year and are money!

[Smallclub]

Smoke em young, def lose intensity after 3-4 years,

I agree, to me the No.4 and 5 lose much more than they gain… I prefer them young. My 2014 are already very good, I hardly can see what age could bring…

[CaptainQuintero]

To get that vanilla and dried fruit/raisin I find the #3 needs 5 years at least, the sweet spot is 6-10 for my tastes if that helps

[Anth87]

Exactly what I was looking for thanks

I may leave a 5er in long term just to to see what happens

[RijkdeGooier]

For me older is much more delicate.

[NSXCIGAR]

To get that vanilla and dried fruit/raisin I find the #3 needs 5 years at least, the sweet spot is 6-10 for my tastes if that helps

I find that in Monte in general. To me almost all the lineup really peaks at 6-8 years, then goes cold until 15-18 years and comes back strong and is great at 20+. Classic case of the "second vacuum period."

[Smallclub]

Classic case of the "second vacuum period."

Also known as "auto suggestion". So classic that it's never been evoked since MRN mentionned it in his opus.

I'm not saying that it doesn't happen, but I know that people who age boxes for 20+ years don't post on cigar forums…

[Professor Twain]

I strongly disagree with the idea that Monte 4s lose their flavor when aged too long.

I think they are great with 3-5 years of age, but only get smoother, and don't lost their flavor, when aged longer. The problem is overcoming our greed and smoking them too young.

I have some 1999 Monte Especial #2s that are among the best cigars I have ever had. Similarly I had 1998 Especial #1s that were incredible. I haven't had any Monte 4s that old but I have NEVER had an aged Monte turn too mild.

The only Habanos that I have seen lose their flavor with long periods of aging are some Hoyos.

[Anth87]

I think they are great with 3-5 years of age, but only get smoother, and don't lost their flavor, when aged longer. The problem is overcoming our greed and smoking them too young.

I cannot fault this statement - I think the entire FOH community would agree Hahahaha

So the outcome is age them as long as you can without smoking them and you will be rewarded haha

[NSXCIGAR]

I have some 1999 Monte Especial #2s that are among the best cigars I have ever had. Similarly I had 1998 Especial #1s that were incredible. I haven't had any Monte 4s that old but I have NEVER had an aged Monte turn too mild.

I must say that I have had similar results with late 90s Monte. Even at the time Monte was smoking fabulously, just incredible, and pretty much every cigar in the lineup except the #2 for some reason. But the Especiales were particularly tremendous. I didn't smoke them all the time then since I was a devout Bolivar and RyJ smoker until 2000 but I wish I had smoked more of them. They were one of the last brands to go down the toilet during that period, smoking great right through 2001. I then recall 02-05 Monte tasting like cardboard. I bought a box of 02 Monte 4 that I couldn't even finish but one or two cigars out of 25.

I've had a few late 90s Monte in the last 5 years and they're great--no sign of any decline or alleged "second vacuum period." If you can source late 90s Monte (or any 90s Monte for that matter) grab them, although I haven't seen any in a long time.