Montecristo No. 1 ESL DIC 17 (MRW)

[slowsmoke]

Montecristo No. 1 ESL DIC 17

Got a 1/4 box of these a while back, have been waiting for some nice weather and a good reason to fire one up.  Today was the day.  Beautiful sunny afternoon.  Never had a No. 1 before.  Paired with coffee and a little cream.

Wrapper was very light brown, with some minor blotches, and a little sheen.  These were "clearance" but as they say, don't judge by the cover.  Smelled like monte cocoa.  Construction was good, and the draw was perrrrrfect.  One of those draws that is so perfect, it makes you grumpy about all the crappy draws Cuba still cranks out.

First puffs were all over the place, some dry lumber wood, sour apple, nuttiness, faint dark chocolate, random bitterness.  Just about the time I was thinking WTF, it settled into perfect milk chocolate.  Probably the best, simplest milk chocolate I've ever tasted in a cigar.  A medium creamy finish.  I'm thinking man I'll be so happy if it just stays this way for the rest of the cigar.

Second third, the milk chocolate fades in and out, with dark chocolate and coffee bean, and a darker nuttiness.  The cigar will produce thick, lush draws if I ask it to, but that brings on a little bitterness.  If I resist the urge to chief it, smaller draws keep the light chocolate alive, with the kind of creamy finish that I hope for in every monte.

I lose track of the flavors a bit as I enjoy great conversation with a friend, but I am constantly thinking "what a great cigar."  It has no harsh edges at all, and I run it pretty darn close to a nub.  It did get a little hot at the very end, but nothing I'm going to complain about.

Overall, this is easily on par with the best monte I ever had, which was my first No. 2 from the new to cubans sampler.  I will say that I have had several No. 2 since then, and none have come close.  I am really hoping the rest of these No. 1 are this good.  I am also thinking these are worth buying a box and putting away.

Side note, 99% of the time when I drink coffee, it is black, or just a small shot of Nespresso.  Not sure what made me decide to put a little cream in it today, but it really added to the creamy finish of the cigar perfectly.  Something I will be trying more often.