Montecristo especial 2018 (TGCRW)

[dominattorney]

any year for this cigar works for me. This is the one I had close at hand. Have another box from 2016 hiding in the back. We will get to that one soon enough. 

Draw is a little on the tight side but nothing to get disappointed about. Flavors are milk chocolate and coffee in the main over toasted tobacco. That's what I love about this smoke. Its nothing edgy or weird, just classic flavors time and time again. The beginning is always mild and approachable, and if you can hold on until the nub you'll get some spicy nicotine kick. 

Second third picks up the profile with a little bit of spice kicking in. Baking spices and cinnamon over the chocolate quickly give way for a mild peppery flavor. This is the last photo since the sun went down and ruined my light. However, I held onto this one to the nub which was a choco pepper flavor bomb that I especially enjoyed. 

Love the size, love that construction is always spot on, and love the flavors. I'll give this a 9.5 of 10. Thats only because I think The Don would ding it for looking a tad effeminate next to the Siglo VI and other large format cigars. In my mind, it is of no moment. I am comfortable with my sexuality and with cigar choices. 

[Goodfortune]

Thanks for the review! Sadly, I have yet to try one of these but I am eager to change that. 

[BeerPimp]

Thanks for the review.  Besides the size difference how does this compare to the Monecristo No. 1?  I picked up some of the Hand picked Monte 1's from last year and was super impressed by them.

[StogieSteve23]

Great review! How do you compare its flavor/body to that of the Especial no 2? 

[dominattorney]

4 hours ago, BeerPimp said:

Thanks for the review.  Besides the size difference how does this compare to the Monecristo No. 1?  I picked up some of the Hand picked Monte 1's from last year and was super impressed by them.

Different animal than the Monte No 1. Monte No. 1 is more medium bodied darker chocolate to my taste. Love that cigar too, but the especial is a bit more refined because of the smaller ring gauge. Especial is more mild at the start and evolves to medium body at the end. 

4 hours ago, StogieSteve23 said:

Great review! How do you compare its flavor/body to that of the Especial no 2? 

Pretty similar tbh. I do love the especial no 2, but this has more time for the flavors to develop. The final third of the bigger brother has more body. The especial no 2 imho starts off a little closer to mild/medium. I also have several boxes of the especial no 2.