Reviews

Date Added: Friday 03 June, 2016

Montecristo No. 4 Cigar - 1 Single by Staff

Reviewed by Mihai - Box Date: September 2002 This review, I'm glad to say, is not based on old tasting notes, nor is it conceived with the proverbial popularity of this cigar in mind. I am writing it while smoking the cigar this sunny afternoon in my garden. This is why the review is written in the present tense. So here it goes: Year of manufacture: 2002 (September) Wrapper colour: Colorado (aka English Market Selection). In concrete terms, the colour is that of coffee with a touch of milk. Appearance: smooth wrapper with very few, unobtrusive veins. After four months in the humidor, it feels slightly oily to the touch with a healthy sheen. Unlit, it carries the bouquet of wood and sweet vanilla. Construction: uniform, no hard or weak spots, with brilliant draw all the way. Its burn is reasonably even (not perfect, though). The wrapper and binder seem to burn slightly faster than the filler. Flavour/taste: the dominant notes are clearly earth mixed with fresh wood and spice. A touch of salty weed. Its strength is, to me, on the fuller side of medium. Aroma: roasted

Date Added: Friday 03 June, 2016

Montecristo No. 4 Cigar - 1 Single by Staff

Reviewed by Jody Brown (May 2003) Smoked a 1984 Monti #4 and thought I would share my experience with everyone. Prelight - nice chocolate brown smooth wrapper that had a semi-oily sheen and no veins. This beauty was perfectly constructed, just the right 'feel' and had an awesome smell! First light - smacked me on the head with a total full flavor right from the get go and a perfect draw. Very interesting roasted nuts, roasted chocolate and the old blend isom earthy tastes. First 1/4 - pure full flavor continues and a little more chocolate coffee and more tastes of several spices. Ash is still intact and all I see is black coal. First 1/2 - continues full flavor. The classic old isom blend really comes through on this one. I would call it muddy earthy taste. Also continues with a strong (not harsh) coffee and nutty tastes. Developing more indescribable spices that are simply amazing. Last 1/4 - nothing has changed - thankfully!!! Final thoughts - it is interesting to me how full flavor these cigars are, and yet not a trace of harshness or bitterness. The ash was coal bl

Date Added: Friday 03 June, 2016

Montecristo No. 4 Cigar - 1 Single by Staff

Reviewed by Russell Jones (July 2003) The cigar was part of a gift from my sister. I have been sort of waiting for a decent occasion to smoke one of these. This was to be my very first time with an ISOM and I wanted it to be perfect. Also, I have been a little concerned with some of the life-altering effects of the ISOMs I have read on this and other boards. I decided my expectations were unrealistic and threw caution to the wind....The story begins with me on my back stoop on a gorgeous sunny evening around 7:15 pm EST. It was about 73 degrees and a slight breeze blowing almost perfect, but my chair was wet from morning rain so I was forced to stand. I also had a nice cup Kenyan coffee to compliment the cigar....... The construction was very nice with a few veins, but what the hell do I know about that stuff....The cut, with a cheap-ass two-blade guillotine cutter, was without incident and the pre-light draw was very nice. There was an unfamiliar earthy/leathery taste mixed with a rush of anticipation to fire that baby up! The light went well and I was engulfed with a mount

Date Added: Friday 03 June, 2016

Montecristo No. 4 Cigar - 1 Single by Staff

Reviewed by Don Ciambotti (August 2003) I just smoked a Montecristo #4 from Feb. 03. First of all, I admit. I suck at reviews. But, if I was any good at reviews, I could say... I went to the patio to watch the All-Star game. I poured a glass of wine, an Italian white. A pinot grigio from Mezza Corona to be exact. Then I could tell you about the wrapper. Shiny, oily, a nice reddish brown color. No veins. To the touch, somewhat springy. I punched the signature triple cap. I prefer to punch corona sizes. I get a better taste of the wrapper that way. I could tell you about the aroma, which was rich, warm and pleasant. I could go on to tell you that the ash was flaky, kind of greyish black. Reminiscent of a piece of charred maple at the end of a campfire. If I was any good at reviews, I'd tell you that the taste was very complex for such a young cigar. The first third had overtones of caramel with hints of vanilla. The second third changed to sweet cocoa, dark chocolate, and I swear I tasted hints of cinnamon. The last third - WOW- opened up into a very intense cedar taste wi

Date Added: Friday 03 June, 2016

Montecristo No. 1 Cigar - 1 Single by Staff

Reviewed by Bill Liberman, Illinois (May 2003) Appearance: This was a beautiful . 6 . 5 x 42 cigar with a perfectly flat front and back and ever so slightly rounded sides . The wrapper had some prominent veining but not so bad as to detract from the elegance of this cigar . It had a very nice sheen to it . I'm sure some time spent in the humidor would bring out a nice oiliness to the wrapper . I would categorize the color as a light shade of Colorado. Construction: I have always heard that torpedo shaped cigars are the hardest to roll because you can't really use a mold on them . But to me, I would think the Lonsdale and Panetela sizes would be harder to roll due to their length and smaller ring gauge . As I said earlier, this cigar was beautifully done . It was very firm the entire length with absolutely no soft spots and a beautifully applied cap that cut perfectly. Pre-light aroma: This was not like any Montecristo I've had before . This one had a light and sweet floral aroma where all the other Montecristos I've had, had that great "barnyard" aroma to them. Quite a ple

Date Added: Friday 03 June, 2016

Montecristo Joyitas Cigar - 1 Single by Staff

Reviewed by Joe Gellman This is a nice, short smoke. The cigar measures 26 x 5 7/8 and is well made. It is firm to the touch, has a slight sheen to the wrapper which is a little deeper shade of Colorado than the rest of the line. The cigar is classified as a cigarrito but I feel it is more properly referred to as a Laguito #3 since I consider a cigarrito a mini, although the Mavens say this is not a true "cigar". The samples I tastes were supposedly made at the Briones Montoto factory in November, 1996. My reference books show this vitola being made in the Heroes de Moncasa, Jose Marti factories in Havana, the Sancti Spiritus factory in Sancti Spiritus and the Villa Santa Clara factory in Santa Clara. This is confusing to me, but does not alter my tasting notes. This is a light cigar, without depth, a bit herbaceous and fruity. It has a dusty aroma which tends to be a little green (matching the herbaceous taste). The cigar is not firm, yet not soft. It lights quickly and burns evenly, leaving a medium gray ash which, upon examination, is a little crunchy. The ash stays on th