Reviews
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
Date Added: Friday 03 June, 2016
Montecristo Joyitas Cigar - 1 Single
by Staff
Reviewed by Joe Gellman
This is the smallest vitola in the Montecristo brand. It measures 4½" long with a 26 ring gauge (4½ x 26 for future reference).
While this short smoke has been described as lacking in flavour and bouquet, I defy anyone to smoke a few of these and tell me they are not worth the price. I usually smoke this cigar on the way home from the office (luckily I live a few minutes away from the office) or on a rare break in court (just enough time to run outside and light up for a delightful short smoke).
The day just began and I found myself up a tad before my wife. Not being allowed to smoke inside the home, I quickly grabbed a Joyita and went out to see where the newsboy threw the morning paper. Right at the front steps, damn! I lit the cigar and, as usual, it flamed to a bright, sweet, start. A hint of vanilla wafted around and the sure, solid taste of a Havana leaf grabbed me right away. By the time I walked around the house the cigar was history.
How and why would I bother to describe such a little smoke, an almost insignificant period to adjust to t
Date Added: Friday 03 June, 2016
Montecristo Edmundo Cigar - 1 Single
by Staff
Reviewed by Stuart Dixon (December 2005)
Last June (2004), whilst working in York, I tracked down the local cigar emporium in the centre of town. This small and well-stocked tobacconist provided 30-minutes worth of "Ooohs" and "Ahhs" as I pressed my nose against the glass door of the walk-in humidor.
I decided immediately upon seeing them that one of the (then) newly-released Montecristo Edmundo's should grace my humidor with its presence, and so picked out the best example.
Substantial in girth, the cigar is dressed in a mid-brown, sheeny wrapper. Solid the entire length, there is a certain toothiness about it, veins evident from top to bottom, and it's double-capped.
It is excellently balanced and feels exceptional in the hand. On the nose, there is leather and fruit, and some pepper to the lips.
It is altogether a very good-looking cigar.
I did read that the cigar was a tad "green" back in the summer of 04 and that it required between 6 months and 3 years to age. I put this single onto the bottom shelf of the humidor and tried to forget about it.
A year later,
