Montecristo No. 2 (Cuban) Pyramide
Size – 6 1/8 x 52
Age – 18 months
Cost – 13 €
Wrapper – Cuba
Construction – A well constructed cigar with a bit of wear on the foot from storage. Evenly firm with no soft spots. The wrapper had some small veins protruding and one tiny blemish near the band.
Burn – Very slow and dead even.
Ash – Medium to dark grey with a slight bit of flowering but a nice 1″ of grab.
Draw & Smoke – Prelight draw felt firm but once lit it was exactly right for the copious amount of smoke coming off each draw.
Flavor – Prelight aroma was excellent, light floral and smooth tobacco with cedar. After lighting, sweet and clean flavors of fine tobacco emerged, along with a woody and peppery finish. As the cigar progressed, more earthy flavors emerged, along with a very slight bit of the “Cuban twang” and some additional wood and paper notes. The final third produced a nearly perfect bouquet, with added mocha and coffee flavors, and more body. An incredible room aroma acompanied the cigar throughout, particularly in the last third.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 10/10
Value – NA
Drink – Iced tea. A very good pairing for a warm summer night, although as with most cigars, I think the Montecristo #2 would be great with some freshly brewed coffee.
Notes – This was a gift from a friend and I’m not sure whether to thank him or not; he’s now teased me with one of the best cigars I’ve ever had and I have no way to get any more. This is a fabulous smoke and a good example of why the storied brands of Cuba still hold the title of the best cigars in the world.
Reviews
10/10, 52 Ring, Cigar Review, Cuba, Medium, Montecristo
Montecristo Media Noche Edmundo
Size – 5 x 55
Age – 4 months
Cost – $9
Wrapper – Maduro (Connecticut)
Construction – Very well constructed with a couple of pronounced veins on the wrapper. Symmetry was good but the cigar was a little too dense at the head.
Burn - Even and slow
Ash – Medium to dark grey, held tight and neatly in 1″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – The draw was a little tight after a punch cut, owing to a tighter pack at the head of the cigar. Once I clipped off the top, however, it opened up a bit and was a firm but good draw, producing a medium amount of smoke per puff.
Flavor – Prelight flavors of earth and sweet chocolate led into a wonderful first third with those flavors coming out immediately after lighting, along with a rich coffee note and some lip-tingling red pepper. The second third produced a spicier but still creamy and smooth blend of espresso, chocolate and leather. The final third delivered more body but a similar bouquet of flavors, never growing harsh or bitter. The room aroma was outstanding.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 10/10
Value – 
7/10
Drink – Iced tea – an unremarkable pairing. If it were not a warm summer evening I would have made a nice pot of hot coffee, which would pair up excellently with this cigar. Perhaps some iced coffee is in order for my next Media Noche.
Notes – This cigar is a top notch experience and one of the best maduros I have smoked. The characteristic coffee and earthy notes of a maduro wrapper shine through and are accompanied by a fantastic blend of complimentary flavors. This is Montecristo’s only maduro cigar – not a problem because they nailed it first try. I feel very fortunate to have landed 10 of these at only $4 each; keep your eyes peeled for a special on this cigar. Highly recommended.
Second Opinion – I really didn’t find any negative reviews of this cigar, but here is a video review at Cigar Obsession.
Reviews
10/10, 55 Ring, Cigar Review, Maduro, Med/Full, Montecristo
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story
Size – 4 x 49
Age – 2 months
Cost – $5
Wrapper – Cameroon
Construction – A well executed perfecto with a great looking and flawless wrapper leaf.
Burn – The nipple-ended perfecto shape leads to an easy light and a slow, even burn.
Ash – Very light grey with mottled charcoal colored ash.
Draw & Smoke – Slightly firm draw and a medium amount of smoke per puff.
Flavor – Just after lighting, the sweet and rich flavor of the wrapper came through clearly. The cigar quickly moves into the thickest part (49 ring) which allows the flavors and aroma of the filler to come through – smooth and rich tobacco and wood with a wonderful aroma that included honey, sweet tobacco and a slight hint of chocolate. As the cigar moves into the second half, the wrapper flavor gradually starts to take back over, and the cigar gets even better. The body of the Hemingway Short Story may be on the mild side but the flavors are anything but.
Strength – Mild/Med
Rating – 10/10
Value - 7/10
Drink – Sierra Nevada 2009 Early Spring Beer
Notes – My local tobacconist quipped once that he could sell as many of these cigars as the distributor would send him, and I can see why. The flawless construction and burn, delicious wrapper and the smaller ring gauge to highlight it, combined with the fantastic room aroma and the changing profile of the perfecto as it progresses through different thicknesses leads me to present this cigar with my first 10/10.
Reviews
10/10, 49 Ring, Arturo Fuente, Cameroon, Cigar Review, Mild/Med