CRW Review: Montecristo No. 4, Oct. 2009 "RAS" box code - final score, 90

[CanuckSARTech]

So, I’ve got another review here for this week’s CRW Review contest. I’ve now had a number of these new Monte 4’s from my recent purchase from Czar’s – two of the Oct. 2009 “RAS” boxes, one an HQ, and the other a PSP. This is my second stick from this PSP box now (after trying a few from the HQ box also), and I’m still continuing to be thoroughly pleased. This particular stick didn’t rate as high as the 94 that the first PSP stick from this box got, but read on to see why…

Reviewed Cigar: Montecristo No. 4

Box Date: Oct. 2009

Factory/Manufacture Code: RAS

Packaging: 25-box (Czar's PSP box)

Price: Never talk money...

Length: 5 1/8", or 129 mm

Ring Gauge: 42

Format: Mareva

Weight: Don't you know it isn't polite to ask a fella this??

Construction/Appearance & Pre-Light: Just stunning. These just have that awesome oily "mottled" or "marbled" appearance - there's this beautiful darker and lighter blending of colour to the wrapper. Visuals and pre-light aroma were gorgeous again – sexy wrapper, smells of rich tobacco, lots of dark, brown sugar (almost molasses tinged). Like it’s predecessor from this box, this was marbled, oily, sleek, smooth, flawless. This box just has that “oomph!” of character.

Opening Impressions: After a lighting up and initial draws, I was blown away – again. But this time, I was sure to do pictures and notes. Perfect opening – even burn, great draw, smoke that just has that nice presence in your mouth. These cigars just have that essence that you are smoking a….CIGAR. Not any cigar, but a great cigar. I never, EVER thought that I would wax so poetic about a simple, mass-produced, ordinary Montecristo No. 4. But hot damn, they are so good in this batch – the quality of tobacco that must have went into this run is nothing short of top notch.

First Third: Strong flavour profile is evident – brown sugar essence, almost that of being slowly caramelized into molasses. Cocoa, definitely strong presence of creamy milked coffee. Great tastes and flavour blend.

Second Third: Well, unfortunately, some things just aren’t 100% perfect. Started to have slight burn problems, throughout the 2nd third. I tried to use my lighter to touch-up and correct the burn about 3 or 4 times. Turns out, I think I had a slight plug in this third – the smoke became very hard to draw at one point (about evenly halfway through the cigar), and I even ended up having some tunnelling to the cigar upon ashing it near the end of this third. Flavours took a back seat to some bitterness, due to burning issues and lighter touch-ups. A disappointing middle.

Final Third: Came damn close to making up for the middle third. Once I got past the plug/tunnelled area, things roared to life again. The flavours poured forth again. Finished with just a hint of harshness, not necessarily unexpected for a box only a year old. With this rich of tobacco that I’m noticing in these, time can only help them get better. I just don’t think I can let them sit too long before being beckoned in again!

Finishing Comments / Overall Impression: Very good. I gave this a 90, but I think without the burn issue in that middle third, these would have been a strong and definite 93. I’m just so excited with this box – very satisfying and euphoric. I’m continuing in my quest with Lisa and Rob to find more boxes of these – such a great PSP grab. Again, sorry for the crap pictures for my reviews, but these are from my 3-year-old cellphone, so they could’ve been worse.

Final Score: 90

Total Smoking Time: 50 minutes

Paired Beverage: Coke

Thanks for reading my review. Hope you enjoyed it.

Cheers.

[dicko]

Great review! I agree, lovely looking wrapper, "marbled" i like that descriptor.

I've only ever had a couple of monte 4's, perhaps time for a re-visit...

[adic88]

Damn that's a good looking Monte 4.

[Colt45]

Thanks for the review - I'm a fan of the ubiquitous M4.