Monte #3 > Monte #4?

[CaptainQuintero]

I'm relatively new to cigars, only maybe three years, but Monte 3 is one of my favourites. What I have never tried is the Monte #4. No particular reason apart from I got a #3 in a sampler pack, loved it so didnt bother with the 4.

So the 4 is the same ring guage but 1/2 an inch shorter, that's the only physical difference yet the 3 costs (here) around £4 extra for that extra 1/2 inch.

So I;m wondering why did they bother? is Habanos SA convinced there is a market who want a Monte #3 but don't have an extra five minutes for that extra 1/2 inch? Or is it down to construction; the #3 having a higher standard?

I'm learning that Habanos tend to make...outside of the box decisions, but I'm struggling to find a reason why both #3 and #4 exist, or am I just being picky/naive?

[maverickdrinker]

monte 4s are the best selling cigar in the entire Habanos SA portfolio. production is quite high. The brand recognition on the monte 4 is what keeps it in production. The mareva size is a perfect size to enjoy the flavours of a cuban cigar without breaking the bank.

[frenchkiwi]

Funny that - i don't think i've ever tasted a monte #3, or #1 for that matter.

but apart from size and price considerations, i imagine that #3 will have a blend of its own and a flavour of its own...?

Eg no4s (e.g. cocoa flavours) are quite different to no5s (stronger, twangy slightly fruity), both are different again from no2s, edmundos etc.

[CaptainQuintero]

Funny that - i don't think i've ever tasted a monte #3, or #1 for that matter.

but apart from size and price considerations, i imagine that #3 will have a blend of its own and a flavour of its own...?

Eg no4s (e.g. cocoa flavours) are quite different to no5s (stronger, twangy slightly fruity), both are different again from no2s, edmundos etc.

Oh right that's a learning point for me, I assumed that monte#1-5 blend was essentially the same with the size changing to adjust for people's preferance.

I'm assuming that the blend has to be something quite different to justify the difference in price and lack of size change.

#3 for me has always had bags of dried fruit, specifically raisin. I had assumed that was the monte profile.

[PigFish]

Many cigar lines have lost their classic 1 through 5 (even 6 and 7's) sizes while not exactly designated as such. CC are catagarized by vitola with a standardized vitola name. You can look a H SA site or find some data around the web for such info.

What we call a PC (petit coronas) is interchangeable in size with the marevas. The Monte 4 is a marevas. The Monte 3 (M-3) is a coronas (for example). These are standard CC sizes. Since Tabacuba (whatever they are calling themselves today) is a nationalist company the brands don't really exist beyond name only and they generally adhere to a standardized catalogue of sizes (vitolas).

Please don't think that the cigars have no place in the line. That is group think amongst those at H SA et al as they kill off great cigars as a means to generate more revenue for gram of tobacco. Coronas are on the outs today... and it is too damn bad. While I think generally poorly of the Monte line due to its overproduction and poor attention to detail, the M-3 and the M-1 are the better of the family (IMHO).

Don't forsake the M-3! I do believe that they are the better cigar than the M-4 due to the fact that the M-4 is so widely made. That again is my opinion and a broad generalization. If you have been smoking good M-3's and pick an average M-4 to try you may well be disappointed. If you like the Monte line in general try the M-1, the Especial and the Especial #2, and the M-5. I would say that you have not really smoked a wonderful cigar until you smoke the two Especial models and the Monte 1 follows those. The Monte 5 is generally much better than the M-4. My generalizations do no exclude the fact that cigars, like people are individual in nature. Anyone you pick up could be the best or worst cigar you ever tasted!!!

M-1 is a cervantes

M-2 piramides

M-3 coronas

M-4 marevas includes petit tubo

M-5 perlas

Especial laguito No. 1

Especial #2 laguito No. 2

I have left out all the Edmudos and such and the specialty cigars as I don't follow them and frankly don't care what vitola they represent. You can find all such information from H SA or Trevor's cigar site.

Good luck on your journeys in cigars. -Piggy

[CaptainQuintero]

Many cigar lines have lost their classic 1 through 5 (even 6 and 7's) sizes while not exactly designated as such. CC are catagarized by vitola with a standardized vitola name. You can look a H SA site or find some data around the web for such info.

What we call a PC (petit coronas) is interchangeable in size with the marevas. The Monte 4 is a marevas. The Monte 3 (M-3) is a coronas (for example). These are standard CC sizes. Since Tabacuba (whatever they are calling themselves today) is a nationalist company the brands don't really exist beyond name only and they generally adhere to a standardized catalogue of sizes (vitolas).

Please don't think that the cigars have no place in the line. That is group think amongst those at H SA et al as they kill off great cigars as a means to generate more revenue for gram of tobacco. Coronas are on the outs today... and it is too damn bad. While I think generally poorly of the Monte line due to its overproduction and poor attention to detail, the M-3 and the M-1 are the better of the family (IMHO).

Don't forsake the M-3! I do believe that they are the better cigar than the M-4 due to the fact that the M-4 is so widely made. That again is my opinion and a broad generalization. If you have been smoking good M-3's and pick an average M-4 to try you may well be disappointed. If you like the Monte line in general try the M-1, the Especial and the Especial #2, and the M-5. I would say that you have not really smoked a wonderful cigar until you smoke the two Especial models and the Monte 1 follows those. The Monte 5 is generally much better than the M-4. My generalizations do no exclude the fact that cigars, like people are individual in nature. Anyone you pick up could be the best or worst cigar you ever tasted!!!

M-1 is a cervantes

M-2 piramides

M-3 coronas

M-4 marevas includes petit tubo

M-5 perlas

Especial laguito No. 1

Especial #2 laguito No. 2

I have left out all the Edmudos and such and the specialty cigars as I don't follow them and frankly don't care what vitola they represent. You can find all such information from H SA or Trevor's cigar site.

Good luck on your journeys in cigars. -Piggy

Great info there thanks. I agree the Monte 3 is one of my favourites also, the corona is about the perfect size for me, it suits nearly all situations that I smoke in. I am currently working my way through a box from 2001 and every time it's like being punching in the mouth with a fist of dried fruit and cream, lovely smoke and I have only had one bad stick which was down to being plugged.

I've been reading and watching a lot of the review of the #4 these past few days and it seems you pay a little extra with the #3 to get the better construction. I'm perfectly happy to continue doing so!

[PigFish]

Great info there thanks. I agree the Monte 3 is one of my favourites also, the corona is about the perfect size for me, it suits nearly all situations that I smoke in. I am currently working my way through a box from 2001 and every time it's like being punching in the mouth with a fist of dried fruit and cream, lovely smoke and I have only had one bad stick which was down to being plugged.

I've been reading and watching a lot of the review of the #4 these past few days and it seems you pay a little extra with the #3 to get the better construction. I'm perfectly happy to continue doing so!

You are quite welcome. It is easy to forget that we all started somewhere and picked up the basics from people in the know along the way. I think that it is great that you like coronas as I do myself, which tends to put us both out of the mainstream of the current trend in the fatter the better the cigar.

You may want to try the Especial. These are one of my favorite cigars.

I do think that you should try the Monte 4 for yourself as it was not my intent to dissuade you, only to provide you an opinion. I smoke the M-4 on occasion when the price is right. But for my money I would rather smoke an RG PC or a PL PC for less money. I have begun to believe that the PLPC may also be falling into the category of being overproduced as they are not (IMHO) as good as they were when they were re-released.

Petit Coronas are great little cigars but I do think some are better than others (generally). If you don't want to spend the money on the M-4 and your retailer has the RG PC for less give one a whirl. -Piggy

[riazp]

I agree with the fact that the monte 3 is better than the monte 4. The problem with the 4 is the fact it is so mass produced that quality is iffey. when a monte 4 is on, its a fantastic cigar. but you need to get lucky and hope to score a good box... I tend to lean towards the 3, if i'm looking for something in that size of a monte 4, i'll go for a dip 4 (now discontinued)

[CaptainQuintero]

Yeah I feel that sometimes you can get a lot more flavour out of a thinner guage as opposed to say as robusto which is why I tend to like them. It's also just a nice size for almost any smoking occasion.

Why would they discontinue the Dip 4? I've only ever heard nothing but fantastic reviews about them. I wondered why my regular place did not stock any, I had been meaing to try them for a while but never got around to it I suppose there is always the Dip 3.

I have a few Monte Especials sitting in my humidor after loving the Especial #2 I also have some PL PC on their way to me.

Looks like I'm going to have to find a place which is still selling Dip 4 and get my hands on a box.

Pig- I just saw that you are on the Isle of Man, I've always wondered do you have better prices on cigars there due to the island's tax status?

[ashen]

I've had an M3 in HK and it was excellent, with excellent construction. The M3 carried its signature creamy and light cocoa taste.

[El Presidente]

If I was buying blind I would purchase the M3 over the M4. They just don't make as many M3 and overall, construction is a little better.

However if purchasing M4 and you want to take the risk out of it then pick one up when our HQ selections come up (or drop Lise a line to secure some M4).

Well constructed M4, with great aroma at cold and a fine wrapper are an absolute treat. Unfortunately they are only about 10-15% of total M4 production.

[CaptainQuintero]

If I was buying blind I would purchase the M3 over the M4. They just don't make as many M3 and overall, construction is a little better.

However if purchasing M4 and you want to take the risk out of it then pick one up when our HQ selections come up (or drop Lise a line to secure some M4).

Well constructed M4, with great aroma at cold and a fine wrapper are an absolute treat. Unfortunately they are only about 10-15% of total M4 production.

Damn that's a painful percentage! Especially as I can count the number of bad #3 I have had on my thumb!

Thanks for the tip aswell, I will definitely look into that when I'm going to restock. I'm looking at investing in a wine cooler so the amount I'm keeping can be increased, a 100 limit humidor is tough when trying to expand your CC horizon!

[PigFish]

The Diplomatico line, outside of the Especial and newer fat members, mirrors the Monte line in their 1-5 numbered cigars. The M-4 and D-4 are both marevas and the D-3 and M-3 are both coronas. There are also many distant discontinued Montes and Diplos that I will not go into as they require me to go to reference (which I am too busy to do just now) and I don't want to be making memory guesses and mistakes. Trevor's site is a good reference tool for cigars and one looking for cigar data may wish to visit it and catch up on details, such as these and others I have left out.

The Diplo line (IMHO) is far superior to the general Monte line. The problem is that the Diplomatico line did not get the premium price structure of the Monte line and they are what I consider to be "insiders" cigars. Regarding insiders; I would say that folks that go through the trouble (pleasure) of discussing CC online, would be considered "insiders." Most members here, old or new, are passionate about cigars and wish to fraternize and discuss them in a more thorough manner than the "lay" cigar smoker.

You will likely encounter the counter argument, that the Diplomatico line did not sell! Since I don't buy this argument, believing the cigar market as being an aggregation of niche markets and not just a trendy mass market, I will let those pundits make that point on their own as they often do. I bring it up for the sake of balance.

I believe that downsizing the lesser selling brands and vitolas is a huge mistake. While it will take time to prove me right or wrong I am missing those cigars. Well... not yet! The Diplomatico #1 is one of my favorite cigars and I have hoarded "more than a few" boxes to keep me smoking the D-1 for some time yet to come. I would suggest to anyone to try Diplomaticos given the chance. The only ones I don't smoke are the D-2's. I think they are as lousy as the M-2!!!

RIP Diplomatico!

-Piggy