A horizontal tasting of three Montecristo No. 4s

[Plato]

Mike C's (Plato) & Brandon J's review of three different Montecristo No. 4s.

(1) Montecrisco Number 4 (2007 BLP NOV 2007) (standard box) Review:

~Appearance And initial Impressions: This is part one of a three part review of three seperate Montecristo No. 4s. The Monte No 4 we are reviewing today is a standard (not PE, HQ, or PSP) Monte No 4 from an international distributor. STandard box. Appearance is the lighter colored wrapper of the three cigars. Milk chocolate colored, whereas the other two are dark chocolate colored. Much darker. Cold draw is perfect. Not lets light this bad boy.

~First Third. Medium bodied smoke. Very cedary. Its almost a creamy, but not creamy cedar flavor. The cedar is almost completely intergrating into the cigar. Since this cigar is from 2007, it has had alot of time in the humidor. This definetly comes from a humidor with a lot of Spanish Cedar. A little spicy. The cigar thus far is extremely balanced. The cedar and tabacco notes blend into one another completely seamlessly, as one. An excellent smoke thus far. Although we have to admit, this is the second or third cigar we have has this evening so we might be suffering from a bit of palate fatigue. Enjoyable though. VERY enjoyable. I have to say, the smoke production is magnificant for such a thin gauge smoke. Its rare to find a cuban cigar of this ring gauge that has such an excellent draw that produces such incredible smoke output. We cant quite pinpoint it, but it has a very slight chocolate aftertaste. Im gonna go out on a limb here, but its as if you took a tiny nibble of bakers chocolate, and then licked a cedar board. And thats the taste you have. Its a very clean smoke. It is a very fragrant smoke. It doesnt taste like ash. There is something there that we just cant put our fingers on. Is it chocolate? Smoking this reminds me of sitting around a camp fire early in the morning

~Second Third--- The cedar is beginning to mellow out. It now tastes of cocoa. Smores. The cedar is almost completely gone now. It is now much more full bodied than it started out as. Some more smores. '

~Final Third--- It has continued to build in stength and body. The chocolate flabor as intensified...and mocha. Its like a sweet chocolately mocha. Brandon thinks that it is not as bitter as the first or second third. However, my palate disagrees. I feel as if it is more bitter in the final third. Everyone has their own palate.

Final thoughts : the chocolate vanished and a very woodsy flavor came through in the the end. A very good smoke. A great smoke. We would love to have a box of these. I feel like I could smoke this cigar any time of the day. Its hard to rate this cigar when we just had an H Upmann Sir Winston. Very good though

(2) Montecristo No 4 (Box date: Oct 2009 HQ from the Czar)

This is part 2 of a three part review of three different Montecristo No. 4s.

Prelight inspection and cold draw: Wrapper is a bit darker than the previous monte no 4. The draw is not nearly as good as the previous one. A typical cuban draw. Wrapper is pretty good looking. Flawless, no large veins. No water spots. Construction appears good.

First third: For Brandon, this cigar tastes very similar to the first one. With the addition of a damp leaf taste and aroma. (in a good way) I agree agree, but I also taste a cooked mushroom flavor (but in a good way). We are both picking up a very earthy flavor. So far the cigar has impressed both of us.

Second Third: We both found the earthy taste to have vanished. We tasted shortbread and it was glorious. it was remenicent of a sir winston, but the shortbread flavor vanished as quickly as it came, leaving us wanting more but excited for what is coming next. It has now taken on a sweet tobacco flavor. This cigar has had a wonderful array of flavors that is really keeping us on our toes.

Final Third: We accidentally let it sit a little too long and it went out. However we purged and relit the cigar and it is still full of flavor. Brandon and I both agree that the flavor and aroma of the cigar has now become slightly harsh while still retaining the original flavor. The earthy/mushroom taste is apparent and still delightful.

Final Thoughts: Overall a wonderful smoke! A smooth balanced flavor that kept our interest the entire time.

Final Thoughts part 2: How does it compare to the first cigar

MIKE: I feel that this cigar was richer than the first. They are both beautiful smokes. It is difficult to say which one is better, or if it is even at all possible to claim that one of these two is better than the other. I think the more fascinating observation is how different, but equally beautiful and unique each of these cigars are despite being both montecristos, and both montecristo number 4s. Its amazing the amount of difference that two cigars of the same model can be so different but so similar. Is it age? Is it the varation in wrapper color? I do not know. But this is why I love cuban cigars. Its the mystery, and the idea that you never really know what to expect from a cigar, even the same cigar from the same producer.

BRANDON: I must say that I enjoyed this cigar very much. I found it to keep my interest and meet all my requirments of what a good cuban cigar should be. The variation between this cigar and the first one was incredible. How two of the same cigars can be so very different amazes me. All i could think about with the first cigar was eating smores around a campfire, while smoking this one i found myself thinking of a fall day in the woods. It had a much more earthy flavor than the first but was by no means less enjoyable. I look forward to lighting up our third and final Montecristo #4 and seeing what kind of surprises it will throw our way.

Onto the third and final cigar of the night....

(3) Montecristo No 4 (OCT 2009) PSP from the Czar

Initial Impressions and cold draw: The darkest wrapper of the three by far. Very dark. Like dark chocolate. ( #1 was lightest in color, #2 was darker, #3 was darkest)

First Third:Right off the bat I get a taste of fire roasted corn. I know this sounds strange but that is exactly what it is. I took the first few puffs and realized it had this corn flavor but didnt mention it out loud to Brandon. He took a few puffs, and he said that it had a flavor that he just couldnt pin point. I said that I tasted roasted corn and he said "Oh my God. You just nailed it. Thats exactly what I taste. It reminds me of pulling a fresh piece of fire roasted corn out of a camp fire and biting into it, with just a hint of butter". For me, this is a taste that I also get from the Tatuaje 7th Reserva. VERY Similar to the Tatuaje 7th Reserva. Another great smoke and very cubanesque. The flavor went from fire roasted corn, to buttery corn. And now is changing into

Second Third: This is a great cigar. The best of the three. The balance is perfect. Body is medium to full, but with a natural swetness that makes it an absolute pleasure to smoke. The fire roasted corn flavor is still present, but now is intertwined with a sweet cuban tobacco flavor & aroma. This is definitely a PSP cigar. Hats off to you Rob. Well done Rob, well done. I have to say, this is our first PSP cigar. I have had loads of HQ boxes, but PSP really is a step above

Final Third: This has been the most consistent cigar of the three. It has not dissapointed. The flavor, body, burn, and aroma have all been SPOT ON. Brandon thinks that his cigar has made his top five for the year. For me, it definitely has made my top ten for the year. A great smoke.

In order of our preference: PSP, HQ, Standard.

Cheers Brothers!

[CanuckSARTech]

Well done, Mike, well done!!!!

I'm glad I could be of service with these. I wasn't sure if anyone was still looking at reviewing these, from our last Toronto end-of-season get-together. But, I'm thoroughly glad that you took the time to do this up! Thanks very much for sharing.

I'm glad you seem to have enjoyed all three, and I hope they met your expectations. Cheers, and well done, senor.

[Colt45]

Nice work gents.

[DinoCop05]

Excellent Mike. Now, you have really piqued my interest with this review. I actually have a box of no. 4 hq's in transit and can't hardly wait.

[rckymtn22]

Interesting review. Would like to see more reviews like this in the future by more experienced smokers on other cigars.

[Hohenthal]

Great effort,

thanks for that review!

[SIn]

Thank you for the review. Interesting to see the comparison btw various years.

[LLC]

Nice to see a review with the three different categories of the same cigar. Well done.