Anybody smoking Monte Especial's or Monte #1"s?

[maverickdrinker]

Order 20 boxes...

Corrected. Lok

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[dangolf18]

I have a Montecristo No.1 from the early 90's that I'll probably be smoking next week. As for recent production, I prefer the No.3 over the No.1. And I'd pick either the Especiales and the Especiales No.2 over those two.

[ajgagnon]

I have a box of Monte #1 that are also great. Pure Monte. I think the advice to get a box of 10 and possibly try the Especiales too would be my bet if you can swing it. I get a bit confused/indecisive when comparing similar vitolas within a marque... good thing there's such a wealth of experience on this forum!

[PigFish]

While I smoke Monte #1's they are about my least favorite lonsdale. The newest that I have are '08 and they are not as good as a Diplomatico 1 or a RG Lonsdale. I think they are better on average than the #2. I have had some that were spectacular. Overall not as good a cigar as the Esp 1 or 2. With all this talking about the Esp., I kinda' figured that is what you were talking about.

I am pretty sure I have an open box somewhere and I will be happy to pull one and light it up if you want. If it is as good as the RASCC that I just smoked, I will be surprised!

LMK, -the Pig

[PigFish]

...well I could lay my hands on these, none opened. I will pop a box and smoke what you want, '02, '04, '06 or '07... LMK and I will try to smoke one tomorrow!

Cheers. -the Pig

[Hemsworth]

You are too kind, Pig! May as well make it the '07 as I am highly unlikely to find anything with substantial age on them.

[Jnaube]

I need more Montecristo AND long and skinny presence in my humidor and have been kicking around the idea of a box of either one. Any input?

Not a big fan of Monte 1. Last two bixes i bought were of really bad quality. The pull was atroceous and the quality of the cigar really lacked in every aspect. Dunno if it's because these are so pular and they sell so many but I personnaly prefer the Especial.

[PigFish]

...well I got impatient and opened the '04's. All is not lost however!

The '04.

'04 was a bit of a transitional year as I see it. Some folks also call this a year to be wary but I don't really prejudice myself to vintage years, although this cigar would rationalize this behavior.

The cigar I chose was a bit under filled. '04's have a reputation for this. I would far rather have an overfilled cigar than an underfilled one myself.

This cigar was kinka' soft to the touch and with how dry I keep cigars that means it could really have used some more tobacco. The burn was good with no tunneling which surprised me a bit. The draw was easy, too easy for my taste. With the feel I was already braced to really criticize this cigar.

The taste was quite robust, probably from the amount of tobacco that was being consumed per puff. While I don't smoke NC's, this would be a cigar that an NC enthusiast would have likely really liked. It was rather strong, robust in nature, monotonic, lacking most of the essence that makes a CC a CC (IMHO).

The cigar was not bad, don't get me wrong, but not really my cup of tea. I prefer cigars with more character and charisma and I will take a hit in constitution to get it. This was a strong cigar, with a hint of hazel and cinnamon, no sugar and very little spice. No pepper on the palate.

I would rate it better than a typical robusto, the reason I don't smoke them, but not as good as a Diplomatico #1 or a RG Lonnie. A lot of my friends would have liked this smoke, probably due to the same reasons that it was not a favorite of mine so read in the review my observations and not really my opinions for the most accurate analysis.

I knew that I had more of these around. And I also knew that I had some 10x boxes...

Will try to smoke the '08 today. Beautiful cigar! Cheers, Piggy

[Hemsworth]

Thank you, Piggy. I am not all that crazy about a loose drawing cigar so hopefully the '08 comes across as more promising. I am curious to read your findings about the differences that a few years can make. That being said, I am certainly going to go for the Especial's.

[CaptainQuintero]

Personally I find monte come alive to my taste after 10 years, I know some people would say that they become too mild but that's what I love about them; smooth vanilla and dried fruits, waves of coffee too. I prefer the number 3 to the 1 though.

The especials don't need near as much age imo, give them 3 years and they will rock away quite nicely

[PigFish]

Thank you, Piggy. I am not all that crazy about a loose drawing cigar so hopefully the '08 comes across as more promising. I am curious to read your findings about the differences that a few years can make. That being said, I am certainly going to go for the Especial's.

I prefer the Esp 1 and 2 to the standard lonsdale (#1) myself and I think it is a better choice.

The '08 was nothing like the '04... again bolstering my disbelief in the old "brand profile gag!"

This cigar was much better made, much firmer, a slower smoke and considerably different from the '04. This cigar started mild with mostly a mocha flavor, little pronouced tobacco taste, no bitter nor negative taste characteristics. The '08 had little of the constitution of the '04 and was pleasingly mild, if not too mild for my taste.

This is of course where you would want to insert some complexity or character in the cigar, but I cannot say that it really materialized in this cigar. I experienced some mild tannins, nothing brash or boorish, likely some remnant of a younger cigar. The cigar developed from extremely mild to mid-mild. The tannins developed somewhat to a malt flavor which yielded a bit of mint and almond flavor. Again there was little to no sweet in this cigar, no pepper on the palate and no harsh tones.

The smoke had a nice mouth feel and I could catagorize the cigar as rich, yet not robust. The mouth feel was slightly unctuous, cool without any negative aftertaste.

Overall the cigar was about average, noting to rave about and not up to par with the name identity, nor even its presumed lesser rival the Diplomatico.

I like lonsdales but this one did not really impress me. I have much better smokes to smoke, but I will likely kill off the box of ten just to see what happens.

Cheers, -the Pig

[PigFish]

beautiful cohiba head in wood mr.Pig! u do it?

Yeah, I was going to weld a little stainless cigar holder, cut out of a SS tube attached with a skinny single rod from the center but never got around to it. I had some leftover African mahogany that I planed for some humidor shelves and shot it with a little matte lacquer when I finished some cabinet doors a few months back.

I don't know what I am gonna' do with it as it has been floating around my computer desk with all kinds of humidor junk for weeks now!!! I figured she might like to pose with a rival cigar! She did not argue!

Cheers! - 'y