Montecristo Especiales No 1 ARG ENE 14: Review

[potpest]

Monte’s aren’t a Marca I smoke a lot of; none of the singles I’ve tried have ever wowed me, I am however a lover of long skinny’s so decided to give a box of the Especiales no 1 a try and have not been dissapointed so far.

Construction is absolutely spot on; dark brown oily wrapper, uniformly filled and the aroma at cold is a sweet cocoa. I cut the cigar with a standard guillotine cut, the cold draw is hay with a hint of dark espresso in the background.

Opening:

Draw is exceptional from the off with great smoke output. Beautiful sweet cocoa start with coffee and a hint of wet wood. It’s medium bodied and very smooth on the retrohale; it’s hard to believe this is so young, If I had to guess I would put it nearer 3 years old.

1^st third:

The cigar continues from the opening with toasted tobacco, sweet cocoa, cinnamon and coffee. There is an aroma of chocolate from the foot. Flavours are very subtle yet tasty, the sweetness is still very prominent and that aroma in the room is amazing.

2^nd third

The cigar has picked up and the flavours have evolved to be darker, still similar but with a bitter espresso really coming through. The Sweet coca flavours have given in to a more woody earthy tone with some leather on the finish, the smoke is also now slightly harsh through the nose

Final third

Sweetness has returned again but with a different overall darker espresso coffee flavour, the sweet cocoa has become more of a dark chocolate with an earthy mushroom note. Smoke is now medium full and flavours have remained similar, but have definitely evolved to be a lot less subtle, without losing any of class in the process.

I’ve loved this cigar, I really can’t fault it in any way. It’s medium bodied hinting at full on the finish. The overall core flavours don’t change greatly, but do show a definite evolution, with the coffee and chocolate turning into espresso and dark chocolate.

Rating: 93/94

[Optic101]

Great review. Have also a young box and they are smoking great.

[Rye]

Lovely cigars! Nice review

[CUBANO]

Thanks for the review. One of my favorite cigars

[subport]

Good review from a good cigar

[Habana Mike]

Nice review! I'd give you a hand but seems you've already got one