Montecristo No. 2: ULA/NOV14: Montecristo Review Comp 2016

[Sean3]

The consumate CC, the Montecristo No. 2 is loved the world over, and rightly so.  The cigar in this review is from the first box of CC's I ever purchased, and the first one I have raided from it!  The box code and date is ULA/NOV14.  So how was it?  Let's start with the draw...perfect.  Now the burn...utter perfection.  And let me add, that I worked hard getting the humidity in my wineador under control.  The lower humidity level (62%) is finally starting to pay dividends.  Next up, the wrapper...a bit on the light side, possibly what they call Colorado color.  And last, but certainly not least, the flavor.  This well constructed pyramid started off simple, with cedar, a little cocoa,  and very light black pepper.  This profile continued and picked up slowly as I smoked it.  Into the second half things picked up.  I started to get some of the Monte chocolate and a bit of coffee which continued into the final third of the cigar.  While not overly complex, the final third saw the chocolate, coffee, and cocoa become the core of flavor, with a little woodiness on the back end.

This cigar was quite simply, a pleasure to smoke.  I almost got it down to a nub, a rare feat for me.  It would appear that my cigars are starting to acclimate to the lower humidity level as this cigar was the first to burn and perform flawlessly since lowering it.  This Monte was a stellar performer with solid flavor, I will be smoking more of them.  Try one if you haven't.

 

[Smoking Ninja]

Great review Sean. I have couple from 2008.  Can't wait to light it up after reading ur review!!

[Smoke6]

Nicely done!  I have a newer box that I am going to review as well to compare tasting notes

[westg]

Nice review, one of my favourite cigars..... is that a goat in the background ?

[subport]

39 minutes ago, westg said:

Nice review, one of my favourite cigars..... is that a goat in the background ?

Isn't it a roe (deer)?

[garbandz]

the name is doe, and it is a southern whitetail deer.

we have them thick in my area, and since we feed them it's not unusual to have 5 to 8 in the yard each evening.

the record is 14 at one time. we sit about 20 feet from the feed pan, and the deer get bold sometimes.

the cats walk right up and touch noses with them.

with the chickens, cats ,and deer, it can get congested in our yard sometimes..............

[westg]

3 minutes ago, garbandz said:

the name is doe, and it is a southern whitetail deer.

we have them thick in my area, and since we feed them it's not unusual to have 5 to 8 in the yard each evening.

the record is 14 at one time. we sit about 20 feet from the feed pan, and the deer get bold sometimes.

the cats walk right up and touch noses with them.

with the chickens, cats ,and deer, it can get congested in our yard sometimes..............

I would love to see that

[Hurltim]

It's like Marty Stouffer's wild america at my hacienda. We have a pair of great horned owls that hunt rabbits up at the corrals, mule deer, antelope, the occasional golden eagle, a resident red tailed hawk pair, 'yotes up the wazoo and the occasional visit by a black bear (bear scat is hard to misinterpret). There are elk in the area but I haven't seen them at the house. 

The neighbors cattle come up to the back fence. He uses 4 wheelers to work his cows so they don't know horses. The interaction between his cows and our horses is hilarious!

Our horses are bred for working cows so you can literally feel them shake with excitement when they see the cows. Kahlua, our mare leans over the fence to sniff them...LICK!!! 

The cow licked Kahlua's face. I about lost it.

Never a dull moment at the house. 

[backbone]

I love the photo's of the deer in the background, nicely done!

[BuzzArd]

Sean, that wrapper looks like milk chocolate silk.....

Saw a cute little doe-eyed deeuh yesterday crossing Yaupon Valley  road on the way home from the office.  If it hadn't been rush hour (loads of traffic bypassing Bee Cave Rd on this quiet, windy street) Ida pulled over and made her a nice portrait.  

Setting is idylic.  

[Slyclient]

Great review!  I received a newer box from a recent 24 24.  Cant wait to try them.

[TheMonk]

Nice work, and I agree: it is a classic for a season - very consistent cigar as of late.