Montecristo No. 5 : Monte Review Comp 2016

[jcorona]

I picked this up from my local b&m, having never had one before. Unfortunately, I didn't check the box date or code. Judging from the color of the band and the flavors, I'm guessing it came from a '14 or '15 box.

Rested it around 8 weeks at 66% rh in my humidor before firing it up. Wasn't expecting much from this tiny timid looking cigar.

 

Prelight: the draw was on the tight side. Foot smelled of light tobacco and looked tightly packed, and felt very firm to the squeeze.

Cold draw was of sweet creamy cappuccino. Spice in the background.

The ambient rh outside was 52%, favorable. Did a straight cut, and we're off.

 

1st third: first impression, creamy sweet cappuccino, good start. First few puffs predict a good ride.

Black coffee on the finish. Twang and a spicy tingle on the tongue. Satisfying amount of smoke. On the retrohale, spice and a vegetal note. Towards the end of the first third, body becomes medium. Timid looking cigar, but loads of bold flavors, and not boring in the least. Required frequent touch-ups, I think due to being rested at 66% rh. Needs a lower rh.

 

 

2nd third: same flavors. There's a vegetal grassy note, the kind you get when you sip a good tequila. More touchups needed.

Spice is picking up. Medium bodied so far. Towards the end of the second third, body is becoming medium to full.

Twang, a vegetal note, and spice are dominant now. Lip smacking good.

 

3rd: same as 2nd to the finish.

 

This would benefit from lower rH. Flavor profile: cappuccino, spice, a little cream, some sweetness, grassy vegetal note, and plenty of twang with good smoke output. Worth having a few of these perlas in your humi.

 

Strangely enough I enjoyed this more than the monte 4 I had a few months ago.

 

Smoking time was ~ 1 hour 20 minutes. I am a slow smoker.

 

Score: 8.5 out of 10

[Jimmy_jack]

Nice review.

[TheMonk]

Nice short review!

[MarkinAZ]

Reviewing old reviews on the Monte #5...