Montecristo No. 1 NOV18 (MCRW)

[JoeyBones777]

I had this cigar earlier today before the review weekend popped up so only 1 picture but the flavors are still quite fresh in my mind so the review will be accurate. I paid pretty close attention to this one for a number of reasons: 1) because it is the first from the box and I wanted a baseline for aging, 2) because it is the first Monte 1 I've ever had and I wanted to compare it to Monte 2's I have of similar quality(PSP from our host) and age and 3) because it's a lonsdale and I love me some lonsdales. 

First 3rd was milk chocolate, biscuit and cream. Perfect draw and straight burn. The flavors were focused for a young cigar and elegant. Great start!

Second 3rd milk chocolate turns to cocoa and the cream is fleeting but still good. I notice if I smoke at my typical lonsdale speed I get an ammonia like bitterness but when I take one really slow draw with plenty of rest between the flavors are cleaner with no bitterness. Draw is still perfect and burn requires minor touch ups.

Final 3rd shows its youth with cocoa and biscuit but bitterness from the ammonia. 

This was a tale of 2 halves with the first half blowing me away and the second half progressively showing its youth. That said I came away with a few observations. First, Monte 1's are better than Monte 2's but it certainly isn't a slaughter. The Monte 1 is a bit more focus, rich and elegant than the Monte 2 plus it's in the best vitola. The Monte 2 delivers similar flavors but with a cooler burn. Second, these need time. I'm guessing similar to Monte 2, these will likely be prime in 4 years but will certainly be very enjoyable in another year. At current it is an 89 for me but this will likely be a mainstay as I see these being a 95 - 96 at the 5 year mark.