Montecristo Number 2 LMB ABR18 (MCRW)

[SmokyFontaine]

First official review here, but had a Monte already dryboxing for a week or so and figured it would be a good first!

I am very new to Cubans and frankly they've been a mixed bag for me as I'm usually smoking boxes with 1-3 yrs on them which I understand is not a condition the more experienced here would want. 

Anyway, my drybox solution has been an old sampler box with a couple of small 62 Boveda packs. Storage is at about 65rh. It's worked out really nice for me historically.

I cut it assuming the ole PerfecDraw will be a tool of necessity like many torpedoes are for me (compounded by a higher % of tight/plugged Cubans) but the draw is flawless. Packed perfectly, nice looking wrapper. I'd shake the roller's hand but I wouldn't want to interrupt him/her because they're clearly excellent at their job.

Light it up trying to take longer than average toasting. This is a proper review for God-sake. Don't want to cut any corners. BTW, is there a trick for lighting in daylight? I never seem to do as good a job as night because I can't see the flame. 

Right off the bat I get a light dose of black pepper in the back of the throat (is this the "mongrel" El Pres talks about in young CC's?) But it's overpowered with baking spices. Almost a cinnamon, but not quite. I also get a fair bit of wood. Is it oak? Cedar? Hell, I don't know. It's wood.

Burn is a little all over, but with a couple of very minor touchups, I can't complain. 

Pairing with an iced coffee with a splash of milk. I roast my own, and this medium Ethiopian Sidama has been "a cracker" if I can borrow from our Aussies here.

Maybe it's because I'm thinking of coffee now, but I'm getting hints of it in what feels like the first transition. With it, I'm getting a dry cocoa powder. Milk chocolate tries to sneak in on the finish but I think I'm too cigar stupid to fully grab it. A wee bit of tunneling is happening, which really is my #1 issue with any cigar, Cuban or otherwise. I don't think it's storage conditions, probably mediocre lighting technique, or worse, I smoke clumsier than a virgin trying to undo his lady friend's bra strap for the first time. Sadly, the cigar can't smoke itself, so unlike my strap fumbles leading to the young lady stepping in and un-fastening it herself, I just need to figure it out.

Oh. I ramble a lot. The rules didn't say anyone needed to read this to win, I just needed to post!

Welp, burn issues kicking in. Filler is burning like a champ. Binder and wrapper are taking turns being bastards. As a result, I find myself practically using Elon Musk's flamethrowing on this thing, bringing a little harshness into the flavor. Hoping it's a jumpstart and I can focus more on smoking (little bit of fruit...maybe a dark cherry, poking around).

Flavors are just barely rebounding, and I'm finding myself having a lackluster Monte 2 experience. In fact, out of the couple dozen CCs I've smoked, the Monte 2 is the one that I find myself battling every time. Maybe a bum stick(s), a bum box, but for overall smoking experience, not good. 

Draw 10/10. Couldn't have been better.

Flavor (for the first couple inches) 7/10, the rest 4/10

Burn 1/10

Overall smoking experience 4/10

There are LOTS of cigars I would grab over a no. 2. Heck, the 4's I enjoy a lot more. Maybe in another year or...5, these will come around, but they're either not my jam or need much more age before they behave nice. Skipping the "finished pic" as there is a lot of cigar left and I don't want to break any hearts. Off to practice my bra strap technique.

Good night.