Montecristo 3 TOS NOV 15 XNYRC

[Wailbait]

Happy new year to all.  I wish I had that great story where the clock struck midnight and I lit up the most special cigar in the world to me, filled with hope and nostalgia and I reflected upon the year that passed and the promises of what was to come.  The truth of the matter was that it was a 2014 Upmann 2 that was perfectly fine but not particularly noteworthy.  

This Monte 3 was better.  I purchased the PSP box near release.  Normally I let my cigars rest for a few years before getting into them, but the truth is, after around the 3 year mark, they were quite good.  I rather regret splitting this box as I think I only have 3 left.  
 

Construction was great.  Cold aroma delicious if not slightly muted.  From opening, it didn’t have the typical flavors one associated with Montecristo.  More fog and balsamic.  I quite liked it.  
 

Second half saw some of the more aromatic notes recede and what was left was coffee notes and some dark chocolate.  
 

I’m not typically the biggest Monte smoker.  I love the 4 with age and I am consistently confused and underwhelmed by the 2.  I never went deep on them.  The only reason I bought this box is not because I like the cigar but at the time, there were only two regular corona sized cigars available (Quai and Monte 3) so I took a flyer.  My quiet hunch is the Quai is better long term and the 3 better on the near.  
 

I’d rate this cigar an 88-90.  For me “90” is the point where I say “I’d DEFINITELY buy again.”  I had good luck with 2014 and 2015 smokes so part of me thinks the excellent quality of this smoke is due to the year.  I’m hopeful that that the 2019 ones are good as I’ll perhaps split a box of 19 Monte 3 and see how they are in a few years.  

[RDB]

3 hours ago, Wailbait said:

fog and balsamic

What an evocative experiential note