Montecristo No. 4 UBM May 18 (SMRW3/4)

[rcarlson]

So last year I was introduced to the most popular Cuban sold, the Monte No. 4.  Hadn't bothered with them for that very reason.  I'm a contrarian like that, plus many of the seasoned smokers here consider them trite.  Well, to hell with all y'all. I'm a born-again Monte 4 lover, and I don't care who knows it. They're little milk chocolate flavor bombs. Perfect for an hour or so with a few cups of coffee on a weekend, which for myself and most of us is pretty much every damn day.  I'm doing my ass-sitting, cigar smoking, talkin' to myself best to beat the virus.  We're waging a war here.  

Cold draw and aroma on the mark.  Perfectly packed and constructed, as a Cuban mareva should be.  It's one of the things they seem to do consistently well. 

First few draws bring it. Creamy cocoa, coffee, faint sweetness.  Tasting like the Easter Bunny just left the basket in the middle of the floor to trip over rather than hunt for.  

Perfect white ash. The contrast of oily milk chocolate wrapper and tight white ash made it taste better. I know, I know, but the experience of a good stick is visual too in my book.   

By the halfway point, the power increased and the creamy mocha faded to woody espresso.  Draw and burn remained even.  Dark chocolate eathiness.

Delicious through the final stretch.  The downside of the little guys is that they require slow-smoking patience.  I don't have any.  So the heat predictably brings on the bitterness that betrays the creamy sweetness of the most delicious first parts. I blame myself.  This little guy didn't do anything other than try to love me.    

Breakfast for dinner always seems like breaking a commandment for my kids.  And that's how I felt grabbing this one late in the afternoon. Guilty pleasure.    

Solid B+.            

 

 

[ElJavi76]

Great review Rob... I hear you on the slowing it down. Occasionally that happens to me with one of my favs, the Medio Siglo. I get too happy and start puffing away. Cigar starts to underperform and that vitola is tough to hang onto when the temp goes up.

Hope to catch you on the virtual herf soon... I think we should start a US only herf. Maybe get the guys across the pond jealous. Although, not likely to work. ?

[rcarlson]

1 hour ago, ElJavi76 said:

Great review Rob... I hear you on the slowing it down. Occasionally that happens to me with one of my favs, the Medio Siglo. I get too happy and start puffing away. Cigar starts to underperform and that vitola is tough to hang onto when the temp goes up.

Hope to catch you on the virtual herf soon... I think we should start a US only herf. Maybe get the guys across the pond jealous. Although, not likely to work. ?

Snooty bastards!

I'll be lookin' for ya.