Monte Especial No.2 ASR ABR 19 (TGCRW)

[RDB]

Maybe not the one cigar I would choose to live with forever, but surely a suitable Godfather cigar. The kind of smoke Michael Corleone would go for. A cerebral, late night cigar for making plans... that lead to your enemies’ demise.

This box had always looked great: sheeny, colorado-maduro, deep rich aroma. All a good weight and none tight and hard. This is my third from the box, and despite being young they have all smoked great. Perfect draw on this for a skinny: snug and slow, but not tight.

Sparks up easily and burns like a charm. Solid, even, light grey ash that falls in three even long chunks. Classic Monte flavours on the opening, but less cream and more cocoa. My (non-smoking) partner approves of the secondary night-air smoke, which is a good sign.

The first third is quite steady in flavour. Alongside the cocoa there’s a little more wood sap and richness than in say the no.2 or Petit Edmundo. Then the middle third puts on a more oily complexity: some dark fruit, chocolate and hints of cedar. Then added spice and funkiness into the back third. Distinct blackcurrant at one point. Smoked a little way past the band, it never got out of shape or dirty. But a serious stick by this point. No need to wear flashy clothes, or shout and brag like the wannabes... it’s the real thing.

Score: an obvious 1.