CA Aged Montecristo No.3 85 Year Anniversary

[Bri Fi]

Anejado program renamed? Here’s an article from Cigar Aficionado:
 

The Montecristo brand turns 85 this year, and Spain is celebrating with a limited, exclusive release of Cuban Montecristo No. 3 cigars that regional distributor Tabacalera S.L.U. says are at least 10 years old.

Astute observers will notice that the cigars are adorned with the older Montecristo bands that were discontinued in 2013 and updated when Habanos S.A. punched up the design with gold highlights and a glossier finish. A new secondary band denotes the brand’s anniversary.

Like standard Montecristo No. 3 cigars, the smokes measure 5 5/8 inches by 42 ring gauge, but these limited-edition coronas are packed in 15-count boxes, which is unusual for Cuban cigars. Only 2,000 boxes (each of them numbered) have been released, and they retail for 199.50 euros (about $221) per box, which comes out to about $14.75 per cigar.

While the 85 Aniversario No. 3 cigars are exclusive to the Spanish market, Habanos commemorated the brand’s 80th birthday with the global release of the Montecristo 80 Aniversario five years ago.

At the Habanos Festival in February, Habanos officials named Spain as its largest market for handmade cigars in terms of volume. Spain was the first country to get an advanced allotment of the Cohiba Novedosos and has recently received other Spanish market exclusives such as the Montecristo decorative ceramic jars and the Regional Edition La Flor de Canos.

[JohnS]

I might speak for many here, but this sort of marketing usually has me instantly cynical. However, if it's done to push a coronas (42 ring gauge x 142 mm or 5⅝ inches in length) cigar such as the Montecristo No.3...well, I actually don't mind that. Coronas vitolas were once a staple size in nearly every marca and once the quintessential size of Habanos cigars (in the 1970s and 80s, today it is the Petit Robusto) so I hope this marketing strategy goes well.

[Bri Fi]

Yeah I was thinking the same. I just see the failure of the anejado program and hope these aren’t a ploy to dump some of those designed for that program under a different name. 

[benfica_77]

23 hours ago, JohnS said:

I might speak for many here, but this sort of marketing usually has me instantly cynical. However, if it's done to push a coronas (42 ring gauge x 142 mm or 5⅝ inches in length) cigar such as the Montecristo No.3...well, I actually don't mind that. Coronas vitolas were once a staple size in nearly every marca and once the quintessential size of Habanos cigars (in the 1970s and 80s, today it is the Petit Robusto) so I hope this marketing strategy goes well.

I agree, i'm very skeptical of their ageing program period. I agree with El Prez when he says it's better to age yourself if you're can. So far I can attest that has resulted in the best cigar smoking experiences. 

[NSXCIGAR]

Well, they're technically not Anejados, so I'm not automatically dismissing them. If they are truly properly aged Monte 3 and smoke well, fine. But anything aged from Cuba is now guilty until proven innocent for me.

And as a side note, 10 year old Monte 3 is easy to find at very reasonable prices at certain trusted vendors. I'm sure these 85th will be at least twice as expensive. That packaging is quite ornate and that screams expensive to me.

[Bri Fi]

The article says $221 per box of 15. To me that doesn’t seem excessive for that much age and for the packaging. Just makes me curious why they would choose a monte 3 as the anniversary cigar. 

[garbandz]

" curious why they would choose a monte 3 "

well, it is Spain.

these have a better chance of being above average than the  Monte 4,and are excellent when made well.

I still do not feel comfy with the age statement.

pass...…….

[NSXCIGAR]

7 hours ago, Bri Fi said:

The article says $221 per box of 15. To me that doesn’t seem excessive for that much age and for the packaging. Just makes me curious why they would choose a monte 3 as the anniversary cigar. 

That's not a bad price for what it is. They could get more I'm sure. 

As for the Monte 3, it had been the best selling CC worldwide until the early 2000s--perhaps it still is in Spain. There's clearly something about it since they also released the Monte 3 Sevilla jars for Spain a few years back. 

[Nino]

On 7/9/2020 at 8:44 AM, NSXCIGAR said:

Well, they're technically not Anejados, so I'm not automatically dismissing them. If they are truly properly aged Monte 3 and smoke well, fine. But anything aged from Cuba is now guilty until proven innocent for me.

And as a side note, 10 year old Monte 3 is easy to find at very reasonable prices at certain trusted vendors. I'm sure these 85th will be at least twice as expensive. That packaging is quite ornate and that screams expensive to me.

Correct. Anything aged from Cuba is doubtful to me as well.

Why and where would HSA have stored a bunch of MC 3 for 10 years to celebrate its 85-th Anniv ?
And while Spain receives special packaging and it looks all very nice, I still smoke cigars - I don't collect packaging ( while it is pleasant for the aesthetics and your kids might like it to store coins or stamps... )

Just another gimmick cigar with an extra band like many other releases for Spain, the P2 Tauromaquia - with the Sevilla jars being an exception.

[dshot]

I'm willing to bet you could find a 25 box around the same price with the same age eventually on bond roberts. It's a hard sale for someone that knows anything about cigars. It's an easy sale for a wife looking for a cigar gift for her husband in Spain.