Montecristo No. 3 ATG AGO 2019 (C&CRW)

[BlueRidgeFly]

Ugly stick. Lighter wrapper. Big crack requires some glue. Firm draw, smokes OK.

Starts with a distinct vegetal note, cocoa powder, hint of generic twang, faint nougat and barely detectable almond. Mild. Not bad, but something about it isn't clicking. Maybe because I was in the mood for something a little bolder. Had been eyeing an Illusione CG4, but decided these Montes are as old as they need to be, so one must be burned!

Second third more of the same, slight build in intensity. Gets a little earthy taste, kind of alternates with a more defined medium chocolate note.

Final third and the chocolate takes over. One-dimensional but nice, so long as I relax and don't stoke it too hot, which makes it get a little tannic and off.

Can't give this more than a 90/100 if I'm generous. Had the whole thing been like the final third, it would have been much better. Will see how the rest of this box ends up, not sure time is on their side though. Montecristos, to my taste, seem to fade out of that good zone after a few years.