Montecristo No.4 vintage inconsistencies

[Uwiik]

Hi all, I have got quite a few boxes of vintage Montecristo No.4 (my favorite daily smoke) from 2015 and 2019, absolutely love the 2015 and some of the 2019 boxes but having a minor problem with some of the 2019 boxes. The offending boxes are all consistently bland tasting with strong aroma for the first 1/3 but always transform to full flavor with even stronger aroma after 2/3 until finish. I was just wondering if the offending boxes will transform to a more consistent flavor after more aging or not? I have had the boxes for close to 2 months kept at 62-63 RH 19-20C. I am asking because there is a chance that I can exchange the rest of the sealed offending box codes to a more favorable box code from the same year. 

Here are the pictures for reference:

These OMR MAR 15 are the nuts!! Finished almost a box and not a single stick have any issue at all, extremely consistent flavor and burn, nubbed every single one of these!! 

These UEB ABR 19 boxes are the bees knees!! Strong kicking flavor and very aromatic from start to finish, can tell it is still a bit acidic when compared to the OMR MAR 15 boxes, I attributed the very slight acidity for being less than 5 years old.  

These BOD ABR 19 are the offending boxes, I have opened 3 boxes so far and each stick from 3 different boxes have the same characteristics, very aromatic, very strong Cuban twang but a bit bland tasting on tongue on the first 1/3, only to transform fantastically, kicking arses and taking names after and peaking at the nub when my lips burns.

Advice advices please, thanks in advance!! 

[nKostyan]

Time heals Cuban cigars. Maybe your boxes need acclimatization in year.
As for "vintage", not every aged box will be vintage. Vintage can be considered either a limited edition box or regular cigars rolled from the harvests of the best years. It's the same as with vintage wines - only reference harvests. For tobacco, this is a harvest grown without rains. Tobacco lives only at the expense of moisture extracted by the roots from the depths of the soil, simultaneously storing minerals. Such tobacco is fatty and oily, the plant survives in harsh conditions, and reserves nutrients. Even regular cigars from such harvests are considered vintage, they retain their taste and aroma for many years. Habanos, calling all old issues “vintage”, is deceiving in order to better sell the illiquid that has lain in warehouses.

[NSXCIGAR]

If it's the same factory and especially the exact same factory and date they might have just received a batch of improperly processed leaf. Happens all the time. 

Sub-optimal processing can cause all sorts of different issues from flavor to burn. The leaf can look great, smell great and taste bad or taste like nothing. Or it can taste great but burn like a charcoal briquette. I had a few Monte PE boxes from around 19 that had amazing flavor but I couldn't get the things to burn with an oxyacetylene torch. I literally had to blast it with my lighter before every puff and the ash was like driftwood. 

Just another reminder that there are hundreds of steps from seed to smoke and every single one must be executed properly for any cigar to perform as intended.

[RDB]

Some boxes are better than others. It’s as simple as that.

But if a box doesn’t taste good… stop smoking it and wait a year or two. Makes no sense to keep on going, and time sorts out quite a lot of problems (especially strong, bitter taste).

[BrightonCorgi]

I'd keep them and check back in 3 years.

[Lt4-396]

I have quite a few of BOE ABR 19 Monte #4 boxes. Other than a slightly higher plugged count they are fantastic. This goes back to the good days, as these are PSP graded.

Could be a bad box, could be a box that needs more time no one really knows.

[cigaraholic]

If you can get ESL 19 I’d trade my BOE 19 in a heartbeat!!!

[99call]

Cuban Cigars = Inconsistencies

Accept & Acclimatise

Relax

[Sandman]

8 minutes ago, 99call said:

Cuban Cigars = Inconsistencies

Accept & Acclimatise

Relax

So true. This is the reality. 

[El Presidente]

They're made in almost all factories and occasionally the local school tuckshop/canteen. 

....what is remarkable is that they are as consistent as they are 

[Arabian]

You'll have to realize those virgin thighs aren't all the same, some are done by Jose or Pedro. Hairy thighs may caused it. 

[BrightonCorgi]

If I had the choice in that vitola in Montecristo, I'd go for the Petit Tubo instead of the No. 4. 

Seems like the blend is different and favors the Petit Tubo much better. Fuller-flavored cigar.

[Uwiik]

On 2/5/2024 at 4:59 AM, Lt4-396 said:

I have quite a few of BOE ABR 19 Monte #4 boxes. Other than a slightly higher plugged count they are fantastic. This goes back to the good days, as these are PSP graded.

Could be a bad box, could be a box that needs more time no one really knows.

Reading your comments and your own experience with the same BOE ABR 19 led me to believe that my BOE ABR 19 boxes just needing more time to rest. Funnily enough, none of my sticks from all the box codes is plugged or tight “knocking on wood”, smoked close to 24 sticks already from my three different box codes and all are beautiful to inhale/sip. Lately I have been smoking these extremely slow, getting 1 hr 15 to 1 hr 30 on average and rarely had to relight even with a pace that slow. I guess my 62 RH 19C setup suit these sticks really well.