Monte 2 circa 2014 (FSRFeb25)

[Capn_Jackson]

Excellent, deep chocolate brown wrapper on this one. Cold draw has loads of peanut and salted cocoa. Light-up is full of hay, oak wood, and some serious cacoa … like 90%.

Gets sweeter as the first third goes on, a little more milk chocolate. Chocolate-covered cashew, and only a hint of bitter coffee. Big flavor in this, even going on nearly 11 years. Further on, getting some walnut and toasted oats. Dark baking spices, and very bready. Maybe pumpernickel. The wrapper seems to be slightly flame retardant, requiring two relights, but then hits its stride.

Not sure if it’s due to relights or just the stick, but much more darker flavors as the second third starts. This is probably the heaviest Monte 2 I can remember having, and decadently rich. Flavors of tiramisu and butterscotch mingle with slightly burnt caramel.

Last third burns like a dream, and I’m finally getting that roasted marshmallow and campfire profile I was looking for. Little bit of caramel milk stout. The end is dark, heavy treacle, with bright roasted coffee bean.

I think the Monte 2 has been my most frustrating CC over the years. So good when they’re on, but often hindered by poor burn, still very good - this being the case today.

88

[TacoSauce]

Do you have the box code?

[Capn_Jackson]

22 minutes ago, TacoSauce said:

Do you have the box code?

I don’t. Just year.

[JohnS]

You're right. Even when the Montecristo No.2 is a touch better than average it feels and smokes better than that, just because of that well-known Montecristo blend. When it's not, it can be such a let down!