CRC: Montecristo Fundadores

[MrBirdman]

The Monte Fundi!

Time for me to make a confession to Rob and the FOH community. The rumors of a potential new Habanos owner are a smoke screen: they’re a front for me, an American, to buy Chen’s shares. The transaction was closed months ago, paid entirely in counterfeit US bills. He was furious upon finding out. When he called, I told him I’d be glad to see him in an American court. So would the FBI. I closed with “now who’s the pig?” and hung up. (By the way, all those “profits paid out” by Habanos were actually him laundering money.)

I sat down with a Fundi to contemplate my first moves with this new asset. As visions of special editions, limited editions, unlimited-production limited editions and the like ran through my head, I felt a tinge of disappointment. This fundi was great and all, but I wasn’t feeling that profile at that moment. I thought I had made a mistake not reaching for Montecristo.

And then it hit me - how about a Montecristo….Fundadores! 

I got on the horn to Habanos and a couple weeks later I had this beauty on my doorstep. Sure, they arrived in an Especial box, but I saw no need to hold up production for 8 months while they made a new one.

Don’t believe me? View the proof below - the Montecristo Fundadores (right) next to a Cohiba Lancero.

Technically this is probably a 41, maybe 42 RG - here it is on the left next to the 40rg Davidoff Millenium Lancero. Davidoff’s sizing is always spot on. But hey, Cuba being Cuba and all. I was excited to smoke the world’s first Monte Fundi!

Now, I do hope it’s evident by now that this review belongs closer to April 1st - but I couldn’t help myself. I am not fooling about the size of the cigar though. I was doing a mold check of boxes I hadn’t opened in a while; I hadn’t noticed until now that this box of Montecristo Especial had almost every cigar on the top layer mis-sized. Half were “Fundis”, while others were as thin as Exquisitos. Guess they had to even things out. 

While I am working through another Especial box presently, I figured why not break this box to post a review. Who am I kidding - I’m not selling these. I picked the shortest cigar to get closest to a true Fundadores, which is 7” long. Box code is UTL MAI 19.

If you’re thinking that it must be loosely filled at this size, you’d be wrong. Hard as a broomstick. For Cuba that is normally a bad sign. However, the cigar draws perfectly and mostly tastes like a regular especial, though not quite as intense. Not sure if they rolled some with an extra half leaf of volado or what. Anyway, on the review. 

1st third: mild cocoa, maybe a weak coffee with some milk. A hint of cedar. Honestly, the first third reminded me of a good Dominican cigar - nice and elegant but nothing special.

2nd third: at some point doing emails I stopped and said “holy crap this cigar has gotten good.” This is where the Especial plays its real hand: milk chocolate, medium roast, and a wood aroma without the tannic wood taste I dislike in many Hoyo. It’s hard to convey words why this bog-standard Monte profile is special in this format; if you’ve smoked an Especiales No. 2, it’s a very similar profile with all the edges taken off. The flavors are similar but more refined, a bit like bumping your coffee from the nice stuff at the grocery store to a similar blend from a niche roaster. The coffee flavor here has a perfection only the Monte DE can match.

Last third: It’s a smooth progression of the above flavors to darker versions of themselves - darker chocolate, darker roast of coffee (always with a dash of milk), the tiniest hint of burnt sugar (not caramel). The last third is where the number two can really struggle because it just doesn’t have the refinement that this cigar does. 

Many times I smoke an Especial, especially if it’s been a while, I am surprised how light the first third is. Elegant, refined, but doesn’t knock your socks off. CoLa can be the same way. It’s not until the 2nd third where things really blossom and you remember why this cigar is such a delight. This is actually not one of the better Especial I have had - everything was there, it was very good, but it didn’t quite have the flavor intensity I have come to expect from it. Maybe that’s why HSA never added the Montecristo Fundadores to its regular line ;). Final score: 93 points. 

Especials are right up there with the great Cuban cigars like Winnie’s, CoLa, and Lusis.  One quality they all share is a discreteness in the flavors - they’re just easier to discern from each other. I think of it like listening to an orchestra in a great music hall like Carnegie - you can pick out any instrument you want from anywhere in the house, even while they’re all playing together. 

I know these sticks have been rare as hen’s teeth for many years now, and I doubt it’ll improve anytime soon given Cuba’s struggle to produce enough large wrappers even for all the ridiculous new releases they have. But in truth the Double Edmundo is tied with this cigar in my book - they can fly under the radar, maybe because of the size I guess. However, they’re also one of the great Cubans if you like montecristo at all. They’re a bit pricey these days but much easier to find. 

Hope this brought you some mild yuletide cheer. Happy Holidays to you all; may 2026 bring you good health and good fortune!

[Dlowil]

Nice review! I’d love to be an angel investor when/if the time arises.

[Chibearsv]

11 minutes ago, Dlowil said:

Nice review! I’d love to be an angel investor when/if the time arises.

As always, I'm in for $20. 😁

[JohnS]

Just stop this competition now. @MoeFOH, this review is a winner! 😂

[Hoosh]

2 hours ago, JohnS said:

Just stop this competition now. @MoeFOH, this review is a winner! 😂

Hold on…”On the phone with Habanos…a couple of weeks later…”

Does smoking and reviewing a quickly rolled prison CC count?! 😂🙂

Nice review!

[Chas.Alpha]

2 hours ago, JohnS said:

Just stop this competition now. @MoeFOH, this review is a winner! 😂

Hold on a minute, John…

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, Chas.Alpha said:

Hold on a minute, John…

Okay, well at the very least a consolation prize, if there is one!