5 Up Deep Dive : The Evolution of a Cigar: Montecristo Number 2

[El Presidente]

 

5 Up Deep Dive 

The Evolution of a Cigar: 

Let’s start with one of the great benchmarks:

Montecristo No. 2

Few cigars have the global reputation, consistency of production volume, and ageing history of the Monte 2. It should prove to be an excellent case study

 

The questions: 

 

• How do the characteristics of the Montecristo Number 2  change from: 

           5   months - 5   years - 10  years - 15 years+

 

• If you could define the greatest flavour change in a Montecristo Number 2 as it ages, what would it be and perhaps, what period is that change most discernible? 
• Where is your personal ageing sweet spot for a Montecristo Number 2?
• For those that have experienced 15+ years Montecristo 2: are they generally "Tremendous" or "Tired"

 

 

[Tunkat92]

I find Monte 2s lose their chocolatey edge that I love around 5 years and start to develop woody and leather notes. I try to smoke my Monte 2s around 2-3 year mark as most seem to need 12-18 months to loosen up the draw. 

I cannot remember smoking a 15+ year Monte 2.

[loose_axle]

Only ever had Monte 2s in the 2-6 range. I like the 3-5 year mark and beyond that I have no experience. 

[JohnS]

• How do the characteristics of the Montecristo Number 2  change from: 5 months - 5 years - 10 years - 15 years+

- At 5 months I find an average Montecristo No.2 is not delineated enough to appreciate the complexities it has the opportunity to offer. By that I mean that, in general, that quintessential cocoa/coffee flavour is too dominant and the other flavours, by contrast, too recessive.

- At 5 years, an average Montecristo No.2 will be much more balanced in its flavours. You should be able to discern some cocoa (or chocolate), coffee, nut, even some leather.

- At 10 years, The Montecristo No.2 here will now see its nuttiness and leather become more dominant and those cocoa/coffee flavours recede. Still, at this point, the cigar should have plenty of life in it and be quite enjoyable to smoke if it has come from a reputable box already.

- At 15+ years, the cocoa/chocolate/coffee may still be evident, but now that leather note will dominate. I would opine that even at this stage a solid Montecristo No.2 will still be good to smoke as Habanos cigars have more life to them, in my opinion, than the average cigar enthusiast gives them credit for.

If you could define the greatest flavour change in a Montecristo Number 2 as it ages, what would it be and perhaps, what period is that change most discernible? 

- The greatest flavour change lies at that point when your well-known cocoa/coffee flavours are no longer as dominant as any nutty/leather flavours that start to come more to the fore. If you have a strong creamy texture in your Montecristo No.2 at this stage, then you are truly laughing, as they say colloquially.

Where is your personal ageing sweet spot for a Montecristo Number 2?

- Personally, I like them well-balanced in their flavours, so anywhere between 5 to 8 years of age is ideal for me. Having said that, if I have a young box smoking well, I wouldn't hesitate to some them along the way.

For those that have experienced 15+ years Montecristo 2: are they generally "Tremendous" or "Tired"

- I must admit that I've not had too many at this age; however, I would state "neither' in answer to this question. I think it would be somewhere in between these two extremities.

[joeypots]

I'm not sure of the exact dates of the tobacco changes but there has been an evolution of tobacco science and I'm willing to bet that the newer iterations are much different than those from 20-25 years ago. So for long term ageing now we are kind of in a blind area. To be sure, Cuban cigars are far more approachable than they were when I started smoking them and the OGs talk about how potent the cigars were in the '90s. As a rule, I put cigars away for around three years before I sample them. That way, I know they are acclimated to a good RH and won't be wasted. Montecristo #2 is in the 5-10 years class like most of the cigars I smoke. 

[Chibearsv]

I've always enjoyed Monte 2 relatively young in the 3-5 range.  Chocolate, barnyard, and twang all in harmony at that time.  I don't think I've ever had a 10+ year old one; never considered it really.  They were always an everyday cigar for me, so no reason for me to hold any back for aging. 

[zacca]

I’ve never tasted chocolate in any cigar. Ever. I’ve probably smoked more Monte 2 than any other CC over the years so feel like I’m missing out. I’ll often get a good chocolatey aroma off the wrapper when I open a box, but that’s a different story.

Anyway, I’ve had plenty of young ones. Liked them. I’ve had plenty of 10-15+ and my oldest are from ‘05. Liked them also. So as long as they’re past the 12 month mark, I’ll smoke it and usually like it - of course duds can happen young or old.

So I can’t speak to any of the stuff about them going flat and losing the chocolate flavors but will say they are noticeably different with age - not from a flavor standpoint though. The old ones are simply  smoother and rounder. Sometimes I’m in the mood for that, sometimes I’m in the mood for one a bit fresher and punchier. 

I’d say this holds true for all other aged Monte’s I’ve had too. I have some No 3s from 09, 5s from 10, and a bunch of 4s from the mid teens. Same thing - to me they’re just noticeably smoother than their younger counterparts.