Monte Tubo - Pre 1985

[cigarnv]

The cigar emerged from the tube in immaculate condition...perfectly smooth Colorado wrapper, a light sheen of oil and not a single blemish on the wrapper. One would assume this cigar was of recent production other than the hint of mustiness on the nose and the darkened band. The Monte was perfect to the touch... firm but not hard and perfectly humidified. It was almost a shame to smoke this cigar.

The cigar lit and burned razor sharp with a flat ash profile beginning to end. The very thin wrapper produced a very small burn ring with absolutely no curling of the wrapper as it burned. The first puff revealed that this was clearly a vintage cigar as the flavor had the pleasing undertones of sweet mustiness like one finds emerging from old wooden boxes in a dark attic. Also, nuances of wood, soil and leather emerged. The Monte produced a good deal of smoke that was soft to the palate yet a bit drying. The balance was perfect, the flavors forward but not overly concentrated and the finish moderate.

The most interesting side of this cigar was its complexity. It was a cigar that changed a bit with each puff.... it was one of those cigars that made you sit back, put down the book and focus on the cigar as you tried to identify the undertones of flavor in each puff. It was one of those cigars that slow smokers like myself are tempted to smoke a bit to fast as you want to see what will be revealed in the next puff. It was a cigar that you wanted to enjoy for another few puffs when you knew the end was near.

It would be difficult for me to call this a great cigar but it clearly was one of the most interesting cigars I have smoked in some time given its complexity. I am not sure that I would place the current release Monte Tubo high on my buy list, but I would certainly seek out those which one would classify as vintage to try once again.

[n2advnture]

I know have "CigarNV"!

Nice review bro!

~Mark (Northern Va)

[habanohal]

Good review there! I just hope my 2005 box comes arond in flavor quicker than 20 years. I am hpeing for 6-8 months.