Montecristo #2 OESC - factory unknown

[NJLimoDriver]

Montecristo #2

OESC (1997)

(plant code unknown)

Gifted by a dear friend.

Setting out to pick my Saturday night smoke, I realized that I needed to post a review and “be a contributor” and not a fencepost around here. So I picked out this smoke from the ready to smoke humidor and made it my target for the evening. Grabbing the dog, 2 Smuttynose IPAs and the stick I went out to the lanai. Put young Winston into “Down and Stay” (he needs the practice) I removed the cigar from my case and examined it.

It was a nice light brown and had a little veiny appearance, nothing that ruined the looks. I smelled it looking for any sign of origin but it smelled like many other habanos I had tried before. After this spell of admiration, I clipped off about 3/16ths of an inch and took a couple of good pre-light draws. The draw was excellent offering a little of the cigars flavor.

Fired up the triple torch and lit the stick. The first few draws were rather mild and airy, after about a quarter or half inch the taste progressed to a slightly spicy but not peppery taster. When I reached about a1/3rd of the stick – the flavor flattened back out into a rather pale mild or mild-medium which had me wondering whether I would even finish it. I was also having evenness of burn issues as one side seemed to be in a footrace with the other which was more slowly paced. I applied 3 touch ups before the cigar eventually began burning evenly for the final third. Gradually the flavor and taste began to grow in the last third, finally finishing with a more complex and stronger flavor. After all the early disappointment I did nub the smoke. After I finished the smoke I continued to drink my IPA and it was a perfect match.

Don’t think I’ll be buying any of this vitola soon. Free ones are fine but not for me to invest it. I have had rather hit or miss luck with this one. Rarely a hit often a miss their batting average is quite low with me.

Montecristo #2

Shape: Pyramide

Size: 6 1/8 inches by 52 ring guage

Construction: 7 – burn issues

Wrapper: 8

Draw: 9

Taste: 7 due to inconsistency

Overall Rating: 77 out of 100 points

[Tampa1257]

Well thought out review, I too currently consider the Montecristo No. 2 about the most inconsistent cigar coming out of Cuba these days, I know that the period between 2000 and 2003, that the ratio of a Monte 2 being "On" vs being flat and bland was (for me) about 1 out of 10 being "On". I have heard that they are getting better with 04 & 05 production, but I have not smoked one in over 1.5 years now.

The Monte 2 was the very first cigar I ever smoked and for many year (85-91) it was a stable and standard that I measured all other cigars to. When they are "On", they are totally off the hook! I would love to smoke one that was "On" again.

[Spud2]

Nice review Mike, Love my Monte 4's. :-)

[El Presidente]

Nice Review :-D

I am from the school that Monte 2's loose something post 5-7 years.

Every Monte 2 post 7 years that I have tried has been disappointing. Major gripe is in the muted flavours.

[NJLimoDriver]

» Nice review Mike, Love my Monte 4's. :-)

Thanks Bob - like them puppies too!!

[NJLimoDriver]

» Nice Review :-D

»

» I am from the school that Monte 2's loose something post 5-7 years.

»

» Every Monte 2 post 7 years that I have tried has been disappointing. Major

» gripe is in the muted flavours.

Thanks Rob - posted the same review on the other site and initiated a lively debate - got a 78 I'm gonna fire up this year - wonder if it will have any flavor :-)

[anacostiakat]

My box of '04s have been very inconsistent. Have been letting them sit. :-(

[CigarZen]

» When they are "On", they are totally off the hook! I would love to smoke

» one that was "On" again.

I would like to get some of those old style Montes. Have some 00 that suck, some 01s that are decent, but not at all great. And a couple boxes of 03s that I laid down 'cause they smelled so damned good when new. One was, and is, dripping with oils. I felt like I was doing the right thing letting age... that is till, I saw Robs comment about the 5 -7 years. I was going to wait 'til 08... may be 07 now.:-D

[El Presidente]

» » When they are "On", they are totally off the hook! I would love to smoke

» » one that was "On" again.

»

» I would like to get some of those old style Montes. Have some 00 that

» suck, some 01s that are decent, but not at all great. And a couple boxes

» of 03s that I laid down 'cause they smelled so damned good when new. One

» was, and is, dripping with oils. I felt like I was doing the right thing

» letting age... that is till, I saw Robs comment about the 5 -7 years. I

» was going to wait 'til 08... may be 07 now.:-D

Try one every 6 months. You will soon find the right stike zone for that box. To say all Monte 2's can age 10 years is like saying all racehorses with a particular breeding can be champion 3400 metre runners. Some can, some are dogs. You need to select the right boxes to age and the right boxes to torch.

[NJLimoDriver]

Keep waiting Jim - but you know the old saying about aging a bad cigar - trade them or gift them before they lose their value old buddy - :-)