MONTECRISTO ESPECIAL No.1

[genevapics]

vitola: Laguito No.1

ring: 38

length: 7.5 inches

source: Cigar Czar (loose sticks; no box code)

Date of review: June 4, 2006

CONSTRUCTION

The cigar is absolutely gorgeous. Perfect construction. Firm with a bit of spring to it. No veining. Smooth, silky brown wrapper with a supple pig tail to boot. Whoever rolled this cigar did a wonderful job.

PRE-LIGHT & DRAW

The cigar clipped easily and cleanly. The draw was spot on, with the flavor of smooth tobacco. I should also note that this cigar had a certain feel to it. There was something definitely different about holding this cigar.

FIRST THIRD

The Montecristo Especial No.1 accepted the flame with ease and the two of us sat down for what I hoped would be a wonderful journey. Initially, the only flavor that I detected was that of tobacco. Make that refined tobacco. Towards the later stages I detected something sweet but could not put my finger on the exact taste. Plenty of smoke volume and the ash was gray with black flecks throughout.

SECOND THIRD

The cigar burned like a champion! Straight and true with no retouches. As I sat there pondering all of the people involved with the making of this fine cigar, it finely dawned on me what that sweet taste was: Hello vanilla bean! Not overpowering, but definitely vanilla bean mixed in among the smooth tobacco flavor.

FINAL THIRD

The vanilla bean and smooth tobacco tastes continued all the way to the end. Not once did this cigar become harsh or hot. It maintained a level of sophistication not found in many cigars. I finally put this beauty to rest around the 1 inch mark. This wonderful cigar had given me 105 minutes of wonderful smoking pleasure.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A truly wonderful cigar! Beautiful to look at and wonderful to smoke. The subtle taste of vanilla bean and smooth tobacco made for a great smoking experience. And the feeling that one gets holding this cigar is pure elegance. No doubt, with a few years of age, this cigar will be a classic! When the time is right (read: when I have sufficient funds) I will buy a couple of boxes. This is simply a cigar that needs to be in my humidor.

RATING: 90

[CIGARHead]

Great review Genevapics!

The Monte Especial no 1 is one of my all time favs. Give some a rest for a few years and you will be rewarded with, in my opinion, one of the finest cigars to smoke. period.

You nailed it with the vanilla bean. I also get coffee and toffee flavors as well.

A very refined cigar that is a beaut to behold.

Again, great review.

[cigardawg]

Great review!

I absolutely love this cigar. For me, it is in the top three Habanos that I have smoked. Spot on with the vanilla bean flavor. That is a great description of the sweetness of this cigar. Have also heard it called a "gingerbread" quality.

Again, thanks for the review.

[Chicago]

» vitola: Laguito No.1

» ring: 38

» length: 7.5 inches

» source: Cigar Czar (loose sticks; no box code)

»

» Date of review: June 4, 2006

»

» CONSTRUCTION

» The cigar is absolutely gorgeous. Perfect construction. Firm with a bit

» of spring to it. No veining. Smooth, silky brown wrapper with a supple pig

» tail to boot. Whoever rolled this cigar did a wonderful job.

»

» PRE-LIGHT & DRAW

» The cigar clipped easily and cleanly. The draw was spot on, with the

» flavor of smooth tobacco. I should also note that this cigar had a

» certain feel to it. There was something definitely different about

» holding this cigar.

»

» FIRST THIRD

» The Montecristo Especial No.1 accepted the flame with ease and the two of

» us sat down for what I hoped would be a wonderful journey. Initially, the

» only flavor that I detected was that of tobacco. Make that refined

» tobacco. Towards the later stages I detected something sweet but could

» not put my finger on the exact taste. Plenty of smoke volume and the ash

» was gray with black flecks throughout.

»

» SECOND THIRD

» The cigar burned like a champion! Straight and true with no retouches.

» As I sat there pondering all of the people involved with the making of

» this fine cigar, it finely dawned on me what that sweet taste was: Hello

» vanilla bean! Not overpowering, but definitely vanilla bean mixed in among

» the smooth tobacco flavor.

»

» FINAL THIRD

» The vanilla bean and smooth tobacco tastes continued all the way to the

» end. Not once did this cigar become harsh or hot. It maintained a level

» of sophistication not found in many cigars. I finally put this beauty to

» rest around the 1 inch mark. This wonderful cigar had given me 105

» minutes of wonderful smoking pleasure.

»

» FINAL THOUGHTS

» A truly wonderful cigar! Beautiful to look at and wonderful to smoke.

» The subtle taste of vanilla bean and smooth tobacco made for a great

» smoking experience. And the feeling that one gets holding this cigar is

» pure elegance. No doubt, with a few years of age, this cigar will be a

» classic! When the time is right (read: when I have sufficient funds) I

» will buy a couple of boxes. This is simply a cigar that needs to be in my

» humidor.

»

» RATING: 90

You nailed it!

[Tampa1257]

The unique quality of the Montecristo Especial No. 1 that separates it from the rest of the Montecristo line is what I call the "Gingerbread" type spice in the flavor. Rich vanilla bean just as you described along with mocha and coffee tones throughout the cigar make this vitola one of my Top 5.

Nice review of a great cigar.

[Cigarflip]

Great review! This is prolly my favorite go to cigar. When aged, definitely tasty!

[Van55]

This long and skinny cigars are for tossers only.

(I guess that tells you what I am.)

Please keep these a secret.

[El Presidente]

» This long and skinny cigars are for tossers only.

»

!LOL! Add me to the Tosser List ;-)

Especial no 1

Medaille D'or No 1

Connoisseur No 1

Lanceros

Fundadores

..I could die Happy.

GREAT REVIEW

[LasciviousXXX]

Good review! These are my hands down favorite Regular production smokes with the Cohiba Lancero's following close behind. Beautiful when aged and absolutely out of this world with 20 or 30 years on them. I've sampled ones from the 90's that made my head spin, I've sampled ones from the 80's that made my jaw drop, and I've sampled ones from the 70's that made my wallet explode and left me broke sticky and confused.... man are these things good:-P