Monte 2 LLN SEP04

[anacostiakat]

Montecristo #2

LLN SEP04

This will be short as I have some serious drinking to do. Sorry, no pics I am too lazy to get the camera out.

This is from the last third of the box. I have had very, very mixed

results from this box and others. So much so, that I prefer the Upmann #2 more than this one.

Wrapper was mostly smooth and oily. No soft spots were noticed.

Prelight draw was toasty tobac. Some resistance to the pull on the

draw. But nothing problematic.

Not much of a piramide/torp smoker so I dont pull these often. Now I

know that some say you should leave these alone for ten years if you

want to taste what they are about. Frankly, it is not really easy for

me to do that if I want to try something as I have not been smoking that

long and do not see these often in the vintage sale offerings.

Any way, the cigar started off with some floral and toasty tobac and

almonds. About an inch in some cedar showed up.

The ash is a medium to dark gray and well formed. I paired this with

some Bernheim Wheat Whiskey. At the half way mark the cigar is smoking

at medium strength and is starting to develop a bitter almond and coffee ground taste. Not

good actually. However it is shortlived and toasted tobacco returns.

Thank God! I am a little surprised that there is not more complexity.

But toasted tobacco returns. Rather straightforward as I enter the

last third. Not bad but somehow I expect more.

I give this about an 82 or 83 as I am dissapointed and expect more.

[greenpimp]

Nice review. I have some from LLN MAY04, I believe. Same mixed bag as you describe. They were never great and the last one I had a year or so ago wasn't really any better. Hum drum.

They 06's I had, now those are a different story. Wish I'd bought a pallet of them.

[shrink]

I feel your pain. I still have a handful of '04s that I just don't reach for. They make nice gifts for unsuspecting strangers.

[bassman]

Yes, 04s in general & especially Bolivars & Montes, have tasted quite bland. The 06s are quite a return to form in Monte #1 through 5.