Montecristo Especial SS - SU - 1

[Van55]

Inspired by the request for Monte reviews, I smoked one of these on Saturday evening, accompanying it with a Brooklyner-Schneicer Hoppfe Weisen.

Pre-light: Beautiful lightish colored oily wrapper. No flaws. Clipped the curly head. Unlit draw was perfect, tasting of clean tobacco.

First 1/3: Immediate impression was of a lightweight, elegant, nearly tasteless smoke. There was no tingle through the nose. My thought was that this cigar has surely passed its prime. The ash was a light charcoal color and held firmly. Burn was perfect.

Second 1/3: The ash dropped at about 1 1/2 inches. Suddenly the ligero leaf made its presence known. Smoke volume was copious. Cafe au lait hints lurked with some ginger spice.

Final 1/3: The cigar began to build to a climax at this point. The increase in flavors and nose tingle from the outset was apparent. The last third was a joy of Monte flavors.

Conclusion: This is a perfect example of why it is a huge mistake to judge a cigar based on the first inch or so. What began as an insipid cigar developed dramatically in complexity and intensity to a near classic at the nub. Five smokerings.

[jayro75]

» Inspired by the request for Monte reviews, I smoked one of these on

» Saturday evening, accompanying it with a Brooklyner-Schneicer Hoppfe

» Weisen.

»

» Pre-light: Beautiful lightish colored oily wrapper. No flaws. Clipped

» the curly head. Unlit draw was perfect, tasting of clean tobacco.

»

» First 1/3: Immediate impression was of a lightweight, elegant, nearly

» tasteless smoke. There was no tingle through the nose. My thought was

» that this cigar has surely passed its prime. The ash was a light charcoal

» color and held firmly. Burn was perfect.

»

» Second 1/3: The ash dropped at about 1 1/2 inches. Suddenly the ligero

» leaf made its presence known. Smoke volume was copious. Cafe au lait

» hints lurked with some ginger spice.

»

» Final 1/3: The cigar began to build to a climax at this point. The

» increase in flavors and nose tingle from the outset was apparent. The

» last third was a joy of Monte flavors.

»

» Conclusion: This is a perfect example of why it is a huge mistake to

» judge a cigar based on the first inch or so. What began as an insipid

» cigar developed dramatically in complexity and intensity to a near classic

» at the nub. Five smokerings.

Great review!! Never had a Monte Especial but the Brooklyner -Schneider Hoppfe-Weisse is a superb beer.

[El Presidente]

» Conclusion: This is a perfect example of why it is a huge mistake to

» judge a cigar based on the first inch or so. What began as an insipid

» cigar developed dramatically in complexity and intensity to a near classic

» at the nub. Five smokerings.

You nailed it. I can't recall how many times I have almost given up on a cigar after the opening inch only to be mesmerized by the balance. I find this particularly so on aged cigars.

Great reminder