aavkk Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 I have 2 fantastic looking OEB FEB 07 boxes. They are extremely flavorful and actually the examples I have tried I prefer to my PLPC's in richness and depth of flavor. That is not easily accomplished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soltino Posted November 4, 2008 Author Share Posted November 4, 2008 I had only heard good things about the Montecarlo which was why I picked up a couple to try. All the ones I have smoked though have suffered from poor construction (way underfilled) and the same acrid flavour. None of them have been a patch on the PLPC. I've either been unlucky in my samplers or the Montecarlo just doesn't agree with me :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMH Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 I've had similar problems with the few that I've had. I think I remember rob saying in a previous thread that they need a few years, but I'll let him comment on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soltino Posted November 15, 2008 Author Share Posted November 15, 2008 I picked up a couple of these from the Czar at the beginning of this year as part of a sampler. I don’t know the box code or exact date but I would guess this example was from mid to late 2007. I had read good things about this cigar, and being a fan of thin ring gauges I decided to pick up a couple to sample. I tried one after the mandatory 30 day rest period and wasn’t actually that impressed. The cigar was very underfilled, harsh, and was full of tannins. I put this down to youth or jetlag and decided to wait 6 months before smoking another. Over the weekend I picked up my remaining Montecarlo and gave it the once over. Again, very underfilled towards the foot, so much so that I could gently compress the last third until it was flat, but towards the ring it felt much better. Aroma at cold was pure tobacco. I didn’t know what to expect after I lit her up… For the first few draws I thought I had picked up the wrong cigar – the profile was so similar to a RASCC… a few draws on though the cheesecake flavour dissipated and the cigar moved into a much harsher, younger phase. The first half, which was very underfilled, was very unpleasant – acrid, tannins, and with a tinge of over burned caramel to every draw. As we pass the halfway mark we venture into the area of better construction and at last I get a hint of the Por Larranaga sweetness and caramel. This is a welcome relief from the first half, but it doesn’t last long… into the final third the cigar lapses back to being harsh and tarry. I really wanted to like this cigar as I had read some good reviews on it and I do like the PLPC profile. I also like thin ring gauges so was hoping that this could be added to my arsenal. Possibly the cigar was too young – I would say this definitely has a lot to do with the harshness – but I think the construction let this stick down. All in all a real shame. :-( I would be interested to know if other members think it would be worth picking up a few boxes and leaving them to rest for 3-5 years...? Do you think this would remove the harshness and encourage the caramel flavours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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