Montecristo Robusto Larga Staff Review
Montecristo is one of the most well-known and widely-celebrated cigar brands in the world. You’d be hard-pressed to find a cigar smoker, veteran or novice, who has never heard of Montecristo. The brand spans multiple generations of cigar smokers. The original Montecristo came from Cuba, but after the Cuban Embargo was established, a non-Cuban version emerged from the Dominican Republic. This is the Montecristo I’ll be reviewing today.
It is not very often that I smoke a milder cigar, but after recently fighting off a cold, I wanted to ease my way back in with an approachable blend. Since I woke up this morning feeling much better, I think it’s time to grab a Montecristo Robusto Larga from my humidor and head out back for a smoke.
Montecristo features a golden-blond Connecticut Shade wrapper with minimal veins. Underneath this silky wrapper is a perfect combination of aged Dominican tobaccos. The pre-light aroma reveals intriguing notes of hay and rich earth, while the cold draw is extremely smooth and creamy with a mild touch of pepper.
Right from the light, notes of cedar and oak display prominently. There is a mild white pepper essence in the background that keeps the overall profile interesting. However, about a half-inch in, the spice mellows out and gives way to an intriguing note of barnyard.
As I transition into the second leg, the profile becomes very buttery and smooth. The peppery spice becomes diluted and while the flavors continue to evolve, I am greeted with a slight espresso bean note that pulls everything together.
The final third is the icing on the cake. A flavor that I can only describe as buttered toast comes through and compliments the espresso note beautifully. As all of these flavors start to marry, it dawns on me that Montecristo could be my new go-to breakfast cigar!
In conclusion, I am blown away by the impeccable construction of Montecristo. The draw is exactly as I prefer it, with just the right amount of resistance. The burn is razor sharp, never requiring a touch up. As a guy that tends to smoke full-bodied cigars on a regular basis, Montecristo is a wonderful change of pace. This is truly a cigar that I would recommend everyone to try. If you are like me, and prefer the fullest of the full, smoke this first thing in the morning on a fresh palate and pair it with a cup of coffee. I am sure you will not be disappointed. Keep an eye out, we put these up on special every once and awhile. But, if you can’t wait, grab one to try now and let me know what you think.
