Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Montecristo Classic No. 2 is dark tan and has some decently raised, knotty veins, primarily running down the back of the cigar. The seams are smooth and the tapered head is very well finished. There are two bands, with the primary being the traditional design for the brand in the brown, white and gold color combination. The secondary is yellow, gold, black and red and denotes the line on front and the brand on the sides. The aroma from the wrapper is hay, earth and cedar, while the foot brings stewed fruit, hay, earth and cedar. The pre-light draw brings stone fruit, dry earth, cedar, hay and mild spice.

Montecristo Classic No. 2

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar along with light amounts of earth and black pepper. At a quarter inch in, some hay and leather join the profile. At a half inch in, a light creaminess joins the profile. The retrohale is toasted cedar with light amounts of earth and creaminess. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is up front, with earth in the middle of the profile and some black pepper, hay, leather and creaminess in the back half. The strength was mild-medium.

Montecristo Classic No. 2

Second Third

As the second third begins, the creaminess increases a bit. At three quarters of an inch in, the earth increases to right behind the toasted cedar. The retrohale is now toasted cedar earth, creaminess and a lightly zingy black pepper. At an inch in, the black pepper increases a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is ahead of the earth, with creaminess and black pepper in the middle of the profile and some hay and leather in the back half. The strength bumped up to slightly below medium.

Montecristo Classic No. 2

Final Third

As the final third begins, the earth and black pepper both mellow a bit. At a half inch in, the earth picks back up. The retrohale remains toasted cedar, earth, creaminess and a lightly zingy black pepper. At an inch in, the leather increases to become even with the pepper and creaminess. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted cedar is a bit ahead of the earth, with black pepper, creaminess and leather in the middle of the profile and some hay in the back half. The strength bumped up to medium.

Montecristo Classic No. 2

Burn

The burn was quite a bit off through the first half as a third of the wrapper didn’t want to burn and required a touch-up to get things back in line. The cigar also went out at the halfway point and just before the end of the second third, requiring re-lights. The burn was even through the second half of the cigar.

Montecristo Classic No. 2

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than what I prefer but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted cedar along with light amounts of earth and black pepper. Some hay and leather joined in pretty quickly and then some creaminess followed. The second third saw the creaminess increase a bit and later the earth moved up to right behind the cedar. Later, the pepper increased a bit. The final third saw the earth and black pepper mellow a bit and then the earth returned to its previous level. At an inch in, the leather increased to become even with the pepper and creaminess. The Montecristo Classic No. 2 had a nice flavor profile through the first two thirds, focused around toasted cedar and earth, but the supporting notes all did a good job of balancing the profile. It took a step down in the final third as the balance went off a bit due to the earth, leather and strength. This is a nice Connecticut shade offering that offers a lower strength profile. It’s fairly expensive, but if you are OK with this price range and enjoy this profile, it’s well worth a try and isn’t just a cigar playing off the Cuban name.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.27

Cost/Point

$3.68

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Montecristo Classic No. 2