Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Montecristo White Series Rothchilde is a light golden brown and has some raised veins present along with some slight wrinkling. The seams are smooth and the head is well finished. There are two bands, both is a white, gold, black and red color combination. The primary denotes the brand, while the foot denotes the line. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of musty cedar and earth, while the foot brings cedar and bread. The pre-light draw brings cedar, bread and some light cardboard.

Montecristo White Series Rothchilde

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar, earth and some black pepper. At a quarter inch in, the black pepper picks up a bit. At a half inch in, a light creaminess joins the profile. The retrohale is creamy cedar and earth along with lightly zingy black pepper. At an inch in, the toast level increases a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, with black pepper in the middle of the profile and some creaminess in the back half. The strength was slightly above medium.

Montecristo White Series Rothchilde

Second Third

As the second third begins, the pepper mellows slightly and the creaminess picks up a bit. At a half inch in, the earth increases to become even with the toasted cedar and a light wood bitterness joins the profile. The retrohale is now toasted cedar and earth with light amounts of black pepper and creaminess. At an inch in, the black pepper mellows a bit more. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar and earth are even up front, with black pepper and creaminess a bit behind the middle of the profile and some wood bitterness in the background. The strength mellowed to medium.

Montecristo White Series Rothchilde

Final Third

As the final third begins, the creaminess and wood bitterness both increase a bit. The retrohale is now a creamy mix of toasted cedar and earth with some mild black pepper. At three quarters of an inch in, the wood bitterness picks up a fair amount and is now ahead of the middle of the profile. At an inch in, the toast level becomes pretty heavy. As the cigar wraps up, the heavily toasted cedar and earth are even up front, with wood bitterness not too far behind. Creaminess in the middle of the profile with black pepper in the background. The strength remained at medium.

Montecristo White Series Rothchilde

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any intervention. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Montecristo White Series Rothchilde

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted cedar, earth and some black pepper. The pepper picked up a bit pretty quickly. Then, some light creaminess joined in. Later, the toast level increased a bit. The second third saw the pepper mellow and creaminess increase, then the earth became even with the toasted cedar up front and some wood bitterness joined in. Later, the black pepper mellowed a bit more. The final third saw the creaminess and wood bitterness increase, and later the wood bitterness ramped up a fair amount. Then, the toast level became pretty heavy. The Montecristo White Series Rothchilde started well, with a full combination of flavors, but took a step down in the second third as the pepper mellowed and some wood bitterness joined in. It took another step down in the final third as the wood bitterness ramped up and the toast became very heavy. Overall, a cigar that started with promise, but degraded through each third. The price is pretty high for the offering, but regardless of that, just based on flavor profile, not something I’d really see myself coming back to.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.65

Cost/Point

$2.82

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Montecristo White Series Rothchilde