Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown and has a network of fine, slightly raised veins that carry a slightly lighter color. The seams are smooth and only visible due to vein placement. The head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. There are two bands with the first being the semi traditional band for the brand but in a black, gold and red color combination. It has the company and line name on it. The secondary strip band is black and gold and has the line name on it as well. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of wood and hay forward barnyard. The foot brings a mix of wood and leather. The pre-light draw brings a light and sweet cedar along with a mild spiciness to my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Montecristo Nicaragua Series Toro comes with a clean and light Colorado wrapper that is sporting very few veins present at all. Those that are present are small in nature, and the texture of the wrapper has this hide like quality that is leather, silky and sightly fur like. The aroma on the foot was of cocoa, earth and spices while the wrapper was delivering some leather, wood shavings and spices.

First Third

The cigar begins with a general wood note and some creamy cinnamon. At a half inch in, the potent cinnamon has the lead while creamy wood is right behind it. At an inch in, the cinnamon, cream and wood are at equal levels. The retrohale carries the same profile just with the cinnamon slightly ahead. At an inch and a half, the creamy wood is now up front with the cinnamon in the background. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

The first third begins with a lot of spices and it is showing some pepper and cinnamon. There is some dryness present and it is of wood, earth and leather. It is not overly complex, but really focused on spices and earth.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the wood is up front as the cream has receded a bit and the cinnamon is faint in the background. At a half inch in, some mustiness joins the mix of wood and cream while the cinnamon has dropped out. The retrohale is charred wood and some mustiness. At an inch in, the profile is now slightly charred and musty wood. As the third comes to a close, the char increases slightly. The retrohale now has the mustiness up front with the wood behind it. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Second Third

When I get into the second third of the cigar, I find an emergence of this nutty characteristic and it has some sweetness to it as well. There are some black pepper and cayenne notes present as well, and the finish is of dry earth, leather and wood.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the musty and charred wood note continues on. At three quarters of an inch in, there haven’t been any changes to the profile. The retrohale still has the mustiness ahead of the wood. The third finishes out without any further changes, The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

The final third shows some combinations from the first and second third and with that is some dry wood, earth, soft leather and spices. There is a sweetness present, and it is showing some sweet tobacco and nutty qualities.

Burn

The burn got off at times but always self corrected. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Burn

This was a well constructed cigar. The burn line was slightly off from start to finish, but it never produced any problem and there was nothing to touch-up. There was a nice light gray ash on the end and it held on firmly throughout.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar started with a nice profile of wood, cream and cinnamon. As it got into the second third it simplified with just a musty wood note and held that through the remainder of the cigar. Construction was very good and strength was at slightly above medium the whole way. After the first third, the Montecristo Nicaragua Series Toro just became average and isn’t something I’d search after. It’s a cigar that might do well as the flavor and strength are what most smokers could enjoy, but I prefer a bit more complexity and enjoyment. Price is a bit high, but I’d say try one out and see what you think.

Draw

The draw was solid on the cigar, slightly loose for my liking, but well constructed. The cigar smoked cool from beginning to end, and because of the size took some time to smoke.

Overall

To me, this is another Nicaraguan puro release from a company that wants to have a Nicaraguan puro on the market. How much time was put into this release, I don’t know, but I would guess not much time at all. Altadis U.S.A. got a decent blend at a price they were happy with from A.J. Fernandez and they went with it. I am sure it will reach out to a certain market, but if you are looking for another special Nicaraguan puro release, you won’t find it here. There is nothing wowing about the cigar, but at the same time nothing that really brings it down. It is a dryer smoking experience cigar that produces a core profile that is present from start to finish. There is a lack of complexity, depth and transitioning, and because of that you get what you get. Some may enjoy it, but it’s hard for me to even give a cigar like this the time of day.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.00

Cost/Point

$2.04

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

5.33

Cost/Point

$2.30

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Montecristo Nicaragua Series Toro