Montecristo Monte Conde (5 1/2 x 48)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video review HERE.

 

 

(from the Montecristo website)

 

 

Though its name is short and succinct, the MONTE is a cigar with a wealth of complexity and depth. The MONTE’s signature feature is the inclusion of two binders: a spicy Dominican Olor combined with a strong and aromatic Nicaraguan Corojo which adds strength, firmness and complexity. This brand-new offering from the Grupo de Maestros is the most robust Montecristo yet, putting a revolutionary twist on a revered classic. The two binders couple seamlessly with aged Dominican filler and an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper to create an unforgettable experience.

Montecristo is one of the most iconic brands in the world. Each premium cigar in the long line of Montecristos is a distinguished and enduring smoke. The MONTE is unquestionably a cigar worthy of upholding this legendary mantle.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano    

Binder: Dominican Olor and Nicaraguan Corojo    

Filler: Aged Dominican

 

 

 

This cigar debuted at this year's IPCPR in Las Vegas. It comes in three sizes composing the initial release: the 6 x 60 Monte, 6 1/8 x 54  Jacopo No. 2, and the 5 1/2 by 48 Conde. Pricing is slated to be between $8.95 and $9.50, with each size coming in 16-count boxes.

 

 

 

The cigar is very well made and I love the little "fuse" on the cap. The cigar has a nice density also.

 

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors were sweet cedar, cinnamon, dry wood notes, and earth. The pepper is rated at a 7 and it's a white pepper. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is a cream with dry wood notes and some lingering pepper.




One inch in the cigar is burning very evenly. The cedar is now very sweet and rich with a sprinkling of cinnamon. The wood notes are very prominent. The earth is at the base and it's toned down. The finish is now a sweet cream. The cigar is still medium bodied.









About 1 1/2 inches in there is another flavor that is hard to pin down. It's actually been around since the start but I had a hard time nailing it down. It tastes like a sweet berry. I have decided that it's a grape flavor. It mixes well with the sweet cedar and cinnamon making a very unique flavor. The cedar is now the predominant flavor followed by the cinnamon and berry (grape) flavor. There are still notes of dry wood. The cigar is still medium bodied.





Just a half inch further I noticed there are buttery notes in the cigar. These buttery flavors mix very well with the other sweet flavors. Everything else is about the same. The cigar seems to be moving toward medium to full bodied.










With about 2 inches left everything seems to be in full flavor mode. The cigar is now medium to full bodied. There are nice, sweet cedar notes with the berry flavor. The cinnamon notes have tapered off. The wood notes are still very obvious and they are now charred. The buttery notes are also still there. The finish is the same.  







The cigar ended at 1 hour 10 minutes. The previous described flavors held to the end. The charred wood notes are really noticeable. The flavors in this cigar are very interesting and different for Montecristo. The berry notes, or grape notes as I decided they were, made the cigar very different from other cigars I've had recently. The cigar was not complex as it did not change much but different flavors were more prominent at points than others. These cigars should be on shelves now. Very good addition to the Montecristo lineup.

Score: 92