Montecristo White Series Vintage Connecticut
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Editor’s Note: Each week, our friends at Cigar Guys Radio Show, based in Atlanta, GA, do a review called ‘The Cigar of the Week’ on their radio show, which can be heard Saturday mornings on AM1230 ESPN the Fan 2 (WFOM radio) from 9AM to 11AM. That review is printed (in its entirety) here on Cigarweekly.com, usually on the Monday following its broadcast.
The Cigar Guys Radio Show Smooth Draws Pick of the Week
THE CIGAR
This week, Alan and Gary selected the Montecristo White Series Vintage Connecticut (by Altadis U.S.A.) for review.
BACK STORY
Montecristo is one of the most storied and popular cigar brands in the world. The name comes from the novel The Count of Montecristo by French author Alexandre Dumas. His novel was a favorite read of the Cuban cigar factory lectors to the bunchers and rollers, as they applied their respective crafts to the making of cigars.
Now, 2015 was the 80th-Anniversary of the Montecristo brand. And at the 2015 IPCPR Trade Show and Convention, Altadis launched three new Montecristo blends – one of those being the White Series Vintage Connecticut, which featured a U.S. Connecticut Shade wrapper leaf grown on the company’s farms in the Connecticut River Valley. Altadis U.S.A. is the only cigar manufacturer with its own farmland in Connecticut – the Gershel Farm in Somers.
THE CONSTRUCTIONThe Montecristo White Series Vintage Connecticut is produced in the Dominican Republic at the Tabacalera de García Factory. It uses a Vintage 2008 Connecticut Shade Grown wrapper, again grown on the Altadis-owned farms. The binder is from Nicaragua, and the filler is a three-country blend of tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Peru. The construction is meticulous, with a nice sheen and moderate oiliness.
The cigars are triple-banded and set in hand-painted boxes of twenty, with artwork depicting the tobacco fields and one of the company’s big red barns. The White Series Vintage Connecticut is available in three sizes.
THE DRAW
The Montecristo White Series Vintage Connecticut had an easy to slight resistance in the draw, but produced ample amounts of smoke for the taste profile.
THE CIGAR TASTE PROFILE
The Montecristo White Series Vintage Connecticut was a medium-bodied cigar, and mildly complex. I noted a taste of buttered white toast with a touch of maple sweetness, as well as flavors of hazelnut, vanilla, coffee and sweet spice. Hints of cream, wood, and black and white pepper were also apparent, along with a slight touch of citrus. This was a very mellow and smooth smoke.
DOES IT GET A BUY RECOMMENDATION?
Altadis has hit a home run with the Montecristo White Series Vintage Connecticut. This is just an exceptionally satisfying blend – one that will please all palates, and I feel to be a great choice to enjoy any time of the day. Does it get a buy recommendation? Absolutely! You must try this cigar. You will not be disappointed.
GARY:
Savant, I have noticed a trend for a lot of cigars to be wrapped in a Connecticut shade. Have you noticed the same trend?
ALAN:
Doc, I have. Several years ago, Connecticut shade lost favor with many cigar enthusiasts in that it was too mild. Recently though, Connecticut shade has made a comeback – especially with the Ecuadorian shade wrapper being used to beef up taste profiles into the medium range. So know your blend – Ecuadorian shade or U.S. Connecticut River Valley shade.
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Alan 'The Cigar Savant' Friedman & Gary 'Doc' Laden
Co-Hosts, Cigar Guys Radio Show
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