Blind Cigar Review: Montecristo | Espada Guard

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Undisclosed
Blender: Grupo De Maestros with the Placensia Family
Number of reviewers: 4—–Gregg (McGreggor57) Sandeep (Djangos) Wes (SosaCub4Life) Craig (WyldKnyght)
Price: $11.75
Age: 2 Months
Release Date: August 2014
Contributed by: Altadis

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 93

“Great looking cigar with a light milk chocolate colored wrapper. Seems well made. The wrapper is smooth with a few veins visible and some are prominent. No major blemishes. Three well applied caps are present.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

Aroma: 94

“I really enjoyed the aroma from this cigar, it was intoxicating. Very nice tobacco smell with a nice honey like aroma.” –Craig (WyldKnyght)

First Third

Flavor: 93
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The initial third starts with a lot of pepper that is quite pervasive that lasts for a good half inch. Also, there is that distinct coffee flavor that I got with the dry puff. The sweetness is however not present after the light. Nutmeg comes through with every puff as well. As the third progresses, the flavors shift to one of a more earthy nature. There is definite cedar as well as a sawdust like taste. Very complex. The burn and draw are close to perfect. The ash is dark gray and holds for about an inch before falling off. There is also a lot of creamy light blue smoke.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

“Right off the bat I get a burst of wood flavor, which stayed pretty consistent throughout this third. I was expecting some sweet flavors that never materialized.” –Craig (WyldKnyght)

Second Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Some leather enters and helps keep the coffee/cedar combo nice and smooth. There’s not much interest during this third, but the flavor profile is one I really enjoy.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)

“Into the second third, pretty much all of the pepper spiciness has disappeared and the cigar has become much more mild in flavors. It’s more creamy with just a hint of spice on the tongue. It is still enjoyable but nothing fantastic sticks out about it. The burn and construction have still been great with the cigar producing lots of great smoke and the ash once again holding on nicely.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)

Final Third

Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Coffee and cedar ramp up with a little spice present on the retro. Burnt caramel appears from time to time giving this third some sweetness on the finish.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)

“The final third has remained much the same as the second. It is still a nice relaxing creamy smoke with just enough spice to keep it interesting. The cigar is still producing lots of great smoke and is enjoyable to smoke. The smoke continues to pour out of this well very constructed cigar.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 94

“Great draw, no issue, lots of nice smoke.” –Craig (WyldKnyght)

Burn: 96

“Excellent straight burn the entire way.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

Construction: 96

“Consistent firmness throughout this well packed cigar.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Overall Experience: 90

“While the middle third was somewhat one dimensional, they were flavors that worked well together and were enjoyable. The other two thirds offered enough changes in the intensity of the flavors that led to a very good smoking experience. This is a cigar I would smoke with my morning coffee any day.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)

“Overall, the cigar was a pleasant experience, and it would have scored way higher if the flavor profile and complexity was like the initial third. However, after the initial third there was not much progression. May give this another shot to see if this was just the cigar I got.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

“This has been a good cigar to smoke. Not overpowering, but with enough spice and pepper throughout to keep my attention and make it enjoyable. It has been a nice, relaxing, creamy smoke. This would be a great cigar for a beginner looking to get into cigars.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)

“Overall, this cigar was pretty one dimensional, the wood flavor was predominant from the start, the final third has some complexity, but not much. Other than the chemical flavor during the final third, this cigar was a good smoke.” –Craig (WyldKnyght)
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Smoking Time (in minutes): 73

Edit

Reviewer	Appearance	Aroma	1/3	2/3	3/3	Draw	Burn	Constr.	Overall
Gregg	90	90	93	90	90	90	90	90	90
Sandeep	95	97	93	88	88	97	97	95	90
Wes	95	95	95	92	95	93	100	97	95
Craig	90	93	90	90	88	95	95	95	90

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
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Blind Cigar Review: Montecristo | Espada Guard