Montecristo M is the latest offering at the time of review in the storied history of Montecristo.
In July 1935, Alonso Menéndez purchased the Particulares Factory, makers of the Particulares brand and the lesser-known Byron. Immediately after its acquisition, he created a new brand named Montecristo. Ironically both brands are now sold in the USA with Montecristo under Altadis and Byron under United Cigar.
After the Cuban revolution the brand would move to the Canary Islands before moving to the Dominican Republic at La Romana where it would be released to the US market.
At the end of 2024 Montecristo M was released with a 20-year-old Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper grown by A.S.P. The cigar is available in four sizes and today we review the Robusto.
Cigar Review: Montecristo M
Size: 4.75 x 54
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut (Aged 20 Years)
Binder: Nicaragua
Fillers: Nicaragua
Factory: San Lotano Factory (AJ Fernandez)
Release Date: December, 2024
Box Count: 20
The Cigar: Featuring a gorgeous golden Connecticut seed wrapper the cigar looks amazingly light in strength and body just based on the appearance. The Montecristo M is accentuated with two bands the first being the Montecristo logo a fleur-de-lis in golf and white, and a secondary shield using the same color scheme with the exception of a big red M. In the hand the cigar feels a tad dry under the fingers despite it being optimally kept. There is a hefty weight and the cigar is densely packed.
The Taste: The cold draw is musty like grandmothers’ house when she refused to open the windows. It’s not what I expected but after letting it sit for a bit some notes of earth and cedar rise toward the top. The foot of the cigar tells another story with rich buttery aromas like fresh baked butter cookies and a touch of cedar.
Once the cigar is toasted and lit I am floored by how smooth it is. There are notes of melba toast, hay and an abundance of earth in the form of wheat. The retrohale and aroma work hand in hand to add a buttery richness to the depth of this cigar as well hits of pecans. As the first comes a close there are subtle hints of pepper begin to emerge but not to the point of overpowering.
As the second third begins notes of pecans and cream envelope the palate to start but by the halfway point cedar becomes the dominant flavor profile with nuances of melba toast, cream and for a split second a touch of licorice. As the first third comes to a close some more licorice appears on the palate and aroma of the cigar.
As we cross over to the final third it is as if a switch was hit and the cigar loses its complexity. This sounds worse than it is as te cigar becomes earthy with an abundance of wheat until we approach the primary Montecristo M band. Notes of hazelnuts and roasted almonds become dominant helping the cigar finish on a high. The retrohale is melba toast and cream which makes me wish the cigar lasted just a little bit longer.
Conclusion: It doesn’t take a lot to get me started on a rant about pricing these days. Montecristo has always been an overpriced cigar in my opinion, but the M takes it to the next level. The cigar reminds me a lot of Por Larranaga Galanes Cuban and while I haven’t had one in years I believe I would be hard pressed to tell the difference between these two smokes despite this coming in slightly larger at 54 ring gauge (vs 52).
The Montecristo M is a nice addition to the brand though it falls short of the 1934. I will put it ahead the original and white label. If the price point was $10 cheaper in the current marketplace this could be a regular morning smoke for me. It’s something you definitely want to try and keep a few on hand at all times. It’s hard to say a $30 cigar is worth it, but this one makes a compelling argument.
Score: 94
Price: $30.00
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