Montecristo No. 5 Cigar - Pack of 5

Reviewed by Joe Gellman

I finished breakfast and had a half cup (we use the French cups, you know, the ones you use two hands to hold) of Cubita coffee left and decided to go to the terrace (actually, a deck over the garage where I do most of my smoking) and finish the coffee and smoke a No. 5.

The cigar measures 4" x 40 (mine measured 4" x 41 and though it has been described as having a ring gauge of 40 or 42, I find this to be part of the manner of storage. I will buy a few at the factory in Cuba next October and measure them to try my hypothesis) and is a mighty little might, when aged properly (as this was, thank you, C.GARS Ltd) I get a kick out of the oft overused tripe that this vitola is the brand's poorest make. Well, it that is true, all the vitolas are of my liking, the poorest still good enough for my tastes.

I found the cigar to be as full bodied as the No. 4 and a tad fuller than the No. 3 corona. It lit well and burned evenly to the last. This is a quick smoke, though I lingered with it and the last of the coffee for 25 minutes. As with the Joyitas, the ash was solid, medium to dark in colour, listing a tad to the right (well, there was a breeze and that might have affected the burn). I flicked the ash after 2 inches and felt it crunch under my finger. The smoke had woody and sweet overtones, reminiscent of a bouquet of wild flowers, gentle yet enough to stir the imagination. The smoke wafted slowly and formed a haze about the Apricot tree behind where I was sitting, and hung there until the gentle breeze swept it away.

I think this cigar was aged less than one year and had only a hint of oil, just showing itself enough to make the cigar a tad blotchy from this new emanation. The flavour did not grow through the entire length of the cigar until, that is, the last two puffs - then I noticed a very strong finish, akin to when you smell a rose but then get the full aroma when you stick your nose into the flesh of the petals.

While the cigar has been described as 'herbaceous', I did not find this supply to follow that note, but, rather, I think this selection had some light personality. I suspect that this supply was very well aged which lent to it's flavour and aroma. Once again the adage that age will mature a good cigar comes true.