Date Added: Friday 03 June, 2016
by Staff
£25.99
Reviewed by Mihai - Box Date: September 2002
This review, I'm glad to say, is not based on old tasting notes, nor is it conceived with the proverbial popularity of this cigar in mind. I am writing it while smoking the cigar this sunny afternoon in my garden. This is why the review is written in the present tense. So here it goes: Year of manufacture: 2002 (September)
Wrapper colour: Colorado (aka English Market Selection). In concrete terms, the colour is that of coffee with a touch of milk.
Appearance: smooth wrapper with very few, unobtrusive veins. After four months in the humidor, it feels slightly oily to the touch with a healthy sheen. Unlit, it carries the bouquet of wood and sweet vanilla.
Construction: uniform, no hard or weak spots, with brilliant draw all the way. Its burn is reasonably even (not perfect, though). The wrapper and binder seem to burn slightly faster than the filler.
Flavour/taste: the dominant notes are clearly earth mixed with fresh wood and spice. A touch of salty weed. Its strength is, to me, on the fuller side of medium.
Aroma: roasted nuts, combined with just a touch of vanilla and, perhaps, cinnamon. Rich, hugely pleasing.
Taste at different intervals of smoke. First puffs are satisfyingly voluptuous, the smoke is cool. Solid, round flavour and aroma. 1 inch in, the taste becomes more mature and develops a sweeter (delightful!) note. 2 inches in, the cigar releases a flavour of salty weed which is not at all overpowering. At the beginning of the 3rd inch, a tangy sensation appears, while a slightly stingy feel develops around the cap. Half-way through, there is a distinct bitterness and tanginess. The smoke itself becomes noticeably hot. 2 and a half inches to the end, the draw is indeed hot, harsh and stingy and I'm thinking of abandoning this Monte. I'm in fact doing so about 5 puffs later.
Ash colour: overall, it is light grey sometimes layered with mildly darker shades. In detail, the ash of the wrapper is almost white, while the filler is darker grey. The colour remains consistent throughout.
Finish / After-taste: I can detect the taste of salty earthiness persisting for about 5 minutes.
Overall impression: without any doubt, the Montecristo No. 4 is a prime example of the quality of Cuban petit coronas. It has the famous spiciness of Havana's soil, it is well constructed (it never went out) and benefits from the easiest draw in the world. Its flavour is good, sufficiently complex if not hugely sophisticated: a 'no non-sense' havana, in other words. I find that it also ages reasonably well and the maturing process does improve the whole smoking experience. Due to its medium strength, it appeals to the beginner and seasoned smokers alike (although they must be fans of spice in flavour). If, as a beginner, you like spice, then I wholeheartedly recommend this cigar. And, finally, my rating is 3.8 / 5.
