Montecristo Open Master
Monday, June 22nd, 2009
Four months after making it’s first public appearance in the Habano’s Festival, the Montecristo Open series was -officially- launched in the UK in the Hunter’s and Frankau Summer Cigar Party. Although the first reviews of the cigar were far from generous, everybody was eagerly awaiting their first encounter with the newest Montecristo line, the first in no less than 74 years!
Although there are four vitolas in the series, only the three of them were given to the guests; the Eagle, the larger of the four was not there due to the very high demand since the cigars hit the shelves. Andy was there and he was kind enough to bring me back the Robusto of the line, called the Master.
The cigar is beautifully rolled in a light brown smooth wrapper. It has almost no veins and has no knots or soft spots. The gold and green band sits underneath the Montecristo band, with the word OPEN -the name of the line- in large gold lettering- and Master -the name of the Vitola- in white. Light coffee aromas are also present on the foot of the cigar. Visually, the cigar looks immaculate. After the quick inspection, I cut the cigar and start lighting, hoping that those bad reviews were wrong!
The cigar lights up easily. The draw is good, slightly on the loose side. After a few puffs, some burn problems start appearing; it does not burn evenly and it has already gone off once. A touch-up with the torch lighter and we are back in action!
Medium body, with strong coffee flavor are present from the very beginning. Smoking towards the middle, wood and chocolate also appear, with coffee being the predominant flavor. The body is still medium and the cigar gives you the impression of a watered-down Montecristo. But isn’t that what it is supposed to be???
Burn problems appear again in the last third. The cigar once again starts burning sideways. It needed several touch-ups untill the end. If you are not expecting any complexity, you won’t be surprised. The cigar finishes with the same flat flavor and medium body as it started.
For the seasoned cigar smoker, the Master will be no more than another addition to the not-so-favorite Cuban cigar list. However, this cigar is not intended for the seasoned smoker or the cigar aficionado. It is intended for the casual or starter smoker, the one that would turn green even on the sight of the classic Montecristo No.2 ! It is the inexperienced smoker that Habanos SA has targeted through their campaign and they couldn’t have made it any clearer! Anybody looking for a full favored , complex cigar in the Opens will be disappointed. I can’t say I really enjoyed it, but keeping the above in mind, the only thing I can fault it for is the bad burn.
tagged under: Eagle.Junior.Master.Montecristo.Montecristo Open.Regatta
Do you have any idea how much these cigars will cost. I often have friends who call over when I am about to light up, and they sometimes join me for one. Some of these guys are non-smokers, but they have a cigar to be sociable, and to be honest, it’s costing me a fortune. I could do with some cheaper cigars in the humidor, just to hand out on these occassions. Anyone got any suggestions.
Great review Yiorgos. I had a very similar experience to yours.
I thought it was fine but not good enough (plus I’m put off by the marketing enough) to seek out boxes of these.
Feidhlim, for cheaper cigars, I really like Jose El Piedra Petit Cazadores or, for a little more, Partagas Super Partagas.
Cheap enough to be useful hand-out cigars for peple who might put them down after half an inch but also enjoyable for the price.
Hi Feidhlim, I’d have to agree with Andy. Anything from Jose El Piedra (which you can pick up a bundle of 25 in Spain for between €25-35) will usually satisfy non-smokers.
I usually offer someone who will more than likely stop after a couple of inches a JLP and tell them if they like it and are in the mood for another I’ll give them something a little more ‘complex’. More often than not even if they finish the JLP they don’t want to have another cigar.
Yiorgos, great review. Can’t say I’ve been rushing out to try these since the idea was floated, lifes too short (and our weather too unpredictable) to smoke bad cigars!
Feidhlim, send me a mail if you get a chance: harryleech @ gmail.com, I might be able to help you out with some cheap as chips cubans that I smoke too occasionally to have in the Humi.
I think these retail for about 20-22 euro around Grafton Street. I have only found them in one shop and i think it cost around 21. Have it all ready to go for tonight. I am looking forward and being an inexperienced smoker i think i might enjoy it.
Hi Mike,
In fairness, it is a very well constructed cigar and if you don’t have any burn issues, you will enjoy it.
Let us know how you get on.
Yiorgos
Hi Yiorgos,
Smoked it last night but I really didn’t enjoy it. I found huge burn problems from the off and had to re-light it twice. I enjoyed the coffee flavor that was present as well as the hint of wood. However the burn issues really made it very difficult to enjoy and because of that I will be looking elsewhere for my next smoke.
Again I am very new to cigars but i think i know enough to know that there is way better cigars out there - especially for the 20 euro price tag,
Mike
I am not surprised, I actually haven’t heard anyone saying they did enjoy it… pity for a cigar bearing the Montecristo band…
If you like milder cigars, try the Sancho Panza Belicosos (Foxes might still have some) or an aged Rafael Gonzalez Petit Corona (from the same place). They are both good value - even for Ireland!
I agree with the review, although mine burnt very well and, yes, the flavor is too flat and draws too much.
Cheers!
Armando
Puebla, México