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If they don't slide you need to tear them off carefully.
Nah, just smoke the band as well. I seem to remember a very in-depth discussion around these parts last year as to which bands imparted the best flavours... I can't remember if Trinidad or Vegas Robaina won...
I had my first one of these on Friday evening. I really really liked it, I wont try to put it into words because I'm new to cigars in general. Only problem I had was when it got down near the band, I tried to slide it off but it buggered up the wrapper which was a shame because I was still enjoying it.
yes, this is a good review as its content is almost as timeless as the petit tubos - years ago, when i had'nt an arse in my trousers i used to buy the occasional monte tubos from petersons or barrys and sit in st.patricks park smoking my precious haul.
Montecristo is one of the most easily recognisable Cuban Brands and what easier way to sample them is through buying a Tubed version of them in your local Tobacconist? With a Old Speckled Hen, I sit down to review this old stalwart.
1. Introduction
Today's smoke is the Montecristo Petit Tubos. The Cigar is the same as the famed Montecristo #4, but is sold in an aluminium tube that allows it to be stored fresh and safely. I brought this Cigar the day before from my local tobacconist. They stock a limited range of Cigars, with this being one of them.
2. Presentation
The tube itself has the common Montecristo hallmarks including the cream background colour and logo. Opening the tube you get a strong, meaty tobacco bouquet that indicates that it has not been opened. Inspecting the Cigar, the Montecristo itself does not have a very inviting wrapper - there's no sheen and it doesn't look very oily. I'm not that disappointed, a lot of the Montecristo's I've had in the past have had dry looking wrappers but still the flavour is very inviting.
The Montecristo Petit Tubos alongside it's Aluminium Tube Sarcophagus.
The Montecristo itself looks to be very well constructed with a minimal amount of veins. One of the big pluses the Petit Tubos has over the Montecristo #4 is how much better is the standards are between the two. I don't know if both Cigars are rolled in the same factory using the same Tobacco crop using the same rollers, but it seems that the quality of the Petit Tubos is much higher. For instance, one of the common gripes I've had with the number four is the draw problems I seem to continuously get with them. Then on top of that is the lifeless flavour profile I get from many Monte #4's over many boxes. Compare that with the Petit Tubos however, where I find the draw to be very consistent with the three or four of them I've had over the last couple of years. The aluminium tube also helps keep the flavours intact - there is such a great bouquet of flavours emitting from the tube when you first open it to reveal the Cigar.
Montecristo - arguably Cuba's most recognisable Cigar brand
3. Cut & Lighting
The cut itself was very effortless and tidy. There are no stray leaf artefacts. On lighting, there was no issues with getting the tobacco to burn, but a small split appeared at the foot. A little disappointing, I can only attribute this to maybe the leaf being a little too dry or being lit up a little too fast. Not the most uncommon of things that happens when you light a Cigar - it's something that I can live with.
The first few draws reveals a medium to full flavour that is quite appealing. The classic Montecristo 'twang' is there and comes to the front very quickly. This particular Petit Tubos certainly has a certain amount of punch to it. I've had some Petit Tubos that have been not quite as flavourful on the first few draws as this one so there is certainly a variation of strength between this marca.
I would say that the flavours here are mostly leather and a slight Espresso. There is an undercurrent of tobacco that never gets too overpowering that compliments the leather and the twang very well. I'm very impressed with the flavours coming through balanced very early.
4. First Third
Getting into the first inch or so, the Cigar starts to mellow slightly from the initial blast of flavours. Those flavours are still there, but they don't rush so headlong. I was drinking this Cigar with an Old Speckled Hen which is a great pairing I feel with Montecristo Cigars. The ale itself has a tangy after taste of burnt Orange that compliments the twang of the Montecristo. There's certainly a great balance between the two - neither overpowers the other.
Thankfully the split I spoke about earlier hasn't caused any big issues with how the Cigar smokes. If you look at the image below, the burn around the split is a little untidy, but to the Cigar's credit it did not take time for the burn to go over the split evenly. So far so good.
The burn is a little messy but it quickly cleared itself up
5. Second Third
Towards the second third and the half way point of the Cigar the flavours don't evolve but still keep the same settled, medium strength flavour as sampled in the first third. The Cigar certainly is keeping my attention. The Cigar doesn't demand too much from me but it knows how to keep you interested.
Getting close to the end of the Cigar - yet still smoking well
6. Final Third
Getting close to the end of the Cigar and the Montecristo is still smoking well. It's a shame to waste a good smoke and thus I nub the Cigar until it's almost burning my fingers.
7. Montecristo Petit Tubos Vs Bolivar #1
Along with the Montecristo Petit Tubos, another popular Petit Corona available from many good Tobacconists who sell Cuban Cigars is the Bolivar #1. I have reviewed the Bolivar on this site and both Cigars share the same target market. If you only had ten pounds in your hand and you had to choose between the Bolivar and Montescristo, which one would I suggest you should go for? To be honest, it's a little bit like apples and oranges.
If you're a newbie to the world of Cigar smoking and wanted a smoke that would tick a lot of boxes as what it a Cuban should smoke like without being too overpowering it would be the Montecristo.
I can't remember if Trinidad or Vegas Robaina won...
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