I’m rarely this eager to try a new cigar. I’m especially fond of Nicaraguan tobacco and I’m a fan of the Plasencia family’s past work. The Montecristo Epic Craft Cured is a Nicaraguan puro and according to Altadis, it’s not your average Nicaraguan puro.
The premium tobacco is cured, following traditional Cuban style, in pilones. Pilones are stacks of tobacco leaves that have been bunched in a circular formation. Many aficionados believe that this method of fermentation provides a more flavorful smoke profile. This is one of the most difficult fermenting processes to master and the Plasencia family does it exceptionally well.
Details
- Country: Nicaragua
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan Vintage 2006 Rosado Escuro
- Filler: Nicaragua
The Nicaraguan filler comes from a few regions including Jalapa, Estelí, and Condega. There are three sizes available: Belicoso – 6 1/8 x 52; Robusto – 5 x 52; Toro – 6 x 52
First Impression
I could look at this cigar all day! The dark Vintage 2006 Rosado Oscuro wrapper is gorgeous, not one vain in sight. Smelling it from the foot, the pleasant aroma is making me even more excited to light up. I can tell the curing process makes this cigar unique. Personally, I believe the Nicaraguan tobacco tastes almost like Cuban tobacco. I chose the Robusto size and decided to go with a punch cutter.
First Third
Right off the bat, I get a taste of smooth chocolaty flavor with notes of pepper. There’s not much sweetness, which I like because I’m not a fan of sweet cigars. It’s got a decent medium-bodied kick. The air flow is great and I’m happy with my choice to use a punch cut for this cigar. I was told this cigar is medium to full-bodied but I haven’t seen any strength above medium yet.
Second Third
This cigar is a perfect example of what quality construction looks like. The ash holds beautifully, it held half-way through the cigar before gravity took its toll. The strength of the cigar is starting to pick up towards being full-bodied and the peppery notes are shining through. Personally, I prefer a spicy cigar that’s not too overwhelming and this cigar delivers! The expertly balanced blend gives this cigar its smooth flavor. I’m starting to pick up on nutty and slightly fruity notes and the chocolate is no longer as prominent as it was in the beginning.
Final Third
This is it, I’m a firm believer that the last third of a cigar is the true test of how good it really is and can make or break a cigar. The last third straddled the borderline between medium and full-bodied. Throughout the cigar, as the pepper flavor increased the chocolatey flavor became less noticeable. A solid spicy earthy flavor came through with woody and chocolatey notes. I really enjoyed the complex flavors in this cigar, as it got stronger and spicier, there was zero harshness.
Absolutely amazing construction, the ash fell once more and not again until the moment I put out the cigar. I didn’t have to touch up or even think about relighting. I wish I had a roach clip so I could get every last puff out of this cigar. But like they say, all good things must come to an end and boy, did this cigar prove itself!
Conclusion
90 Rating – This cigar is definitely worth stocking up on! Overall, it’s a medium bodied cigar with full-bodied moments. It took me about 45 minutes to an hour to finish the Robusto size. It’s a satisfying smoke and the hype around this cigar holds up. I comment the Plasencia family for yet another exquisite blend. This cigar is similar to the Romeo 505, the difference being the Romeo 505 is more full bodied. The Plasencia family is astonishingly good at creating cigars with profiles similar to Cuban cigar, Montecristo Epic Craft Cured is yet another! Also, the skilled torcedors who handcrafted these incredible stogies need to be given a raise for these damn good cigars!
Rating: 90+
I hope you enjoyed my Montecristo Epic Craft Cured review. If you’ve tried it, let us know what you think below! If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
