Vitola de Galera:  Mareva
Vitola de Salida:  No. 4
Shape: Parejo
Body: Round
Dimensions:  42 RG /  5 1/8 inches
Presentation: Dress Box / 25’s
Vintage:  Feb 2012 / EME
Age When Tasted:  3 yrs, 1 month

The ubiquitous Montecristo No. 4…

The best selling Cuban cigar in the world and it’s no surprise why.

Accessible, easy, relatively consistent and it doesn’t make you think too much.

A winning formula if you want to sell alot of cigars.

That’s not meant as a criticism, by the way…

I always keep a few boxes on hand for those occasions when I just want a straightforward smoke.  I’m not always overly impressed, but I’m never let down either.

I know what to expect.

This time around, I choose a 3 year old cigar.  I’m going to do various tastings in the future and plan to compare evolution year by year from various boxes.

Just to see if there does come a time when this cigar transforms in to something special.

To the nose when unlit, this particular cigar gives off what I feel are the classic Montecristo No. 4 aromas. Spice, slight grass, leather and toasted cavendish.  Cavendish is a pipe tobacco and it has a deep, sweet, sugary, and oily aroma.  I get this aroma every time with the Monte No. 4. And its of the things that makes it so appealing to a broad range of smokers.  It’s pretty unique.

The wrapper is gorgeous–deep walnut with that classic Montecristo band. Lightly veined.   Really pretty.

The draw is good.

After lighting, I get more of the spice and cavendish with some beany flavors.
Almost lentil-like.

Very dry finish.  Actually, not much of a finish at all…

Further in, the taste is like an arrow.

Straight.  No evolution.

Youth?  Maybe.

Blend?  Probably…

I remember tasting one of these in London about 15 years ago.  I was relatively knew to Cuban cigars and this cigar was the stuff of legends. After I purchased the cigar from the tobacconist, I went out in to the park across the street and lit up. I remember that moment like it was yesterday because I was so excited that I finally had the opportunity to taste one.

To be honest, I don’t really remember much about the flavor, at all! But it was one of the best cigars I have had because of where I was, and what I was smoking.

It’s like eating a restaurant everyone raves about–the food may not be impressive at all, but you are with your wife enjoying a good bottle of wine, in celebration of something special–and it might be remembered as one of the best meals you have had because of that. Who cares about the food!

Back to the cigar…

The ash is exploding. Ugh.

This is usually the sign of a tripa corta filler cigar or a misuse of volado.

The burn is consistent though.

Flavor continues to stay pretty linear–nothing that exciting–but consistent.  A common theme with this cigar (consistency).

As I wind down, things pretty much stay the same.  I am not left with anything memorable, but not really disappointed at the same time.