Of the many Altadis cigars AJ Fernandez has given new life to, Monte by Montecristo AJ Fernandez Robusto is among the most celebrated. In fact, Fernandez said himself back when his venture with Altadis began that Montecristo was the brand he was the most excited about working with. The fruits of his enthusiasm are more than apparent with this particular release, as in the midst of taking the cigar world by storm, it has earned numerous 90+ ratings in Cigar Aficionado. The filler blend of this modern masterpiece consists of a combination of Criollo 98 leaves from Nicaragua and Dominican Piloto Cubano. The binder is a spicy Nicaraguan Corojo 98 leaf, and the wrapper is a dark, heavily aged Ecuadorian Habano. No expenses were spared in the production of this line, as it was created with the most discriminating connoisseurs in mind.
The packaging is remarkably neat and clean, featuring golden chests plastered with the all-too-recognizable Montecristo trident logo. Each impeccably crafted vitola sports gold and black bands, one bearing the Montecristo Fleur-de-lis and the second being a massive mid-band declaring the Monte namesake. A gorgeous box press is imparted on each cigar, and the construction is typical AJ Fernandez style: easy-smoking and never light on the clouds. Intoxicating billows of thick blue smoke slather the palate with a sweet and spicy greeting of bread notes and bakers’ spices. Blasts of white pepper continually appear throughout the smoke, and the firm backbone of the flavor profile is rich, aged raw tobacco. Hints of cedar and cream are noticeable on the finish. Medium-full-bodied throughout the first half and evolving into an all-out full-bodied cigar, Monte by Montecristo AJ Fernandez is doubtless the strongest cigar to ever wear a Montecristo band. The 4 ¼” x 54 Robusto offers a very true picture of the flavor profile and a short, sweet smoking experience.
Though candidly full-bodied and more “in-your-face” than its Dominican counterparts, Monte by Montecristo AJ Fernandez remains balanced and enjoyable throughout. On that note, however, it is important to note that this is by no means a beginners’ cigar. For those of you with some heavy mileage on your palate, though, this stick is more than deserving of some quality burn time. It pairs well with tawny port and dark beer, perhaps even coffee, and is best enjoyed on a full stomach. If you have tried some of the other AJ Fernandez-Altadis collaborations such as Hoyo La Amistad or Ramon Allones by AJ Fernandez and found them to be enjoyable, this blend is definitely right up your alley. It is said that nothing beats a true classic. Well, we aren’t sure about beating anything here, but AJ Fernandez has definitely taken this classic to a whole new level. Don’t take our word for it, though. Try Monte by Montecristo AJ Fernandez Robusto today and experience the biggest, baddest, boldest cigar to ever be called a Montecristo!
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