New Years Eve 2010 (Montcristo “Open” – Junior)

December is a very busy month in the shop, 1000′s of people come through our doors. Bringing with them every strain of flu and cold virus’s Nottingham city has to offer. Luckly i avoided it for Christmas, New Year was another story. I felt like crap and didn’t really want to smoke anything big or heavy. So after a bit of Humidor staring, i grabbed a Montecristo “Open” Junior and a bottle of Benromach Traditional. With all social gatherings, meat is always on offer. As me and Kim made our way, to Beast’s we could smell the meat and BBQ as we approached the house.

After a good helping of oak cooked Lamb, cakes and other snacks we hit the booze. I mainly kept to the Benromach, i have tried this before. I was given it as sample when i worked at Gauntleys the first time round. I enjoyed the smoothness and the long and warm caramel finish. Perfect for a throat that feels like ive been eating chestnuts, in there shells. After midnight we hit the back yard (another no-smoking house) and I got the Junior out. A small cigar and light smoke.

Montecristo “Open” – Junior

Rolled in : Cuba
Wrapper : Cuba
Binder : Cuba
Filler : Cuba
Size: 4 3/8″ x 38

The cold i had didn’t help my taste buds much, i was not expecting to be able to taste much of the cigar. This combined with my previous experience of the “Open Series” Master. I found the Open Master a little disappointing when i first tried it, it wasn’t a bad cigar. I just don’t like the idea of a Monte without the Monte flavours, smokes like a Hoyo Epicure No2 wannabe. The cigar cracked a little on the cut, could have been worse still smokeable. The light was easy with a jet flame lighter, initial flavours where of light tobacco with a little earthiness. The first half of this little cigar came across a little flat and one dimensional. More than likely it is down to my cold combined with this weak, diet Montecristo.

The second half saw the cigar come a little out of its shell and increase with a small array of earthy, leathery flavours. The original light tobacco still coming through. The Benromach and the Junior pair up well, i was regretting my choice a little by this point. Cursing my throat more. I had planned to smoke something bigger, stronger and much darker. Although a San Cristobal – La Punta would have smoked well with this whisky & a sore throat too.

I did enjoy the cigar, to be honest. This review is a little harsh considering, i feel i could have got more out of this. But it served its purpose in allowing me to have a  cigar, light enough to smoke when my throat is telling me i shouldn’t. The earthy flavours while being my cup of tea, the feeling of something missing maybe?.

Ratings

Construction .. 7/10
Burn .. 9/10
Flavour (1/2) .. 6/10
Flavour (2/2) .. 8/10

Overall .. 6/10