Montecristo and Plasencia, a match made in heaven.
The story of Montecristo Espada is seriously interesting. Not long ago, Montecristo and famed tobacco grower and cigar maker Nestor Plasencia struck a deal. This deal would gave Montecristo’s blending team, known as the ‘Grupo de Maestros,’ unrestricted access to Plasencia’s world-renowned collection of fine tobaccos and state of the art factory. At this facility, the Master’s went to work, spending months developing a flawless merger of fine, sophisticated cigar. What they discovered was a blend unlike any other. The Montecristo Espada overflows with flavor.
A cigar that’s easily fitting of the Montecristo name, but with a level of flavor that’s both charming and inviting.
Meaning ‘sword,’ Espada makes full use of Plasencia’s unique tobacco archive and employs a gorgeous Habano wrapper from 2010 grown in Jalapa, Nicaragua. Underneath, an all-Nicaraguan blend of bold, well-aged long-fillers from Jalapa, Ometepe, and Condega were each specifically selected for their strength, flavor, or body. The result is an extremely well-balanced, layered with rich, hearty notes of wood, pepper, coffee, cream, nuts, and sweetness. Elegant, refined, and loaded with complexity, Montecristo Espada is truly a world-class cigar. Montecristo Espada received Top 25 honors for 2015 (#20 overall) and a well-deserved 92-rating noting: “offering the spice of a gingersnap with touches of cinnamon that build to a sweet, spicy finish.”
The experience opens with a flavor and strength somewhere between their Classic and Platinum lines with some good spice and a note of raisin. Part way through 1/3, that raisin taste is joined by a delicious sweet cream, almost vanilla. It’s like berries and cream, but subtler, just enough to really get a good taste but not the syrupy sweetness of an infused cigar and combined with that typically delicious Monte tobacco flavor. The draw is absolutely perfect and produces a CONSTANT stream of smoke which I love! Monte fans should go ahead and buy a box! When I have the means, I know I will! In short, the Montecristo Espada is an exceptional cigar to add to your collection.