Smoked: Montecristo Platinum Toro

Smoked at: Wetherington, Ohio

Montecristo Platinum Toro features filler from Peru, the Dominican and Nicaragua, a Dominican binder, and a smooth oily Mexican San Andres wrapper.

It opens with wood – oak & hickory, notes of dark roast coffee, a sweet fruit and a steely, flinty, mineral earthy taste. As the cigar progresses, the fruit reminds me of tart apple. Notes of leather, grain/dry cereal, toast, pepper and cinnamon join the background. The oak/hickory transitions to charred cedar by the second third. By the final third, the earthy notes include floral, hay and vegetal at times. It’s difficult to distinguish the body since the flavors are on the bold side. It takes a while to get beyond medium bodied. It finally kicks into medium-full gear in both body and strength during the last third.

The construction is top notch – perfect draw start to finish, dark grey ash that held firm way past an inch and a half (when I allowed it), and ample smoke output. The only flaw was a very wavy burn line that required several touchups.

The Monte Platinum is a slightly better than average cigar. I like the flavors, but frankly expected more from the hype and the brand. I’ve smoke many Montecristos. Guys, you can do better. You HAVE done better.