Montecristo Classic Churchill Review

Vitola: Churchill (7" x 54RG)

Price: $10+/- stick

Wrapper: Conneticut

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

Aged in Humidor: Six Months

Appearance and Construction:

The color of the wrapper is resembling of peanut butter with light, barely noticeable, veins. The band is of the same color as the Cuban version, dark red (maroon). Also the same design of white trims and a simple logo. However, this Dominican version has gold etching along the white, unlike the Cuban version. The band is on there snug. The cap matches the body as if part of it. It's smoothly built as it smoked: smooth.

The fumes were not overwhelming at all or too light, it burnt at a good rate and touch up not required. The ash didn't hold to well kept burning or flaking off and it burnt slightly uneven but...

Tasting Notes:

The initial smell right out of the cellophane wrapper before I put it into my humidor to rest a bit is of a strong fermented tobacco leaf scent, it brings me to an image of the fermentation process. It has a refined sweetness with a bit of a good ammonia scent. The aroma can be said to be an earthy reminder of lightly sweetened tea, the closest comparison would be a light peanut butter and tea infused with a bit of balsamic vinegar. After six months, it toned down. The cold draw before lighting is cinnamony.

I light up and the initial draw is of light leather. But about a little short of an inch in it gets pretty good. I can then detect a creaminess of cocoa. This is not a bold or strong cigar, it's medium in body. Yes there is the earthy side to this but also the contrast of cinnamon and roasted almond. The combination of the Connecticut wrapper and Dominican binder/filler made it smoke like it looked, peanut buttery creamy. Sometimes there is that bitter tobacco taste but it's not overwhelming or often present, the most prevalent flavor is of creamy, cocoa or a light nuttiness/woodiness. It is pretty consistent in flavor all the way through with flavor changes of the aforementioned.

I do recommend this cigar but not for $10.00 as the listed price. It would make a nice $4.00-5.00 smoke on a Sunday afternoon where you want to stay relaxed, which it did for me after work.

For it's enjoyment, flavor and overall smoke, rated a 88. I rated this an 88, the same as I did the Cuban Montecristo No. 2 because both were good, but just like the Cuban Cohiba and Dominican Cohiba, both are built differently. I thought the Cuban Montecristo No. 2 was strong with deep/dark notes of flavors and the Dominican Montecristo Classic Churchill to be medium in strength, creamy and more soothing flavors. Again, aspects regardless of size.