Montecristo Open Master

Description

Finding a genuine Cuban cigar that fits into a casual afternoon without wrecking your palate for the rest of the day is harder than it sounds. Most Habanos demand your full attention, a heavy meal beforehand, and a quiet room to manage the strength, but sometimes you just want that classic flavor profile in a more approachable format. The Montecristo Open Master solves this by offering the prestige of the Vuelta Abajo blend in a format designed specifically for the outdoors and easygoing social settings.

The Smoking Experience

First Third: When you first light the Open Master, the draw is noticeably easier than many other Cuban Robustos, which often suffer from being plugged. It starts with a very distinct sensation of dry wood and toasted tobacco, lacking the heavy ammonia kick that fresh cigars sometimes carry. You get an immediate wash of delicate cedar and a subtle herbaceous note that feels like dried grass or hay. There is a faint sweetness underneath, reminding me of light cocoa powder, but the dominant character here is crisp and airy. A zesty citrus note, almost like orange peel, hangs around the edges, keeping the smoke feeling fresh rather than oily.

Mid-Section: As the burn line moves past the first inch, the smoke texture thickens up, transitioning from airy to a creamier consistency. The cedar flavor remains the backbone, but it gets deeper and is joined by a specific nutty sweetness that tastes like butternut or unsalted cashew butter. This is where the “Open” blend really shows its intent; it builds flavor without spiking the nicotine strength. A white pepper spice begins to tingle on the retrohale, adding a necessary layer of complexity to keep things interesting. Earthy undertones start to develop, grounding the lighter citrus notes found earlier.

Final Third: In the last section, the cigar finally pushes into true medium territory, showing a bit more muscle than the earlier thirds. The woodiness shifts from dry cedar to a darker, oak-like profile, accompanied by a savory note of salty leather. You might pick up roasted coffee beans mixing with the remaining herbaceous flavors, creating a finish that is savory rather than sweet. It remains surprisingly cool to the touch right down to the nub, leaving a clean, buttery aftertaste with a kick of zest that invites you to have another drink.

Flavor Profile

The Story Behind Montecristo

Montecristo is arguably the most famous cigar brand on the planet, setting the benchmark for Habanos since its founding in 1935. However, in 2009, the brand took a calculated risk by launching the Open series, distinguished by its second green and gold band. This line was created specifically to target a new generation of smokers and outdoor enthusiasts—golfers and sailors—who wanted a cigar that could compete with open air without overpowering the senses. While the initial release faced skepticism from purists, recent production years have seen the blend mature into a consistent, aromatic smoke that offers a lighter alternative to the classic No. 4 or Edmundo.

Perfect Pairings

• Rum: Havana Club 15yr – The dried fruit and heavy oak notes of this aged Cuban rum latch onto the cedar profile of the cigar, adding body to the lighter smoke.
• Whiskey: Balvenie DoubleWood – The honey and vanilla sweetness derived from the sherry casks helps smooth out the white pepper spice that emerges in the cigar’s second half.
• Coffee: Ethiopian Yirgacheffe pour-over – The high acidity and floral, citrusy notes of this coffee origin perfectly mirror the zesty orange peel flavors found in the cigar’s opening third.

Ideal For

The Open Master is the perfect cigar to hand to a friend who is curious about Cuban tobacco but might be intimidated by the strength of a Bolivar or a Partagas. It is also an excellent choice for a morning smoke with coffee or a companion for a round of golf, where you want flavor that is easily perceptible even with a breeze. Experienced smokers will appreciate this as a “palate reset” or a midday smoke that doesn’t require a nap afterward.