Montecristo Open Master

Description

The humidity in Miami does not just sit onyour skin; it holds you, pulls you close — like an overbearing aunt who has not seen you in 10 years.

I was sitting in a leather chair in a corner booth at a Brickell lounge, one of those that is air-conditioned 24/7 against tropical heat and feels designed for my lower back. Tula Officite (4) Noon, 3:30 p.m. I had just emerged from a glass-walled conference room where for six hours I’d been screaming over escrow terms and interest rates on a commercial deal that felt like would never close. I did not want to scream even after the lastsignature hit paper. I just felt… light. I needed a weed that would transcendme into that headspace.

I didn’t want something that was going to whiskery my teeth in with spice or make me wish I’d just gnawed ona charred oak log. I had dinner reservations at a steakhouse in an hour, and I did not want to ruin my palate. I looked through my travel humidor and overlooked the headliners before I discovered that unmistakable green and yellow band. It wasexactly what the situation demanded. You know, one of those times when you consider that you don’t need the *strongest* thing in the room to do what needs doing. That was me, just there as the Miami skyline started to redden in the window.

The Transition: That smoke? The Montecristo Open Master…

I have a soft spot for the “Open” series. The purists panted when Habanos S.A. stopped makingthese in 2009. Since it wasn’t a giant, they said that it was not a “real” Montecristo. But me? Do I believe in a right time and place? The Open Master is the family’s Robusto, and to tell you the truth it does happen to be my favorite vitola of them all. It’s made for the great outdoors — yes, golf courses and yachts, but also post-deal wind down in a city that doesn’t sleep (or cool off).

Construction: Pre-light and Feel

The first thing I notice when I pick up this thing is the weight. Ithas some heft in the hand — it’s not as airy as some of these lighter bodied sticks can be. The wrapper on this one is a really nice classic Cuban Colorado shade — it’s in that not-quite-matte-tan and not-quite-rusty range with some visible veins but absolutely nothing you can say negatively about the quality of it. It has that very thin, oily gloss which indicates the tobacco from Vuelta Abajo was lovingly fussed over to some extent. I just gently squeezed the thing, it was all firm — there were no mushy spots at all.

I did not make cuts in the cap just a straight cut and again the cold draw is what to be expected from a Monte. I picked up flashes of light almond with a definite hit oftoasted bread. There’s also this fundamental saltiness, not unlike a sea breeze with adash of cedar. It’s an inviting start. You ever know what I mean that first dry pull where you just get it in your soul the draw is going to be easy? This had that. No “sucking up a milkshake througha straw” vibes here. It was there,it was easy and it was open.

Flavor Profile: A Stroll with the Master

The First Third

On the draw, first couple puffs are all wood and toast. It’s a super “Cuban” in its DNA but not quite the in-your-face black pepper blast of a regular Montecristo No. 4. Instead I ended up with this soft white pepper that clung to the back of my tongue. There’s also hint of an herbaceous note in there, some kind of dried hay or light citrus zest. It’s not a flavor bomb demanding your undivided attention; more ofa polite conversation. I got a tiny hint of bitterness right at the outset, but then it quickly melted into a mild sweetness. The cocoa and coffee are there, but they’re weak; more like someone passed you with a take out cappuccino.

The Second Third

The deeper I got into the center of the stick, however, the body never quite developed beyond that light-to-medium range. The espresso notes, for their part, had begun to take the reins a little, really stepping out against that woody backdrop. This is what I think the Open Master excels at. Then there is thistropical character to it that just slides through once in a while. It’s blending with a pre-light almond I noted on the cold draw. The sweetflavor is just a touch more honeyed and the citrus slightly zingier. It’s balanced. Nothing is fighting for dominance. And the smoke is smooth, not heavy and chewy; smooth enough that you don’t have to take a drink after every puff.

The Final Third

Here’s generally where lighter cigars can get a bit ‘hot’ (bitter and ‘ashy,’ often) but the Master never faltered. The cedar growing up,then it was the star. I started to get some salty leather — which sounds kind of weird if you don’t smoke but is what purosphiles would call a good indication that it has old Cuban leaf. The white pepperwas back, “a little-kick-at-the end kind of thing that balances it all out.” There’s a distant butteryprofile which rounds off the coffee notes at that very end. I smoked it down to an inch, and it gave me no bite. It just… finished. Like a great movie that never needed a sequel.

Pairing: What to Sip

Listen, if you getsome super heavy peaty Scotch to go with it, then you’re going to murder this thing. The cigar isn’t weighty enoughto stack up against a smoke-bomb whisky. I was in Miami and grinding it out, so my choice was a traditional Mojito —dryishandvirtuallymetabolicin mint. The lime and mint in the cocktail tied well tothe citrus and herbal notes of the first half of the cigar. If you’re a coffee person, stick to just (a(vvvvvery) basic Café Cubano (“cafecito”). The coffee sweetens the candy and brings a cocoa note to the tobacco without overwhelming it. The smoke adds a little kick to the musty dark fired note providing some body to the tobacco. If it is later in the evening you can get away with a light rum — maybe even an Havana Club 3 Year.

Value and Verdict

Who is this for? If you’re the smoking type that still thinks a Cigar ain’t “good” if it doesn’t have you spinning out of your head, then sorry, this isn’t for you. But if you’re looking for a subtle, pleasant smoke that you can multitask (say, chewing the fat or playing nine holes) with or take as the sun sets on your porch while wondering how it all went so horribly wrong, congratulations. It is geared for teaching beginners, sure, but as someone who has sipped from the humidor many times I think its stability is its strongest asset.

Itisn’t trying to be the Montecristo No. 2. It’sno Bolivar attempt. It’s the Open Master. It’s for the Everyman (and woman), and it does more than make easy work of that goal. Because as a friend, for a 40- or 50- or 60-minute experience, it’s promising companionship. It didn’t force me to sit silently and ponder about each molecule of smoke, which is exactly what the doctor ordered after a marathon meeting. It gave me breathing room, it soothed my soul and it was the taste of a job well accomplished.

Verdict: A good, solid Robusto for the lover of subtletynot power.

It’s in my “daytime smoke forever” rotation.