Description
Why the Montecristo Shorts Became My Go-To Morning Smoke
I used to be one of those guys who thought short-format cigars were just for rushed airport lounges or construction-site breaks. Then I spent a week in Havana – must’ve been ’07, maybe ’08 – and watched locals at the Casa del Habano savoring Shorts like they were full Churchills. Changed my entire perspective. The Montecristo Shorts isn’t some compromise cigar you smoke when you’re short on time. It’s a concentrated burst of everything that makes Montecristo legendary, packed into 4 inches of perfectly rolled tobacco. If you’ve been sleeping on short vitolas because you think they can’t deliver complexity, this cigar will make you rethink that assumption fast.
What Makes This Little Powerhouse Stand Out
Montecristo needs no introduction – it’s been the benchmark for Cuban cigars since 1935, named after Alexandre Dumas’s famous novel that workers in the factory loved hearing read aloud. The brand built its reputation on consistency and that distinctive Vuelta Abajo tobacco flavor profile. But the Shorts? This vitola does something most petite cigars can’t pull off: it delivers the full Montecristo experience without feeling rushed or one-dimensional.
The thing is, when you compress the Montecristo blend into this shorter format, you’re not just getting a “quick version” of their flavor. The ratio of wrapper to filler changes. You get more of that silky Cuban wrapper influencing each draw, which actually amplifies certain characteristics – particularly that earthy, leathery quality that Montecristo is known for. It’s medium strength, leaning toward the fuller side as you progress through the smoke, which makes it perfect for experienced smokers who want satisfaction without committing to an hour-plus session.
This cigar speaks to the aficionado who’s got their palate developed enough to appreciate nuance in a condensed format. You know those mornings when you want something substantial with your coffee before work? Or that 20-minute window after dinner when a full robusto would be overkill? That’s where the Shorts lives. And honestly – it does that job better than almost any other short-format Cuban I’ve tried.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Vitola | Shorts (Edmundo format) |
| Length | 4 inches / 110 mm |
| Ring Gauge | 42 |
| Wrapper | Cuban (Vuelta Abajo) |
| Binder | Cuban |
| Filler | Cuban Blend (Vuelta Abajo region) |
| Strength | Medium to Medium-Full |
| Smoking Time | 20-30 minutes |
The Smoke: Every Draw Counts
With a cigar this short, there’s no room for a slow burn-in period – it gets going from the first puff. The cold draw gives you leather and a hint of cocoa, maybe some barnyard notes if it’s been aging in your humidor for a while. Once you light it up, that first third hits with classic Montecristo earth and cedar. There’s this smooth, almost creamy quality to the smoke that coats your palate. I get coffee bean notes – not roasted coffee exactly, but raw coffee with some natural sweetness behind it.
The wrapper on these is gorgeous when they’re fresh – oily with just a bit of tooth to it. The construction? Man, they nail it. I’ve probably gone through three boxes of these over the years, and I can count on one hand the number that had draw issues. That 42 ring gauge gives you this concentrated flavor delivery without being tight or difficult to smoke.
Second third is where it gets interesting. The strength builds – not aggressively, but you definitely notice it moving from medium into fuller territory. The spicy notes start coming through, that classic Cuban tobacco spice on the retrohale. The leather notes I mentioned earlier become more prominent, mixing with some nutty characteristics. Sometimes I get a bit of white pepper. The burn line usually stays pretty even, and the ash holds for about an inch before dropping, which is solid for a shorter cigar.
Final third – this is where some short cigars fall apart or get harsh. Not the Shorts. It maintains that smooth character right to the end, though it definitely kicks up in strength. You’ll get more pronounced coffee notes here, some dark chocolate, and that earthy Montecristo signature flavor just dominates. The retrohale gets peppery but not harsh. I’ve smoked these down to the nub more times than I can count because that last inch is just too good to waste.
The ash is firm and light gray – classic sign of quality tobacco and proper fermentation. Smoke production is generous without being overwhelming. And that aroma? If you’re smoking this around other people, expect them to ask what you’re having. It’s got that unmistakable Cuban cigar smell that fills a room in the best way possible.
How It Stacks Up Against Similar Smokes
| Cigar | Strength | Smoking Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montecristo Shorts | Medium-Full | 20-30 minutes | Morning smoke, quick break, concentrated flavor |
| Partagás Short | Full | 25-35 minutes | Those wanting more power, afternoon smoke |
| Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill | Mild-Medium | 25-30 minutes | Gentler palate, beginners to short formats |
I’ve smoked all three of these regularly, and they each have their place. The Partagás Short hits harder – if you want something with more punch, go that route. The Romeo is smoother and milder, great if you’re not ready for the intensity. But the Montecristo Shorts sits right in that sweet spot of complexity and strength. It’s the one I reach for most often because it satisfies without overwhelming, especially earlier in the day.
What to Drink With It
Coffee is the obvious choice, and it works beautifully. A proper espresso or a strong Cuban coffee amplifies those coffee and chocolate notes in the cigar. I’m talking about real espresso here, not some watered-down diner coffee – something with body that can stand up to the tobacco.
If you’re drinking spirits, go with a lighter rum. Havana Club 7 Year is perfect – it’s got enough age to bring some complexity without competing with the cigar. The slight sweetness in the rum plays nicely with those earthy, leathery notes. Bourbon can work too, but keep it on the lighter side – something like Buffalo Trace rather than a heavy, high-proof barrel pick that’ll blow out your palate.
Morning or mid-afternoon are ideal times for this cigar. It’s too flavorful and substantial for an after-dinner smoke in my opinion – save your fuller, longer cigars for that. But with morning coffee on a Saturday? Or during a lunch break when you’ve actually got thirty minutes to yourself? That’s when the Shorts shines. It’s also excellent for those situations where weather or time constraints make a longer smoke impractical. I’ve enjoyed plenty of these standing outside in winter when I wasn’t about to commit to a 90-minute cigar in 20-degree weather.
How long does proper aging improve the Montecristo Shorts?
Fresh off the truck, they’re good. Six months in a proper humidor at 65-68% humidity? They’re excellent. The harshness that can sometimes appear in young Cuban cigars mellows out, and the flavors integrate better. I don’t think you need to age these for years like some vitolas – twelve to eighteen months is the sweet spot where I’ve found them to perform best. After that, you’re not getting dramatic improvements, just subtle refinement.
Is the ring gauge too small for getting full flavor?
Not even close. That 42 ring gauge is actually perfect for this length because it concentrates the flavors rather than diluting them. You’re getting more wrapper influence relative to filler, which brings out those earthy and leathery notes. I know some guys think they need a 54+ ring gauge to get complexity, but those people haven’t really explored what a well-balanced smaller ring gauge can do. This isn’t a cigarillo – it’s a proper cigar with full flavor delivery.
Can beginners handle the strength of Montecristo Shorts?
Depends on the beginner, honestly. If someone’s never smoked a cigar before? Maybe start with something milder. But if they’ve had a few medium-bodied smokes and want to explore Cuban tobacco, this is actually a great introduction. The shorter smoking time means if it’s too strong, you’re not committed to an hour of discomfort. Just make sure they smoke it on a full stomach – that final third can sneak up on you if you’re not ready for it.
How should I store these compared to larger Montecristo vitolas?
Same principles apply – keep your humidor between 65-68% humidity and around 65-70 degrees. The shorter length means they might be slightly more responsive to humidity swings than bigger cigars, but we’re talking minor differences. Don’t overthink it. Just keep them in stable conditions, resist the urge to fiddle with your humidor constantly, and they’ll be fine. I keep mine in the same humidor with my robustos and churchills without any issues.
What’s the best way to cut a cigar this short?
Straight cut, no question. Some people try to use a punch on everything, but with a 42 ring gauge, a punch might restrict the draw too much. Use a sharp guillotine cutter and take off just enough to open it up – maybe 1/16th of an inch. You don’t need to cut deeply into the cap. A clean, shallow cut preserves the wrapper integrity and gives you a perfect draw on these.
Do Montecristo Shorts need a long rest after shipping?
Give them at least two weeks, preferably a month. Shipping – especially from overseas – can really stress cigars out. The humidity fluctuates, temperatures change, they get jostled around. When they arrive, even if they look perfect, let them acclimate to your humidor conditions before smoking. I’ve made the mistake of lighting one up the day it arrived, and it just doesn’t smoke the same as after it’s had time to rest and stabilize. Patience pays off here.
Are these good for sharing with friends who don’t smoke cigars often?
Actually, yeah – the shorter smoking time makes them less intimidating than handing someone a Churchill and expecting them to commit to 90 minutes. The flavor is sophisticated enough that cigar people won’t feel like they’re smoking something dumbed-down, but it’s smooth enough that someone newer to cigars can appreciate it without getting overwhelmed. Just warn them about that strength increase in the final third so they don’t get blindsided.
Bottom Line: This Deserves a Spot in Your Rotation
I’ll be blunt – the Montecristo Shorts is one of the most underrated cigars in the entire Montecristo lineup. People obsess over the No. 2 and the Edmundo, and yeah, those are fantastic. But this little cigar delivers remarkable complexity and satisfaction in a format that actually fits into real life. Not every smoke needs to be a two-hour meditation session. Sometimes you want premium tobacco, excellent construction, and classic Cuban flavor in a package that respects your schedule.
If you’ve never tried the Shorts because you assumed smaller meant lesser, do yourself a favor and grab a few. Let them rest in your humidor for a month, then smoke one with your morning coffee on a weekend. You’ll get it. This is what a perfectly executed short-format cigar tastes like, and once you experience that concentrated Montecristo character, you’ll understand why these have earned their place in humidors around the world.
