Montecristo Shorts

Description

It was about 2:15 AM in the Terminal 3 lounge at Heathrow. If you’ve ever been there at that hour, you know the vibe. It’s not the bustling, champagne-popping hub it is at noon. It’s a ghost town of soft-lit corridors and the low hum of industrial vacuums somewhere in the distance. I was sitting in one of those oversized leather wingback chairs, tucked into a corner where the shadows felt a bit thicker. I had a secret—nothing scandalous, just a piece of news about a merger that hadn’t hit the wires yet—and the weight of it was keeping my eyes wide open. I needed to think, to process the move, but I only had about twenty minutes before my connection started boarding. A full Robusto was out of the question. I didn’t want to rush a good stick; that’s a sin in my book.

I reached into my carry-on and pulled out a small, yellow cardboard pack. It felt discreet, almost like a pack of gum if you weren’t looking closely. I slipped one out. It was slim, short, and smelled like the promise of a quiet moment in a loud world. I headed to the designated smoking glass box—that weird, sterile aquarium they give us—and struck a match. The first puff was like a familiar handshake from an old friend who knows exactly when to stop talking. It gave me just enough time to settle my thoughts without making me late for the gate.

The Transition: That smoke? The Montecristo Shorts…

I’ve spent years chasing the big rings and the long smokes, but there’s something to be said for the “Short.” It’s the kind of smoke you grab when you want the soul of a Cuban cigar but you’ve only got a coffee break’s worth of time. The Montecristo Shorts aren’t trying to be a Churchill, and they aren’t those dry, wispy cigarillos you find at a gas station. They occupy this middle ground that I find myself returning to more often than I’d like to admit to my purist friends. It’s a punchy little thing that packs the Montecristo DNA into a frame that fits in your shirt pocket.

Construction: The Feel in the Hand

I gotta say, for a machine-made stick, the construction is surprisingly tight. When you hold a Montecristo Short, you notice right away it’s got a bit of heft to it. It’s not airy. The wrapper is that classic Colorado shade—a rustic, reddish-brown that looks like it’s seen some sun in the Pinar del Río. It’s a bit toothy, with some visible veins, but that’s what I expect from a cigar that uses real-deal Vuelta Abajo leaf. It doesn’t feel fragile. I’ve carried these in my pocket without a case, and they hold up better than most.

The pre-light draw is where the story starts. I don’t even use a cutter for these; they come pre-cut, which usually makes me skeptical, but the draw is consistently clear. I get a hit of dry hay and a bit of that “barnyard” funk that tells me I’m smoking Cuban tobacco. It’s a clean scent, earthy and honest. You don’t get that chemical sweetness you find in lesser small-format smokes. This is pure leaf, through and through.

Flavor Profile: A Sprint, Not a Marathon

The First Third

The moment the flame hits the foot, you’re greeted with a blast of cedar. It’s not subtle. It’s like walking into a woodshop. There’s a sharp, white pepper spice that hits the back of the throat, letting you know this isn’t a “mild” experience. You ever have a smoke that wakes you up? This is it. Within the first five or six puffs, that spice settles down, and you start to get a bit of that classic Montecristo earthiness. It’s a bit gritty, but in a way that feels grounded. I love the way the smoke feels—it’s surprisingly thick for such a small ring gauge.

The Second Third

As I moved into the middle of this quick session in the lounge, the flavors started to round out. The wood is still there, but it’s joined by a distinct coffee note—think of a dark espresso with no sugar. There’s a hint of leather, too. It’s a very “masculine” profile, if that makes sense. There’s no floral daintiness here. About halfway through, I picked up a slight creaminess, almost like a bit of vanilla bean or cocoa trying to break through the spice. It’s a nice balance. It keeps the smoke from feeling too one-dimensional. You’re only four minutes in at this point, but the complexity is doing work.

The Final Third

The end comes fast, but it doesn’t get mushy. That’s the hallmark of a solid small cigar. The heat stays manageable until the very last bit. In the final third, the cocoa notes get darker, turning into more of a bitter chocolate or roasted nut vibe. The spice ramps back up for a final bow, leaving a lingering tingle on the tongue. It finishes clean. I didn’t get any of that sourness that usually happens when short-filler cigars get hot. It’s a concentrated burst of flavor that leaves you satisfied but not overwhelmed. I stubbed it out just as the boarding call for my flight echoed through the terminal. Timing was spot on.

Pairing: What to Drink?

Since I was in a lounge at 2 AM, I went with a double espresso. Honestly? I don’t think there’s a better pairing for a Montecristo Short. The bitterness of the coffee plays off the cedar and spice of the tobacco perfectly. They speak the same language. If I were at home on a Tuesday evening, I might reach for a peaty Scotch or even a dark rum to bring out that cocoa sweetness in the second third. But really, this is a “coffee cigar.” It’s meant to be enjoyed when you’re on the move or when you’re looking for a quick reset. Even a cold sparkling water works well if you want to keep the palate clean and really taste the tobacco.

Value and Utility: Who is this for?

Look, I know some guys look down on anything smaller than a Petit Corona. They think if it’s machine-made, it’s not a real cigar. I used to be one of them. But then I realized how much time I was wasting *not* smoking because I didn’t have an hour to spare. The Montecristo Short is for the guy who loves the flavor of the Monte No. 4 but has a life that doesn’t always allow for a long sit-down. It’s for the commute, the dog walk, or that secretive moment in an airport lounge when you need to get your head straight.

You get ten of these in a pack, and they’re priced fairly for what they are. They aren’t “cheap,” but they are accessible. Compared to the Cohiba Shorts, I find these to be a bit more rugged and earthy, which I prefer when I’m in a contemplative mood. They’re a staple in my travel humidor because they fill the gaps in the day.

Conclusion: The Verdict

I’m not going to tell you this is the greatest cigar ever made. It’s not. It’s a short-filler, machine-made cigarillo. But within that category? It’s a heavyweight. It delivers the authentic Cuban experience—the wood, the spice, the rich earth—in a format that respects your time. It’s reliable. Every time I open one of those yellow packs, I know exactly what I’m getting. There are no construction surprises, no plugged draws, just fifteen minutes of solid tobacco enjoyment.

If you’re looking for a meditative, three-hour journey through shifting flavor landscapes, keep looking. But if you’re like me—stuck in a quiet corner of the world at 2 AM with a secret on your mind and a flight to catch—the Montecristo Short is exactly the companion you want. It’s a little piece of Havana that fits in your pocket, and that’s more than enough for me.