Montecristo Shorts

Description

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Montecristo Shorts Review
It was approximately 2:15 a.m. in the lounge at Terminal 3 at Heathrow. If you’ve been there at that hour, you know the vibe. It is not the bustling, champagne-popping hub it becomes at noon. It’s a bit of a ghost town, soft-lit hallways and the low hum of industrial vacuums somewhere in the distance.

Product Specifications

And I was planted in one of those overlarge leather wingback chairs, which nestled into a corner that seemed to harbor slightly thicker shadows. I had a secret — there was nothing salacious about it, just fast news about a merger that was still off the wires — and the weight of that secret had my eyes pinned open. I wanted to pause, reframe the move in my mind, but I only had 20 minutes until my connection began boarding. There could not even be a full Robusto.

I didn’t want to make a great stick in a hurry; that’s a sin in my lexicon. I rummaged in my carry-on and withdrew a small, yellow cardboard pack. It gave a discreet feel, like that of a pack of gum if you did not look too closely. I slipped one out.

It was thin, short and smelled of the promise of a quiet moment in a loud world. I walked over to the smoking aquarium, that strange clear box where they put us smokers, and lit a match. The initial puff was like a firm handshake now from an old friend who knows when to stop talking. It offered me just the right amount of time to clear my head without getting me there late.

The Transition: That smoke? The Montecristo Shorts… I’ve chased the big rings and the long smokes for years -But there’s something to be said for the “Short.” It’s the sort of smoke you pick up when you want the spirit of a Cuban cigar but only have a coffee break to spare. The Montecristo Shorts don’t pretend to be a Churchill and they aren’t those dry, wispy gas-station cigarillos.

They reside in this middle territory that I find myself returning to more frequently than I would have liked to confess to my purist friends. It’s a spicy little shoat that contains the Montecristo DNA in a chassis small enough to slip into your shirt pocket. Product Specifications: Montecristo Shorts
Build: How it Feels In Your Hand
I must say though, this machine made stick is packed pretty nice and straight.

Even if your eyes were closed and somebody handed you one, then held a Montecristo Shortie in your other hand, initially you would know it has some weight to it. It’s not airy. The wrapper is that classic Colorado color of Colorado—a sort of rustic reddish brown as if it’s gotten some sun in the Pinar del Río. It’s a little toothy, there are some noticeable veins if you look closely, but then I’m talking about what else?—it is not only Cuban-seed tobacco, it comes from the Vuelta Abajo in Cuba.

It doesn’t feel fragile. I’ve stuffed these in my pocket sans case and they wear better than most. The story begins with the pre-light draw. I don’t even have to cut these; they come precut, which generally makes me suspicious — but the draw is always clear.

I smell a nose full of dry hay and a rock drill of that “barnyard” funk that let’s me know I’m smoking Cuban tobacco, on the cold draw. It’s a pure smell, earthy and honest. You don’t get that chemical, sweet taste you find in lesser small-format smokes. This is all leaf underneath.

Tasting Notes: A Sprint, and Not a Marathon
The First Third
As the flame makes contact with the foot, you’re met with a whoosh of cedar.

It’s not subtle. It’s like walking into a woodshop. There’s a pungent, white pepper spice that slams the back of your throat, proving this isn’t a “mild” experience. You ever have a cigarette that invigorates you?

This is it. After the first five or six puffs, that spice mellows out and you’ll notice a touch of that classic Montecristo earthiness. If definitely has a gritty vibe, but gritty in the way that it feels grounded. I love the feel of the smoke itself — it’s quite substantial given such a thin ring.

The Second Third
Planted in the middle of this fast lounge session, I began to sense the flavors begin to come around

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The wood is still present, but now it’s accompanied by a second note of coffee — as in black espresso with absolutely no sugar. There’s a whisper of leather, too. Masculine is in quotes because I don’t know if that’s the appropriate way to describe a profile, but it has a very “masculine” profile, if you know what I mean. There’s no floral daintiness here.

Halfway through I got a little creaminess on the palette, almost like there was some type of vanilla bean or cocoa trying to poke through that spice. It’s a nice balance. It prevents the smoke from being too one note. You’re only at this for four minutes, but the intricacy does work.

The Final Third
The ending is quick but not at all mushy.

This is the mark of a well-made small cigar. The spice level is tolerable right down to the very last crumb. And in the last third the cocoa note darkens, more like a bitter chocolate or roasted nut sort of thing.

The spice returns for a last wave, dancing coyishly on the tongue. It finishes clean. I didn’t experience any of that sourness that often crops up when short-filler cigars start to heat up. It’s a concentrated hit of flavor that satisfies without overwhelming.

As the boarding call for my flight blared through the terminal, I crushed it out. Timing was spot on. Pairing: What to Drink?

Considering that I was in a lounge at 2 AM, I took the double espresso. Honestly? I’m not sure there’s anything that tastes better with a Montecristo Short. The bitterness of the coffee contrasts beautifully with the cedar and spice in tobacco.

They speak the same language. If I was at home on a Tuesday evening, would have I reached for a peaty Scotch or even dark rum to accentuate that cocoa sweetness in the second third?

But in reality, this is a “coffee cigar.” It’s meant to be consumed on the run or when you’re aching for a reset. Or a cold sparkling water can do wonders, if you want to keep the palate clean and be able to really taste this tobacco. Value and Utility: Who is this book for? Listen, I get it, some fellas look down on anything less than a Petit Corona.

They feel that if it’s machine-made, it’s not a true cigar. I used to be one of them. But then I also realized how much time I was wasting
not
smoking if I couldn’t give up an hour. The Montecristo Short is for the chap who enjoys the flavor of the Monte No. 4 but has a lifestyle that doesn’t always allow for a long sit-down.

It’s for the commute, the dog walk, or that furtive slug before your plane gets called in departures. You get 10 of these in a pack and they are priced well for what they are. They’re not “cheap,” but they are affordable. These, compared with the Cohiba Shorts, I find a bit rougher and earthier which suits me just fine when am in a musing mood.

They’re the kind of cigars

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