A Montecristo With A 20-Year-Old Wrapper
A new Montecristo will be heading to retailers in early December, and according to distributor and brand owner Altadis U.S.A., it features a wrapper leaf that’s 20 years old.
Like many Montecristos in the Altadis portfolio, the upcoming Montecristo M is made in Nicaragua by A.J. Fernandez. The binder and filler are Nicaraguan, but the focus here is the wrapper, a leaf of Ecuadoran tobacco grown from Connecticut seeds that Altadis says was aged for 20 years. It was procured from David Perez, fifth-generation tobacco grower and owner of A.S.P. Enterprises.
Unlike the other Montecristos made by Fernandez, the Montecristo M was blended to be medium in body. The intention was to highlight the more subtle aspects of the aged, Ecuador Connecticut wrapper (which tends to lean mild), so the Nicaraguan binders and fillers were dialed back in strength.
Montecristo M comes packaged in sleek, concave boxes of 20 and will be offered in four sizes: Robusto, measuring 4 3/4 inches by 54 ring gauge ($30); Toro, at 6 by 52 ($32); No. 2, a torpedo measuring 6 1/4 by 52 ($33.50); and a 7-by-50 Churchill ($35). The Toro will be offered in a five-pack as well.
“We are honored to collaborate with David Perez and A.J. Fernandez on this unique project,” says Rafael Nodal, vice president of product capability at Tabacalera USA, parent company of Altadis U.S.A. “Years of meticulous blending have resulted in a harmonious combination of extra-fermented Nicaraguan tobaccos and the nuanced flavors of the aged Ecuadoran Connecticut wrapper.”
Nodal says that this is not a limited-edition brand, but will be made in small batches due to the limited availability of the aged wrapper. Each box includes a certificate of authenticity signed by Fernandez, Perez and himself.
Although the cigars aren’t coming until later in the season, they are being presented to a group of retailers attending the Tobacconists’ Association of America conference in Aruba next week during a Montecristo dinner.
“This launch marks a significant milestone for Montecristo as we introduce an exciting new dimension to the brand,” says Davide Moro, CEO of Altadis U.S.A. “Montecristo M embodies our commitment to the brand’s continued evolution and highlights the characteristics of rare and aged tobaccos.”
For a rating on the new Montecristo M, see a future issue of Cigar Insider.
