Connoisseur’s Corner: Montecristo No. 4 (1959)
If you look on the bottom of this box, it doesn’t say “Habanos S.A.” or even “Cubatabaco.” Instead, it reads “Menéndez, García y Cía., Ltd.”—the original owner and maker of Montecristo before Cuba’s cigar industry was nationalized. We know that these cigars are from 1959 because it says so on the pink tax tag under the Montecristo band. The amount of oil still left on these wrappers is astounding, which shouldn’t be a surprise, as these are Cuba’s famed Corojo-seed wrappers, now long retired. At first, the cigar shows its age a bit, dusty and herbal. But then, the magic happens, and the nutty layers of almond, marzipan and roasted chestnut appear, as does a lovely hint of vanilla bean. A great smoke that’s lasted generations. —Gregory Mottola
It has been resting in a cabinet with 49 of its brothers for 30 years, a long, beautiful and dark double corona that just shouts “smoke me” when you slide open the cedar lid. It draws like a dream and burns evenly. Slow to wake up from its long sleep, it starts with slate and wood before revealing layer after layer of flavor: coffee bean, walnut, baking spice, toasted almond, coconut and more. Delicious. —David Savona
This was once a Cigar of the Year, and it’s still superb. Even with five years of age to temper some of the strength, it remains a very rich cigar that slathers the palate in notes of earth, spice and coffee bean. A star anise sweetness is perceptible in between the notes of white pepper, cumin and sage. The finish conjures taste memories of almond and dark chocolate. —Gregory Mottola
This rough, rugged robusto isn’t going to win a beauty pageant, thanks to its bumpy exterior, but it delivers on taste. It’s strong right out of the gate, with a heavy minerality, lots of tea, molasses and caramel. The burn is a bit of a struggle, but the flavor is memorable and full—dusky, chewy, resonant. It might be a touch rough around the edges, but it’s a flavor bomb. —David Savona
