One of the most classic cigars in the Habanos lineup, the Montecristo No. 1, with its 165-millimeter length and medium-sized 42 ring gauge, makes the trend toward larger ring gauges take a back seat thanks to the smoking experience of this Cuban cigar with strength and character.
With a light red hue, the aromas emitted by our Montecristo before it is lit already set the stage for the smoking experience, thanks to the earthy scent that I associate with the same scent of old wood and raisin notes found in the Jerez brandy from the Sánchez Romate cellars.
After lighting and taking several puffs of the Cervantes vitola de galera cigar, and once we have the rich flavors of the tobacco on our palate, I mix in the Cardenal Mendoza Carta Real, aged for 25 years, which—thanks to its time in old Oloroso casks and the origin of its Pedro Ximénez grapes—offers not merely a contrast but a true embrace of sensations.
The sweet notes and roundness of the brandy from Jerez caress the palate as we continue with the cigar, which by the start of the second third has already brought out the characteristic spicy notes of Cuban black tobacco.
Montecristo No. 1 offers us, throughout the pairing, some woody notes that combine well with the brandy’s round, smooth, and persistent palate, with the overall sensation of tobacco and alcohol lingering on the palate—a quality that often stands out strongly in sweet brandies, but here is very well integrated, displaying a harmonious warmth.
Now that we’ve reached the third third of our Montecristo, the intensity of the tobacco flavors and the sensation on the palate—where the brandy’s raisin-like notes blend with a perfectly rounded, smooth, and lingering taste—make this pairing a delight.
Source: Pasión Habanos
