Montecristo Epic Robusto Cigar Review
Blended by the legendary Grupo de Maestros from Altadis U.S.A., the highly-rated Montecristo Epic cigar line is widely hailed for its stunning good looks, pristine construction, and distinctly bold, yet smooth full-bodied flavors.
While scouring through my humidor looking for an ideal after-dinner smoke, I came upon the Montecristo Epic Robusto cigar further aging on the bottom shelf and decided to give this beauty my honest review.
Origin and Blend
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Size: 5 x 52
Strength: Full Bodied
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Vintage Nicaraguan and Dominican
Pre-Light
The flawlessly rolled Montecristo Epic Robusto would be hard to tell apart from many other Monte blends if it was not for its second bright red band that’s emblazoned with EPIC in silver lettering. The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper displayed a dark reddish-brown color, had almost no visible seams, and boasted a nice oily patina. A pre-light nose of barnyard hay, musty tobacco, and cedar denoted that this stick was deeply aged before being placed in Montecristo’s classic yellow and red boxes of 10.
First Third
Right out the gate, I detected a rich earthiness backed by pepper that’s common to many of the bolder “Cubanesque” premium cigars that I’ve smoked in the past. A few inches in, tasting notes of wood, and chocolate join the flavor profile, later followed by hints of charred wood, nuts, and cedar.
Second Third
At the second third mark, this cigar is turning into a highly complex smoke with an array of mouthwatering flavors that are taking turns becoming the most prominent top note. These tasting notes include black pepper, leather, toffee, and woodsy tones of oak and cedar. The cigar is burning like a champ with no touch-ups required and is living up to its billing as a bold, yet creamy smooth, full-bodied smoke.
Last Third
In the last third, some notes of citrus and cinnamon emerged and melded seamlessly with its core flavors of black pepper, leather, toffee, oak, and cedar. I’m finding this Robusto to be a very long-lasting smoke with a crisp, slow, burn, firm white ash, and a lovely sweet tobacco room note. Near the end, it becomes much mellower in strength as salty caramel and cream took center stage and lasted right down to the last savory draw. I call this type of cigar a “real thumb burner” because these intensely delicious flavors lasted almost all the way down to its Cuban style triple cap. A testimony to its top-notch construction.
Final Thoughts
- Hands down these are some of the best tasting Montecristo cigars that I have ever smoked, and that’s sure saying a lot considering that this one of the most highly sought brands on the planet. I’m obviously not alone in this assessment, because the Epic line reserved a well-deserved and highly impressive 91-rating from Cigar Aficionado.
- The Epic is one of the costlier offerings in the Montecristo brand portfolio, but in this case, you really get what you pay for.
- Although it’s a full-bodied smoke, the deeply aged tobaccos make it so silky smooth, and inviting that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for a newer enthusiast looking to move up a few notches in strength.
- If you’re a Montecristo cigar fan and the top-of-the-line Epic somehow remained under your radar, run, don’t walk to get your hands on a few single sticks, and count on coming back for a box of 10.
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