The Montecristo Platinum Series is a beautifully packaged luxury-class cigar that is produced by Altadis U.S.A. in the Dominican Republic. It’s part of a long line of Montecristo cigars that have garnered very high ratings from industry experts and the cigar smoking community alike.  However, the last time I smoked one was several years ago, and although I remember enjoying it, the avalanche of hot new smokes that arrived on the scene in the last few years has kept these sticks resting and aging in the bottom row of my humidor. Therefore, for this review, I decided to revisit this forgotten cigar in the hopes that it will return to my daily rotation. Since I’m a huge fan of larger ring cigars, I decided to smoke the Montecristo Platinum Series  Toro that weighs in at a hefty and popular  6 x 50 size.

The first inspection reveals a silky chocolate brown San Andres Mexican wrapper leaf with virtually no veins or obvious seams. There’s a slight oily sheen to this stick, and the simple grey dual bands highlight its rich appearance. A pre-light nose of barnyard hay and musty tobacco denotes perfect aging.

Once lit, the Platinum opens up with a blast of peppery spice that invades the nose and palate. This wakeup call is followed by wood and some earthiness, that’s quickly accompanied by nuances of cocoa and leather with some peppery spice still lingering in the background to keep things interesting. So far, this stick is flaunting firm white ash that means the aged blend of Dominican, Peruvian,  and Nicaraguan long-fillers were carefully grown in rich, nutrient-dense soil.  By the end of round one, I’m finding it to be a solid medium to full-bodied smoke.

During the second third,  wood, cocoa, and a  sweeter type of spice became the three dominant top notes accompanied by a very enjoyable brown sugar sweetness on the retro-hale. The firm white ash is holding steady,  and the cigar is burning straight and evenly like a champ,  with no touch-ups required.

For me personally, the final third of any premium cigar is really a make or break deal, for this is the point where an inferior cigar becomes harsh or bitter. I’m happy to report that this stick shows no signs of either,  as my Platinum is now really hitting the sweet spot with lush notes of cocoa, cream, the perfect touches of spice, and that same enticing brown sugar sweetness on the retro-hale. The burn remained straight, the aroma was fabulous, the strength was now more on the medium-bodied side, and that firm white ash is still present.

Overall, this has been a wonderful smoke from start to finish, and, once again,  it will most certainly become part of my daily smoking rotation. This was yet another top-notch cigar that remained under my radar for far too long!

All in all, this stick is one that comes very highly recommended for someone that craves a bolder, yet exceptionally smooth Cuban-style cigar with top-notch construction, a great burn, and a nice effortless draw.