Montecristo is the most recognizable brand in the cigar industry.  From its Cuban heritage to its modern-day Dominican and Nicaraguan lines, the Montecristo brand will forever be etched into the pantheon of the cigar brands.  If you are either new to the cigar community or maybe just haven’t experienced a Montecristo, it can seem a  bit overwhelming.

That is why we have put together this awesome Buying Guide for Montecristo.  We have listed out the core Montecristo cigars that we feel everyone should explore.  There are so many different limited editions and private labels, so we basically stuck to the most available and core products of Montecristo.

The embodiment of the smooth, classy smoke, the Montecristo White series is a legend in the industry.  It is one of the best-selling and most popular premium cigars on the market and has been a staple of cigar shops for years.

The White Series is handcrafted at the Tabacalera de Garcia factory in the heart of the Dominican Republic.  It is rolled with a blend of aged Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos for the filler, followed by a stunning Nicaraguan binder.  Its Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper is smooth and creamy and offers up wonderful notes of light coffee and cedar.  When thinking of a mellow yet luxurious smoke, most people will think Montecristo White.

Ask any seasoned cigar smoker, what is the first high-end cigar you have tried… most will answer the Montecristo Original.  The Original is still considered the epitome of the high-end, premium mellow cigar.  It is hand-rolled at the largest factory in the world, Tabacalera de Garcia.  It uses only the finest aged Dominican filler and binder tobaccos for a smooth, creamy center.  It is cloaked in a golden-brown Connecticut shade wrapper.  Each puff delivers notes of vanilla, cedar, cream, and a dash of leather.

While the make-up and blend may seem similar to the White Series, the different variations of the Connecticut wrapper actually make a difference.  The Ecuadorian Connecticut is a little more mellow and requires some stronger filler tobaccos to really bring out the flavor.  This Connecticut-grown wrapper on the Original brings that intense flavor all on its own.

The Montecristo Espada was a turning point in the history of Altadis USA.  It was one of their first new age, boutique offerings that pushed power and flavor over everything else.  It also began their history of collaborating with some of the biggest names in the industry for new and interesting blends. The Espada is a Nicaraguan puro crafted for AUSA by the legendary Plasencia family.  It quickly became one of their more popular cigars and a new chapter in Montecristo history.

This past year, the two companies partnered again for a much anticipated follow up known as the Montecristo Espada Oscuro.  While the originally Montecristo Espada was known for its spice and zesty notes, the Montecristo Espada Oscuro was created to be bold, rich, and robust.  The tobaccos were hand-chosen by Rafael Nodal and Nestor Plasencia for their dark colors, flawless appearance, and flavor profiles.  The cigar is blended with 100% Nicaraguan filler and binder tobaccos along with a stunning Habano Rosado Oscuro wrapper.

Each puff delivers something new and exciting for the palate.  Notes of dark chocolate black cherries and spice combine in a whirlwind of rich flavors.

Before the Espada, there was the Montecristo Epic.  In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated of the line, besides maybe the Platinum.  The Epic was unlike any other Montecristo before it, really pushing flavor and complexity while still maintaining that signature smoothness.

The Montecristo is a solid medium body, using carefully aged Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos along with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.  It was complex yet smooth, rich, and zesty.

The problem was that this was billed as the strongest Montecristo yet, however, compared to other cigars at the time it was more of a medium body. For more on the flavors and what to expect, check out our Montecristo Epic cigar review.

However, this is an amazing cigar, and seeing the potential, AUSA re-released the special belicoso size this year.  The critical response was much better than during its original run.

2019 marked the 50^th Anniversary of the legendary Tabacalera de Garcia, the factory responsible for crafting H.Upmann, Romeo y Julieta, and of course Montecristo.  To celebrate the occasion, the famed Grupo de Maestros, the blending team for most Montecristo cigars, put together a very special release known as the Cincuenta.

Ironically enough, this year marks the 50^th Anniversary of JR Cigars and we thought the perfect way to celebrate was with our own version of the Cincuenta.  The Montecristo Cinceunta JR 50^th uses the same blend as the original: aged Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos for a smooth yet complex center and an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper for wonderful notes of coffee and richness.  It has been rolled in the iconic, NO.2 Torpedo size that has long been associated with the brand.  This limited run is exclusive to JR.