PCA Magazine Show Issue 2021

20 PCA The Magazine | SHOW 2021 PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG What We’re Smoking Members reviewing one of the cigars smoked in their establishment | STEVE CASTRO Davidus Cigars Ltd. Frederick, MD CIGAR: Montecristo 1935 Anniversary SIZE: Toro SMOKE TIME: 1 hour, 20 minutes Appearance & Aroma When the Altadis Grupo de Maestros, led by Rafael Nodal, teamed up with AJ Fernandez, they created a truly amazing cigar. This Nicaraguan puro has a beautiful, dark, oily habano wrapper. Every cigar in the box looks perfect. I can see the cigar is very well rolled. It is very firm, and I notice a good bit of both very dark and light-colored filler tobaccos. Although I’m not a fan of square cigars, its nice, soft, box-press shape is not overdone. Before lighting up, the aroma is strong with earth, leather and hay notes. Right away, I can tell this is not going to be a mild cigar. Light Up & Draw The initial light up is effortless. I get a major ligaro punch on the first few puffs. I’m hit with strong black pepper and spice. My initial thought is this cigar is going to be way too much power and strength for my liking; however, the strong blast of pepper quickly calms down after a dozen or so puffs and begins to turn into a creamier coffee and smooth leather flavor. The draw is perfect. I’m not a fan of loose drawing cigars—I like a slight pull, and the 1935 Anniversary is just right. Early Profile This cigar is stronger than what I would normally smoke but the flavors are so good, I’m forgetting about the increasing strength. The pepper is now very slight, and the creamy, leathery coffee flavors are absolutely fantastic. Middle Profile & Burn The first third was a solid full-bodied cigar for me. However, in the middle profile I find the strength calming down. Flavors of caramel, sweet hay and espresso dominate my palate. The black pepper is gone, unless you retrohale, which I don’t recommend. The draw and burn remain perfect and straight. The ash is a beautiful bright white that stays firmly on the cigar. It’s now becoming one of those cigars I don’t want to stop smoking. Late Profile The draw is still perfect and is producing thick smoke throughout the entire cigar. The finish on the Monte 1935 Anniversary is smooth and long. The flavors are complex, and you can tell this tobacco is extremely well aged and perfectly cured. The strength calms down a good bit, but still remains a solid medium-plus cigar. I think it gets even better in the last third. Overall Impression I admit, I stay away from crazy-strong cigars. This cigar is not one of them, though I would not recommend it to a novice or the occasional cigar smoker. If you have to go to work or if you are attempting to hit a golf ball around the course, I would recommend waiting until you’re done to fire up this Monte. It’s a cigar made for sitting down and relaxing with friends. It is perfect for those customers who look forward to a complex, medium-to-full cigar experience. It would go great with a good high-end bourbon or other whiskey after a steak dinner. It’s by far one of the best new cigars I’ve smoked in the past year. “This cigar is stronger than what I would normally smoke, but the flavors are so good, I’m forgetting about the increasing strength. ” WS W