Montosa Natural | Cigar Reviews by the Katman
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Mexican Sumatra
Filler: Dominican Criollo and Piloto Cubana, Indonesian Java
Size: 5.875 x 54 Toro
Strength: Mild/Medium
Price: $4.50
Factory: Arnold André Dominicana S.R.L.
Released to the U.S. in 2022
My cigars received 3 months of naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
From Montosa Cigars:
“Cibao Valley: protective mountains, rolling hills, a highly fertile soil, and the perfect balance of sun, shade, rain, and the aromatic sea air … a truly exceptional spot. The heart of the Dominican Republic. Probably the most fertile valley in the Caribbean.
“Nowhere else is the air so rich in flavours: tobacco, cocoa, coffee, banana, mango … This exact place is home to Montosa – cigars that master one of the biggest challenge in cigar blending: being rich in flavour whilst being easy to smoke.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Typical of an Ecuadorian Connie wrapper, it has genteel aromas of floral, caramel, fresh milk, black pepper, and Chai tea.
The cold draw is a minor attraction. Only thing going for it are notes of lemon zest, creaminess, black pepper, and caramel.
You know where this is going because you’ve read millions of reviews from across the universe. The thing is I’m not reviewing a $17 stick.
Upon lighting up, everything changes. A big blast of goodies: Caramel, creamy vanilla milkshake, mild black pepper, and bright cedar.
A sip of water and the flavors rush back. Can this blend maintain consistency? I expect nothing from a $5 stick.
There is a simple syrup of rich qualities. It’s too soon to tell if transitions will be part of this passion play.
I don’t remember why I became interested in these cigars. Never heard of them and of course the price point is laughable if you keep Kelner or Fuente cigars in your stash. I read a little about them, I perused the leaf stats, and I was so impressed…it might be worth a gamble.
A mildly medium strength from the start. It keeps on this route for the first couple of inches. I’ve smoked my share of inexpensive cigars. Most taste like drek immediately. If I was blind tasting this blend, without hesitation, I’d think a mainstream boutique blend.
Construction has been solid with all the samples. Nice burn.
I passed a couple of these around to monitor reactions. Got a thumbs up from all.
The best part is these are such decent knockaround sticks that if you suddenly need to slide down the fire pole, you can toss them without an anxiety attack.
I stood there at the mic. Never said a word. I bought a yo-yo on the road. I stood there making it walk the dog. A minute later, I stopped. You could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium. Trial and error. I was watching too much Monty Python. But I wasn’t funny…or entertaining…like now.
Very cream medium strength cigar. The perfect accompaniment of black pepper. Lemon, cedar, green tea, mixed nuts, caramel, and honey nectar. This pretty much describes the taste-o-rama of many of your favorites.
The burn is without question a structural being. I only tap it because I sit writing this in my shorts. Not sacrificing the naughty bits.
The first half was very pleasant. Not a single criticism. Mildly rich. Transitional a bit. Consistently flavorful.
The second half begins with a jolt of complexity. A refined eminence makes its move.
This thing tastes aged. Montosa makes no such claims. It must be the exotic leaves of Mexican Sumatra and Indonesia.
Truly, this is an enjoyable cigar. You can smoke it when you don’t have the time to ponder the universe. Instead of buying an expensive and exotic cigarillo that you may need to toss, I’d rather toss this. That doesn’t sound right.
Transitions are mild without abrupt lurches. I’m dying to make a joke there.
The bottom line is these cigars are every bit in the category of good $10-$12 sticks. At half the price.
Find ‘em. Scoop ‘em up.
RATING: 90
Montosa Maduro | Cigar Reviews by the Katman
Wrapper: Mexican Sumatra
Binder: Bahia Sumatra
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, Brazilian, Dark Fired Kentucky
Size: 5.875 x 54 Toro
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $4.50
Factory: Arnold André Dominicana S.R.L.
Released to the U.S. in 2022
My cigars received 3 months of naked humidor time.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
A Dominican company that’s been pounding out two blends since 2011. But only seeing daylight in America since 2022.
Wrapper aromas are faint but here they are: Dark chocolate, spicy peppers, cinnamon, black coffee, and fertilizer.
The cold draw steps up with notes of cloves, dark cocoa, black coffee, creaminess, dried fruit, and toffee.
Resistance is perfect creating a near flawless solid trunk. My deus ex machina won’t be needed. I hear sobbing.
Ooh, spicy and sweet like Dr. Rod.
Bakery spices, dark cocoa, red and black peppers, and creamy mortadella. This is not going to be a flavor bomb. Nor will it be of spectacular significance…but what it has is an incredible soft impact on my wallet.
Why the early declaration of good construction? Because I’ve smoked halfway through a 20-count bundle. I was pleasantly surprised that each cigar had a regimental burn with no runs nor soft or hard spots occurring in the nearly two-hour excursions. Plus, not once did my cigars need the assistance from my PerfecDraw.
An inch in, and once again I am wonderfully surprised by a simple richness. Can complexity be rootin tootin scootin behind?
Creamy chocolate and strong black coffee are the mainstays. But they do it nice. Easy going in the first half. At no time does my brain recoil in horror that I picked a cheap cigar to party hearty with.
I’m smoking this maduro midday after a light breakfast. And still, with food and drink from the vessel with the pestle that has the brew that is true, this is a delightful cigar in which I taste everything.
The first half saw a delightful medium strength and then medium/full strength began on the cusp of the second half. It’s been an amiable mutual dance between cigar and palate.
Sweet raisins. Chocolate chips. Root beer float. Jalapeno popper. What else do you need.
90 minutes. Check that. 2 hours. $4.50.
I take a small bite of chocolate. Fireworks. Instead of becoming condensed soup, it becomes a flavor explosion. I’m puffing on it like my first day in Quentin when I had only 30 seconds to blow Big Jake.
I’m glad I ate earlier. This is not a cigar you have with your morning coffee. With 2” to go, I’m sailing on sailor.
Find ‘em. Buy ‘em. You’re not going to be disappointed.
RATING: 90
Discover more from Cigar Reviews by the Katman
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Katman, where did you get these? The only common online store that carries them is Luxury, but they’re all out.
LikeLike
I let the Duck do the walking:
Montosa cigars for sale
LikeLike
Why would you want them? You should know what a Katman’s 90 is!!
LikeLike
Based on my experience, the vast majority of smokers don’t spend $15 or more on a single cigar.
Finding the Montosa blends was a lucky accident.
I know the difference between a crazy expensive Kelner blend and that of a reasonably priced Kelner clone.
I know what a katman 90 means. Let me elucidate. It is a recommendation for an affordable alternative smoke that is pleasant and fun. Which is what many $10 cigars are.
Thanks for your comment,
Phil
LikeLike
In that spirit I think you should review HVC Pan Caliente brown and orange labels. Very Cheap and very smokable.
LikeLike
I’ll add it to my list.
LikeLike
Just bought at Oxford
LikeLike
Alrighty, Sean.
I smoked my first stick the day after receipt. I dry boxed it for 24 hours. It was decent.
A few months later, the blend is better with more resolve to its balance.
Oxford put up my review seconds after I posted it.
Phil
LikeLiked by 1 person
2 guys has them but charging more
LikeLike
2 Guys is charging between $7 and $8 a stick and Luxury is charging over $7 a stick for “Short Robustos” that are less than 4 inches long x 54. I guess I’ll pass.
LikeLike
Oxford Cigar has them cheap.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I saw that but unfortunately theyre out of stock.
LikeLike
The power of the pen.
LikeLike