Let's talk about the Montecristo Pilotico Pepe Mendez No.2 - a 6x50 torpedo with Dominican-Nicaraguan guts wrapped in Ecuadorian Sumatra. At $316.80 for 20 sticks, this medium-strength figurado brings serious heritage vibes. Born from the Mendez family's 60-year-old Pilotico tobacco fields in Navarette, these cigars get their swagger from Tabacalera de García's master blenders who also handle RyJ and H. Upmann.
First Third: Immediate cedar and roasted almonds from the oily wrapper. Smoke production's decent but not fog-machine level. Retrohale shows white pepper that makes your nose tingle without burning. Ash holds firm for 1.5" before dropping.
Middle Third: Coffee beans and wet earth take over. The Dominican binder starts flexing with baking spices - think cinnamon toast crumbs. Draw remains perfect, no relights needed. Watch the burn line though - tends to canoe if you rush.
Final Third: Sweetness cranks up with burnt caramel notes. Nicaraguan filler comes out swinging with black pepper that lingers on the tongue. Gets a bit nicotine-heavy past the band - best to nub it before the last inch unless you're seasoned.
The triple-cap torpedo head punches clean with any decent cutter. Wrapper feels slightly toothy - a good sign of well-aged tobacco. Box code check shows these had 18 months humidor time before shipping. Still recommend resting fresh boxes 3-6 months to mellow the pepper spike.
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