Let's cut straight to the chase with this Montecristo Anniversary 12-pack - a flavor roulette wheel for serious cigar explorers. The sampler packs 12 Dominican stogies ranging from 6" churchills to shorter robustos, priced at $175/box ($14.58 per stick). I'd call it the "buffet ticket" to Montecristo's signature blends without committing to full boxes.
The sampler opens with four distinct personalities: Classic Series' cedar notes through Connecticut wrappers, Platinum's leathery kick from darker maduros, Epic's earthy espresso tones, and White Series' sweet almond creaminess. Unlit aromas range from barnyard to baking spices depending on the blend.
Expect sharp contrasts between sticks. The White Series starts gentle - think melted butter on wheat toast with faint cinnamon. Switch to Platinum and black pepper slaps your palate alongside roasted cacao nibs. Draw resistance varies, with Epics requiring deeper pulls to activate their aged tobacco core.
Complexity spikes in Classic Series' second act: cedar morphs into cashew butter with white pepper retrohale. Platinum sticks develop charred oak characteristics - the type you'd smell near whiskey barrel charring. Watch for the Epic's sudden citrus zest around the band point, a happy accident in this otherwise dark profile.
Maduro-wrapped blends gain momentum here. The Platinum's final inch delivers molten dark chocolate with asphalt undertones - surprisingly smooth despite the imagery. White Series maintains its creamy demeanor but introduces hazelnut skin bitterness. Smoke time averages 85 minutes across sizes, with Epics lasting 2+ hours.
Montecristo's Dominican operation in Cibao Valley uses Cuban seed Piloto tobacco fermented in rum barrels - explains those sweet undertones. The volcanic soil adds mineral crispness cutting through maduro sweetness. Aging rooms maintain 65-68% RH year-round, crucial for the sampler's varied wrappers from delicate Connecticuts to oily maduros.
