Let's cut to the chase - the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edicion Diamante Grande sits in that sweet spot between "special occasion smoke" and "why not treat myself today". This Nicaraguan puro comes in a box of 10 sticks priced at $226.44, sporting a hefty 6x60 parejo shape that feels substantial between your fingers. The hybrid-seed Maduro wrapper hides a Criollo Ometepe binder and Esteli filler trio that AJ Fernandez would proudly slap his name on.
The initial draws punch through with black pepper and burnt caramel - like someone set fire to a Werther's Original. The Esteli filler brings that signature earthiness, but there's an unexpected raisin sweetness lurking under the Maduro cloak. Smoke production? Let's just say you'll want to crack a window.
Here's where the Ometepe binder flexes its muscles. Leather and damp soil notes dominate, with occasional flashes of dark chocolate that vanish faster than a pay raise. The retrohale stings with white pepper, yet the nicotine hit remains manageable... unless you're chain-smoking these bad boys.
The home stretch gets messy in the best possible way. Mineral tang from the Esteli tobacco clashes with espresso grounds bitterness. Some might bail at the first sign of tar buildup near the band, but push through and you'll catch fleeting licorice notes that make the mouth-puckering worth it.
These smoke best with at least a year of humidor time - fresh out the box, they bite like a cornered mongoose. The 60-ring gauge feels necessary to balance the layered fillers, though I'd kill for a lancero version. At this price point, it's less about daily drivability and more about celebrating AJ's blending witchcraft.
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