The Montecristo Platinum Series Toro hits like a suave heavyweight at 6"x50, packing Mexican San Andrés Cubano wrapper over Dominican binder and multinational fillers. This $328.78/box of 27 sticks fires up smoother than a Rolls-Royce engine - if Rolls made 90-minute smoke machines dipped in coffee grounds. Don't let its fancy magazine ratings fool you though, that medium-full kick demands respect post-dinner.
The San Andrés wrapper starts cold with bitter cocoa nibs and asphalt. As heat travels up the foot, watch dark roasted coffee emerge through cedar planks. Smoke output stays polite - no chimney effect here. The ash holds tight for 2" despite some initial uneven burn.
Dominican fillers take center stage at the halfway mark. Baking spices (think allspice, not cinnamon) mingle with charred meat juices. Retrohale brings unexpected floral whispers drowned by black pepper spray. Nicotine warning: keep your sugary drink handy.
Peruvian tobacco flexes in the home stretch. Mineral tang meets Cuban cigar nostalgia - wet earth after summer rain. Burn line sharpens miraculously. Stop before the nub unless you enjoy licking campfire remnants.
Rest these sticks at 65% RH minimum. That San Andrés wrapper cracks easier than thin ice when dry. Pair with espresso martinis to accentuate the cocoa notes, or bourbon to amplify the spice.
