Let's cut to the chase about the Montecristo Platinum Rothchilde Tubos - this 5x50 robusto comes in sleek aluminum tubes at $188.06 per box of 15. Dominicana-made with a Mexican San Andrés wrapper and multi-national filler blend, it's the overachieving cousin in the Montecristo family that ditches subtlety for a bold medium-full kick. Perfect post-steak smoke if you want to feel that Dominican ligero without face-punching strength.
The pre-light sniff reveals damp earth and molasses. Cold draw's surprisingly sweet - like licking a brown sugar cube wrapped in cedar shavings.
Initial puffs punch above Montecristo's usual weight class: black coffee grounds and baking spices dominate. The San Andrés wrapper brings dark chocolate bitterness that mellow Dominican filler tobacco tries (and fails) to balance. Retrohale stings with white pepper.
At the halfway point, the Peruvian filler shows up with dried cherry notes. Smoke texture thickens to milkshake density. Watch for tar buildup near the band - purge occasionally unless you enjoy ashy bitterness.
Last third gets meaty - literally. Develops charred beef jerky smokiness with lingering anise aftertaste. Strength crescendos to full-bodied territory. Not recommended for nicotine lightweights.
Expect razor-sharp burn lines from the Tabacalera de García factory roll. Ash holds strong for 1.5-2 inches. Box date matters - needs 6+ months humidor time to tame wrapper's initial aggression.
Intermediate+ smokers' stick. The flavor brawn justifies its $12+ per stick price tag, though construction quality varies more than Grupo de Maestros' usual standards. Keep a sweet drink handy - that San Andrés wrapper demands palate relief.
