Agile Cigar Reviews replace what we termed “Assessment Updates”. The concept is the same, but the name is different. Agile Cigar Reviews use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or providing a score for a first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut No. 3. This is a cigar we previously did an assessment in the Double Corona size back in August, 2015.

Wrapper: Vintage 2008 U.S. Connecticut Shade
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filer: Dominican, Nicaraguan & Peruvian
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera de Garcia)
No. 3: 5 1/2 x 44

2015 was a big year for Montecristo as it marked the brand’s 80th anniversary. This milestone became the centerpiece for Altadis USA at the 2015 IPCPR Show as three new Montecristo blends were launched. One of those new blends was an extension of the popular Montecristo White Series called the Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut. The Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut features an all-new blend highlighted by a U.S. Connecticut Shade wrapper grown on the company’s own farm.

The remainder of the blend consists of a binder from Nicaragua and fillers from Nicaragua, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Today we take a closer look at the No. 3 vitola – which is a 5 1/2 x 44 corona.

The Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut No. 3 delivers some classic Connecticut Shade notes of cream, wood, cedar, and a slight black pepper note. When I had smoked the Double Vintage, I had gotten a much stronger citrus component. There was a little bit of citrus with this cigar, but it played a minor role in the No. 3’s flavor profile. I can infer this might have something to do with size, and perhaps the No. 3 had more age on it.

This isn’t going to be a Connecticut Shade that tries to redefine what a Connecticut Shade cigar is. The Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut No. 3 has a very classic profile. It starts out mild to medium in body before progressing to the low end of medium in the second half. This is countered by mild to medium strength.

Overall, the Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut was a nice smoke. If you like Connecticut Shade, this is a nice cigar to pick up – and it’s definitely worthy of a fiver.

Summary

Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Low
Strength: Mild to Medium
Body: Mild to Medium (1st Half), Medium (2nd Half)
Finish: Good
Assessment: 3.0 – The Fiver
Score: 89

References

Original Assessment: Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut Double Corona
News: Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut
Price: $10.50
Source: Purchased
Stogie Geeks Podcast: Episode 153, Episode 182
Stogie Feed: Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut Double Corona, Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut No. 3