#17 2024 Cigar of the Year

#17 2024 Cigar of the Year: Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante Toro by Altadis U.S.A.

SPECIFICATIONS

Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.
Toro: 55 x 5
Price: $24.20

Sponsor: Yes
Samples Provided for Initial Review: Yes
Review: Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante Toro by Altadis U.S.A.
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Company): 8 (2010, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024)

The Details

Coming in at #17 on the 2024 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante Toro by Altadis U.S.A.

In 2020, Rafael Nodal and Altadis U.S.A. teamed up with AJ Fernandez to release a cigar commemorating 85 years of the Montecristo brand, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua. The cigar proved to be both critically acclaimed and commercially successful for Altadis U.S.A., including landing #12 on the 2021 Countdown. Another blend was under consideration during the development of the original Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua. At that time, Nodal believed this blend had potential, but he felt the tobaccos required more aging. As a result, that blend was not used initially. Fast forward a little over three years, and that blend has transformed into the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante.

Like the original Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua, the Edición Diamante consists of 100% Nicaraguan-grown tobaccos. According to Altadis U.S.A., the wrapper used on the Edicíon Diamante undergoes a second fermentation. This second fermentation develops the wrapper’s color and eliminates the tobacco’s roughness and rawness. The Toro measures 6 x 55. The cigar is produced at AJ Fernandez’s factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

The Edición Diamante really shined in the flavor department, delivering notes of earth, natural tobacco, cedar, citrus, baker’s spice, wood, and pepper. This is a cigar that delivers medium-strength and medium-bodied flavors.

This is the eighth time that Altadis U.S.A. has landed at least one cigar on the Countdown. Meanwhile, Nicaragua has landed nine cigars on this year’s Countdown.


 

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