Damn you Bruce!! I was all prepared to smoke the Cohiba Behike when I see you next Saturday. Now you throw me a curve ball by offering the Monte Sublime
WiseAsh wrote:
I have a box of 10 really super cigars for the Montecristo lover. 2008 Sublimes, 54X6.46. An independent review
Considered as one of the most successful Cuban limited editions (among the recent ones), the Montecristo Sublime was released in 2008. The size, sublime, was first used by Cohiba in 2004 (for a limited edition as well). It is both fat (54 ring gauge, a monster by Cuban standards) and long (6 1/2 inches), which implies a smoking time of at least 1h30.
Appearance :
Massive, imposing, this cigar attracts attention. Chocolate, oily wrapper shows dark fermentation spots. I have found the same pre-light Cubanesque sour smell as on the No. 4 Reserva. At the foot, I was greeted by meaty peppery and tobacco flavors.
Construction :
The cigar is skillfully rolled with a very accurate triple cap. The draw was fine throughout the smoke. The Sublime burned very slowly and the burn line was rather straight, requiring only one correction. It sported a beautiful ash that held for over 2 inches.
Flavor :
I easily removed the cap and found a generous creamy pre-draw with a hint of spice on the tip of the tongue. For this ring gauge, it was rather easy to light the cigar with a butane lighter. The first pulls are deliciously spicy; the balance is respected. The cigar produces medium amounts of smoke, probably due to its length.
The Sublime remains quite powerful after the spice kick and deploys strong notes of leather, wood and black pepper. It is tannic like a young Saint-Emilion. One inch in, the smoke becomes medium-bodied and delicious flavors of roasted coffee and nuts appear. At the end of the first third, the cigar is surprisingly creamy. The main flavor is wood, with leather, nuts and coffee in the background.
As I progressed in the smoke, the cigar became richer and deeper. The power significantly increases in the second third and one must be careful not to smoke it too fast or it might get harsh. Profound earthy flavors make their way into the bouquet in the last third. I found the finish quite heavy thus only 4.5 stars
Overall Rating :
Fully enjoyable right now, the Sublime will get even better with additional 2-3 years in the humidor. This cigar deserves to be called "limited edition" and is definitely a success. It's probably even a candidate to this year's "best smokes" list...