Cigar:            Cuba's Famous Brands Monte #4

Size:             42 x 5"

Country:          Hon/Nic?

Wrapper:          ?

Binder:           ?

Filler:           ?

Flavor Strength:  Medium-Full

NicotineStength:  Medium-Full

Date Received:    2005-06-30

Suspected Age:    Unknown, OTT

Vendor/Price:     Mr.Bundles / about $3 a stick

Beverage(s):      Water, La Conner ESB

Smoke time:       1:25

Date:             2005-07-01

Posted to ASC:    2005-07-02

Overall score:    3.5/5.0

Overall:    A pleasant enough smoke.  Not Cubanesque, but Honduran, I think.  Initial bittersweet nuttiness, quickly mellowing to a sweet toasty nuttiness.  Long, sweet finish.  Very well constructed and a perfect burn.  It reminded me of a Mr.Bundle's Honduran Selection though better constructed.

Ambience:   In the dining room, working on laptop while watching the

Mariner's lose another one.

Appearance: Wrapper seems a bit darker than a real Monte #4, somewhere between milk and dark chocolate.  Wrapper is mildly mottled with smallish veining and a lot of tooth along the entire length.  Roll is quite firm and tighter near the head.  Long double, rather loose cap. 

Cut & Prelight:   Fair bit of sweet barnyard in the nose, and some dry grass.  Cap split when cut, but no factor.  Firm draw with some sweet pepper draw flavor.

First third:      First puffs were strongly green nut and rather bitter.  My first thought was "Honduran".  Very good smoke volume.  Finish is strong and bittersweet, bitter up front, sweetness lingering.  1/2" in the green is waning.  Very white compact ash that held to 1".  Nicely formed central coal.  By an inch the green has mellowed to a sweet nuttiness.  So far not much like a Cuban, and much like a Honduran.

Second third:     Has developed into a pretty nice smoke.  Burn has been perfect, draw opened, and continued to provide lots of smoke.  Finish is long and sweet.  Smoke is toasted nut with some dry grass.  Must be drawn slowly or the smoke bitters. 

Third third:      Near the nub, aromatic spice.  Slight nicotine buzz.  Smoked it to 1" when it turned a bit funky.  Very long, very nice, sweet, wet finish.