Vitola: Momento
Size: 4” x 48 ring gauge
MSRP $5.50
Samples provided by Kuuts Cigars
Background
The question of “how long to wait” is one that comes up every time cigars show up in the mail for review potential. In general, “Right Off The Truck” (ROTT) is terrible for reviewing cigars because you just don’t know how long they’ve been on the road or what kind of conditions they were in during that time; I’ll go so far as to say that anyone doing a full and final review of a cigar within a day or two of it showing up is doing themselves, the cigar, and their readers/viewers a disservice. After a road trip, cigars need some time to rest and acclimate. A week or two is usually good enough. It doesn’t hurt them to let them sit longer, but I try to get to them quicker than 2+ months…but that’s what happened. I guess it was the holidays, the weather, getting sick, upheaval at work…or some combination of those things…this Miró Momento kept getting shunted to the bottom of my review humidor.
I last had a Miró shortly after the Kuuts Cigar company brought them to America back in 2013. I remember liking them, but finding them a little stranger flavor-wise. They were developed for the European market originally, so I thought that might have something to do with it. The Momento is a short Robusto (or perhaps Rothschild) they added to the line-up recently…and the timing couldn’t be more perfect since it shipped right before the coldest months on the calendar…and short smokes are always welcome this time of year!
Miró was blended to be a Medium-to-Full bodied smoke with Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers, a Nicaraguan binder and a Sumatran wrapper. I had at least one more of these Miró Momentos before I smoked this review sample…and, yes, I did smoke the first one ROTT…I’m not saying you shouldn’t smoke them when they first show up…just that you shouldn’t review them. Thank you to Kuuts for sending me these for evaluation.
Prelight
The Miró band is large…this cigar is small…therefore the band ends up covering nearly half of the cigar: 1.5” of the total 4” to be exact. This might have been one of those times to opt for a smaller band for the smaller vitola. The design of the band is nice…functionally telling you what it is you’re smoking, but not necessarily a band that will draw eyes to it at every turn. The wrapper leaf was a shade darker than milk chocolate and felt smooth and velvety under my fingertips. It had a definite earthiness with a bit of coffee mixed in. The foot was more mocha…coffee mixed with unsweetened chocolate…and some grassiness.
The cold draw on the Momento was excellent and it had a certain earth and coffee mix, along with a cooling note that was almost, but not quite, mint.
Flavor
On lighting, I got bitter notes of espresso up front, with earth, charred toast and anise following behind. The retrohale had more anise and roasted nuts. Through the first third that was mostly was I got, riding on a cloud of medium-to-full bodied smoke.
As the second third kicked in I started to get a little bit of dried fruit sweetness that really helped balance out the more bitter and charry notes. The smoke became smoother and creamier as well.
The last third had some cocoa powder flavor coming through the earth, espresso and dried fruit, making for a pleasant ending to the cigar.
Construction
All construction attributes—draw, burn line and ash—were excellent on the Miró Momento.
Value
It’s a short smoke for a fairly small price. I’d say it’s worth the money.
Conclusions
I found the Momento vitola to be a good way to enjoy the Miró blend. While I wasn’t thrilled with the way it started, by the second third, it was quite enjoyable and it ended very well. If were double the price, I wouldn’t be able to recommend it, but at the asking price, I think it’s worth a try and 40 minutes of your time.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10
I was looking forward to grabbing this size for my first Miro but when it starts out bitter, I don’t know. Usually when a cigar starts out bitter, I can never get that taste out of my mouth. The rest of the cigar sounds woderful, thanks.
Glad I have one to try since it sounds like it’s right in my wheel house. Hopin I don’t get the bitterness though.
Sounds like it’s worth a try. I’ll look for this one.
I wonder if time would smooth out the bitterness?
Maybe a bigger vitola would take out the bitterness, does sound like it has potential.
Reading the review I’m not sure, but for $5.50, how bad could it be. Thanks for the review.
A bit of bitterness to go with the bitter cold, huh?
Our rep gave me one last week.. OK, not something I’ll probably buy but as long as he gives them to me, I’ll smoke them.. ha
I’ve got a few of these in the lancero size I still need to try.
Tried this line in the Toro I think, it was bombed to me so not sure on size. It was decent but had some draw issues, I’d like to try again one of these days
I think time is your friend with these. The first one I had did not make a great impression on me, but the second – with about a month of extra resting time – was much more enjoyable.
I should pick up a few of these for when its cold outside. Sounds like a decent smoke.