Vitola: Corona- 5” x 44 ring gauge
- MSRP $7.65
- Purchased from Serious Cigars
Background
One of the cigar types that I have long avoided in these reviews is that of “online exclusive” blends. That is generally in keeping with my philosophy of patronizing and supporting my local brick-and-mortar shop (and B&Ms in general), although part of it is just that quite a few online-only blends that I’ve tried just haven’t been that good. To some degree, online buyers demand lower prices and manufacturers respond by putting their “big name” on cheaper, less fulfilling blends. Last year the flow of new blends ground to a slow trickle in my local shop, though, so I have to start looking elsewhere. On a whim, I picked up a 5-pack of the Montecristo Fer de Lance from Serious Cigars, with publishing a review in mind.
Finding information on the Fer de Lance is difficult. It seems that most online retailers sell it, but not many have a great deal of information and what I found among different retailers tended to be contradictory in nature. Several websites said the wrapper is “Connecticut Broadleaf / Habana 2000” while several others just said “Habano 2000.” Judging from my experience with the blend and with both types of leaf, I’m pretty sure this is a Habano 2000 wrapper leaf, although it could be grown in Connecticut, I guess. Some websites said the binder was Dominican, others said it was Nicaraguan. All seemed to agree that the filler was a blend of Dominican, Honduran, and Peruvian leaf.
The name of the blend is French for “spearhead” and is also a very deadly type of snake that is indigenous to Central and northern South America, including Honduras, Nicaraguan, and Peru, three of the countries where leaf for this blend originate from.
As noted above, I bought a 5-pack from Serious Cigars. This review sample is the 5th one I’ve smoked from that pack.
Prelight
The first that struck me about the Montecristo Fer de Lance was that the packaging made it seem like a Montecristo Classic Series, with the yellow box and packaging accents. Since that blend is just about my least-favorite from the American-market version of the brand, I researched carefully before buying, deducing that despite that similar appearance, this was an entirely different blend. Each cigar has a squared-cardboard “tube” that covers the cigar from band to foot, leaving just the top bit exposed. It’s an interesting and somewhat unique look, but I don’t see it as being all that practical from a standpoint of protecting the cigar overall or enhancing the shelf-appeal. I’m pretty neutral on this one. Not terrible packaging, but nothing special, either.
The cigar itself was a medium brown color with just a bit of darker striations and mottling. It had a pleasant amount of oiliness to it and smelled of cedar and natural tobacco. The foot had notes of earth and cedar, along with a bit of smokey wood that was vaguely reminiscent of the aroma of Latakia leaf in pipe tobacco. (Before you ask, no…I did not store these cigars for any time period in a place where that kind of cross-contamination would have been possible.)
After clipping, the prelight draw was very good and had flavors of wood, barnyard, and citrus.
Flavor
Once fired up the Montecristo Fer de Lance had notes of earth, unsweetened cocoa powder, and cedar up front, with a little bell pepper and nuttiness coming in behind, and a bit of citrus on the finish. As I got deeper into the first third, I picked up on a dark fruit sweetness, as well.
The second third was more earthy with more pronounced nuttiness and a continued sweetness. There was a bit of black pepper on the nose and back end of the palate.
The citrus from the Peruvian leaf came through more strongly on the final third, while earth and nuttiness took a back seat. The finish was woody with a little pepper burn.
Construction
I had a great draw, very even burn line, and solid ash.
Value
The price tag on these is very attractive, especially for the very good experience it delivers.
Conclusions
So a positive takeaway from 2020 and the pandemic…it made me pay attention to cigars outside my immediate surroundings a little more. The Montecristo Fer de Lance is a very good small cigar that I’ve enjoyed in many places where a 40 to 45 minute smoke is ideal…driving home, hiking, etc. It has a really good flavor and pleasing amount of complexity without being overwhelming with body or strength. I’ll definitely be buying more of these, even if I have to order them online.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
