Whoo boy! You didn’t forget about one of the biggest names in the cigar industry, did you? Montecristo is definitely “back” in a big way with the scrumptious 1935 Anniversary. It nearly was Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year but was ranked just one pip below as the #2 cigar of 2021.
Tragic.
Once you smoke it, you’ll see why it scored a 95-point rating. For Cigar Aficionado, it was the “spicy, earthy backbone refined by notes of leather, coconut, and malted milk” that really made it so special.
In a world full of tasty Nicaraguan puros, how did Montecristo pull it off? Well, the 1935 Anniversary is a collaboration between two of the best in the business: A.J. Fernandez and Rafael Nodal.
Nodal you might remember as the man behind Boutique Blends and the Quattro Nicaragua, which was a Cigar of the Year winner not too long ago. A.J. you might remember from… well… every gosh darn blend on the market! Mr. Fernandez is one of the busiest and hardest working blending partners around, it seems. We hear his name attached to great cigar after great cigar.
This time, he reached into his tobacco library and pulled out something absolutely marvelous.
Montecristo is known all around the world. But of course, there’s a big division between Cuban Montecristos and those made by this Altadis company headquartered in the Dominican Republic. Many people favor the Cubans, but a blend like this can really shift opinion. A fine Nicaraguan smoke can change anyone’s tune, right? This bold, complex, flavorful stogie is just what the doctor ordered to bring some fresh fans to a company with an extensive history that sometimes is being outshined by others.
With all the attention on Padrón, Fuente, My Father, and some of the current stars of the premium cigar world, it’s easy to put classic heritage brands on the back burner. But no one puts THIS baby in a corner. The Montecristo 1935 Anniversary is one of those cigars you’re going to smoke and then immediately regret not getting a five-pack of. They’re good enough to take over at least a week or two of your smoking life while you fully explore the joy that is the 1935.
The blend was created to celebrate Montecristo’s 85th birthday in 2020. Suddenly, we’re really excited for 2025 to see what they might do to follow this one up. This smoke is just way too good to ignore.
Please browse our selection of Montecristo 1935 Anniversary cigars at your leisure.
- What are the flavors like? Spice and earth, with refined notes of leather, coconut, and malted milk.
- What’s the strength level? Medium-full.
- Who is this cigar for? The Montecristo 1935 Anniversary cigar is for anyone who wants one of this year’s tastiest Nicaraguan puros.
- Will I want to smoke it to the nub? Oh, you’ll be glued to it.
- What’s a good pairing with it? It’s never a bad time for whiskey, but this one is saying “beer” to us. A good one. Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout would be perfect.
- What’s the best time/place to smoke this cigar? When you need a cigar that’s guaranteed to deliver.
