Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua, Cigar Review

Time for another honest cigar review, and this time we are smoking the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua Espeso. Both of us ended up liking this cigar a lot, and honestly, it feels like one of those cigars where the quality becomes obvious immediately upon holding it and even more so when lighting-up.

This is part of Montecristo’s premium Nicaragua line produced together with AJ Fernandez, and unlike the classic Cuban Montecristos, this one leans much more into darker, richer Nicaraguan territory. The Espeso is also softly box pressed, is something I have come to like.

 

Cigar overview

Name: Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua Espeso
Vitola: Espeso, 5.5 (140 mm), ring gauge 60, soft box pressed
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium to full
Price: Roughly 19 USD in the US (from here for example). EU pricing not widely listed at the time of writing

 

Construction and draw

Construction was excellent on both samples. This is probably one of the biggest standout point of the cigar overall. The soft box pressed format feels great in hand, the wrapper is dark and oily, and both cigars burned extremely well from start to finish. Ash held firm, smoke output was thick and dense, and the draw stayed perfectly balanced throughout the smoke. It felt refined without becoming overly polished or sterile. A pleasure to smoke from beginning to end.

 

Flavor

Flavor wise, both cigars opened with cedar and hay notes, quickly followed by dark chocolate and deeper earthy tones. Axel especially picked up coffee and cocoa together with that rich Nicaraguan core, while Alex focused more on the cedar, earthy character and dark chocolate throughout the smoke.

As the cigar developed, a pleasant pepper spice started showing up during the second third, adding more depth without overpowering the profile. Despite the darker flavors, the cigar stayed balanced and smooth throughout, never becoming harsh or muddy.

Pairing

Axel enjoyed his on Crete together with a glass of Metaxa and and a coke, which turned out to be an excellent pairing. The sweet and deeper flavor profile of the Metaxa matched the cigar surprisingly well and brought out even more of the chocolate and coffee notes. This definitely feels like a cigar that benefits from slightly sweeter spirits.

Alex enjoyed his with coffee, and nothing to complain about there either. Works great with the dark chocolate notes!

Who will enjoy this

This cigar is a great fit for smokers who enjoy richer Nicaraguan cigars with strong construction and balanced intensity. Even though it sits in the medium to full category, it stays approachable thanks to how refined and controlled the profile is. If you enjoy dark chocolate, coffee, cedar and earthy cigars with excellent construction, this is an very comfortable recommendation.

Our rating

Average score: 94 out of 100.

Accessories used

Storage: Cigar Tube

Cutting: Cigar Scissors

Documentation: Cigar Journal