Review Notes: while no expert, i have probably smoked well over 100 of these cigars. it has made a believer out of me. i now prefer the montecristo brand to all others( have tried about 7 cuban brands, not all yet). yes you will encounter some variation in quality. but when you get a really good MC #2 it is a premier cigar experience. the cigar is very strong, not suitable for beginning smokers. while i love the MC A and adore the MC DC LE, i would still consider this my personal favorite and the standard by which all other cigars are measured in my book. watch out for counterfeits, this is probably the most faked cigar on the planet.