I’m finishing with some samples from January of 2006. These feel the firmest of all the samples, and perhaps that’s just because they are relatively young compared to the others that I’ve smoked. It’s also important to know that I did this little three some test three times. Perhaps I was just looking for reasons I have some more cigars, her pet perhaps I was wondering whether my initial results were legit. Either way, want the heck, it was sure fun.

So back to the 2006. As I said a very firm cigar, with a decent middling brown wrapper that looked much more consistent than the other boxes. Perhaps quality control had improved in the years since the other boxes were produced, or perhaps I just got a good run. Frankly, there are so many Montecristo No. 2’s produced that you’re going to get these wide variations in color. You hope though they don’t get the wide variations and flavor, although I think that’s inevitable. This was definitely what I would consider the middle cigar in flavor, consistency, and construction of the three cigars I smoked.

In summary if my only experience was the 1999 box, I’d think these things were god’s gift. If I only smoked the ‘03’s, I would definitely wonder what the hype was about. I guess this just goes to show when you smoke a cigar that is produced in vast quantities, you’re likely to get many variations. Find the year you like, stock up, and enjoy.