Description

MONTECRISTO OPEN JUNIOR

Montecristo Open Junior fresh and light in the smoke, the Junior is the perfect walk-the-dog type of cigar. Very different from the classic Montecristo’s, the Open line has added another dimension to this infamous family. The Junior (named in honor of the game of Polo) is already smoking superbly. Thin in ring gauge, the Junior is gentle, never aggressive. Delicate flavors of light wood animate this easy smoke.

Montecristo Open Junior Appearance

The Nicaraguan wrapper has a chocolate brown color. The surface of the wrapper has a slight amount of mottling. There also is a very light coat of oil as well as a slight toothiness on the surface of the wrapper. The surface of the wrapper has some visible veins and visible wrapper seams.

While the Churchill has a Cuban soft-press format, the cigar itself has more of a square press as opposed to a trunk press.The band of it has a gold and black color. The upper part of the band is gold with black font. The center of the band features a gold fleur-de-lis surrounded by two black concentric circles.

In between the circles is the text “MONTECRISTO” arranged in a curved font. To the left and right of the circles is the text “MONTECRISTO” with black pinstripes above and below it. The lower part of the band is black with gold font and had a pseudo secondary band effect.

Montecristo Open Junior Pre-Light Draw

A straight cut is used to remove the cap of the Montecristo Open Junior. Once the cap is removed, it is on to the pre-light draw ritual. The cold draw delivers earth notes as well as slight natural tobacco and cedar notes.

Overall while these aren’t the flashiest pre-light draw notes, there is still enough going on to satisfy with the pre-light draw. At this point, it is time to toast up the foot of the Montecristo Open Junior and see what the smoking phase would deliver.

Montecristo Open Junior Flavour

The Montecristo Open Junior opens up with a host of flavors including chocolate, coffee, natural tobacco, dried fruit, earth, and red pepper. Early on the chocolate, coffee, and natural tobacco notes are more dominant.

The coffee and chocolate don’t develop a “mocha fusion” and remain separate and distinct. Toward the latter part of the first third, the coffee notes took over as the primary note. Meanwhile, there is an additional layer of red pepper on the retro-hale.

In the second third of the Montecristo Open Junior see the coffee notes remain primary. The chocolate, natural tobacco, and dried fruit rounded out the flavor profile. There also are some earth notes that surface in the background. During this stage, there is an increase in the red pepper notes.

By the final third, the coffee notes remain in the forefront. While still in the background, the red pepper notes have an edge over the chocolate, natural tobacco, dried fruit, and earth notes. This is the way the cigar experience of the Montecristo Open Junior finishes up. The resulting nub is soft to the touch and cool in temperature.

Montecristo Open Junior Burn

During the first half of the Montecristo Open Junior, the cigar has a burn that is on “cruise control” – requiring a few touch-ups to maintain a straight burn path and straight burn line. As the cigar moves into the second half, more frequent touch-ups are required. The resulting ash is silver-gray. This is ash that is on the firm side. Meanwhile, the burn rate and burn temperature are both ideals.

Montecristo Open Junior Draw

The draw to the Montecristo Open Junior performs very well. The cigar has a touch of resistance and wasn’t too open like a lot of box-press cigars can be. At the same time, this is a low-maintenance cigar to derive flavor from.

Montecristo Open Junior Strength and Body

Overall the Montecristo Open Junior delivers a medium strength, medium-bodied smoke from start to finish. There isn’t a lot of variance in the intensity levels of the strength and body. At the same time, the strength and body of the Montecristo Open Junior balance each other nicely with neither attribute overshadowing the other.

Final Thoughts about Montecristo Open Junior

It’s a cigar that delivers a well-balanced flavor profile. While there are not a lot of major flavor transitions on this cigar, there are plenty of flavor nuances and that was enough to keep me interested from start to finish.

Most importantly the flavors produce are quite enjoyable. In the end, the final product is one that is worthy of carrying the Montecristo name and commemorating a major milestone. This is a cigar would recommend to any cigar enthusiast. You can buy this at Stogies & More.