NowSmoking: Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante

Now Smoking: Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante Robusto Cigar Review

Cigar Blend Details

Factory: San Lotano Cigars S.A. – Estelí, Nicaragua.
Size: 5”x 54 box-pressed
Strength: Full-bodied
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Jalapa Criollo/Cuban-seed hybrid
Binder: Ometepe Criollo
Filler: Nicaraguan Estelí

Presented in boxes of 10

The Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante Robusto Cigar Back Story

Like its predecessor, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante is a Rafael Nodal & AJ Fernandez collaboration. Yet what makes this “Diamond” blend unique is that it actually preceded the 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua as an “experimental blend.” Plus, in an effort to recapture the “Golden Era” Montecristos, which the company calls “the diamond standard “of premium handmades, they chose rare tobaccos that exhibited those vintage characteristics. According to Rafael, he and AJ completed the blend in 2020 but they also agreed that additional aging time was needed. So, what would later become the Edición Diamante was set aside for other projects including the 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua. Finally ready for prime time, the Edición Diamante arrived in May of this year, which Montecristo calls “a more subtle expression” of the prior 1935 Anniversary release.

Cigar Basics

The overall appearance of this Robusto is pretty stunning. The wrapper has an even milk chocolate color throughout, practically devoid of veins, and an oily leather-like appearance. The box pressing is just right with a firm feel, and the cap is a textbook triple seam. The aroma from the wrapper had a note of sweet hay, while the tobaccos at the base were sweet and nutty. Using a straight cut, the cigar issued a perfect draw with pre-light hints of cocoa and leather.

Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante Robusto Cigar Review

A mix of earth and strong black pepper opened the show with a creamy mouthfeel out of the gate. The cigar also issued plenty of thick, cloudy smoke. The pepper subsided fairly quickly, yielding to a well-balanced combination of sweet tobacco, cedar, and light earth in the first couple of inches.

Still smooth and creamy, more earth arrived at the midsection. Ometepe spice also came into play, complemented by a nutty cashew note. Dark chocolate followed with baking spice accents of cardamom and nutmeg. At the proverbial “sweet spot” the cigar shifted to a well-balanced banquet of nutty, woody, earthy, and sweet-spicy flavors.

The cigar progressed to a full-bodied smoke while falling just short of full strength in the last act. Although the earthiness was more assertive, the smoke remained creamy. With about two inches left I let the nub rest longer. Weak notes of sweet tobacco and charred cedar ensued. Finally, with an inch left, I felt that I’d gotten the best from this Robusto and left it there.

Are Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante Cigars Worth Buying?

Based on my experience, Rafael Nodal and AJ Fernandez are two of the best collaborators in the biz and this Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante Robusto is a sparkling example. Having aced every technical detail, most impressive was how it transitioned from an essentially straight-forward puro to a more complex smoke. The Robusto is a bit of an investment, but if you’ve had the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua and enjoyed it, the Edición Diamante is a must-smoke, not to mention a superb special occasion cigar, too. All I can add is that the Robusto made me want to try the Diamante Churchill, if only so the experience would last that much longer.