Stogie Reviews: Montecristo Cabinet Selección Belicoso

Back in August, following the 75th Annual RTDA Trade Show, we introduced you to some of Altadis’ latest creations. Among them was a new ultra-premium, limited edition line called Cabinet Selección.

Rare and exclusive tobacco blends from the company’s most revered brands, Cabinet Selección hit select retailers only recently. Altadis Vice President Janelle Rosenfeld tells Stogie Guys that “they are selling like hot cakes.”

Featuring Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, H. Upmann, and Por Larrañaga, a company press release exclaims the line is “impeccably constructed from specially selected, perfectly aged tobaccos of exceptional pedigree” which results in “a series of intricate, singular blends of compelling character and nature.”

Sounds pretty good, eh? As it turns out, press releases from cigar manufacturers usually do. But, after smoking half a dozen Montecristo Cabinet Selección Belicosos over the past few weeks, I can honestly say this stogie lives up to that mouthwatering praise.

The Belicoso is six and 1/8 inches with a 52 ring gauge. The white and gold Montecristo band serves as a nice contrast to the dark, near seamless Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Tightly packed with Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian filler, the cigar is firm to the touch.

Right from the beginning, the smoke’s full-bodied billing meets expectations as a distinctive black pepper and nutmeg spice dominates the flavor profile. The taste gets even more interesting from there as a soft marshmallow sweetness comes into play, a complimentary flavor that reminds me a bit of the Montecristo Classic.

But this cigar is much different. Predominantly dark, rich, and nutty, it sports characteristics most stogie enthusiasts will enjoy and seasoned stogie veterans will love.

I’d be more willing to bestow a heralded five out of five stogies rating, however, if it weren’t for a few physical imperfections. Specifically, occasional touch-ups are required to keep it lit and burning evenly, and the grey ash could be more stable.

Still, what this cigar lacks in construction it makes up in flavor – many times over. I am looking forward to sampling the Romeo, Upmann, and Larrañaga versions of this promising series, and I give the Montecristo Cabinet Selección Belicoso four and ½ out of five stogies.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick A