Montecristo is the name of two cigar companies / brands. The first is of course the Cuban cigar brand. Cuban Montecristos are still produced in Cuba for Habanos SA, a tobacco company owned by the Cuban Government. For purposes of this page, we will be mostly focusing on the non-cuban version, produced in the Dominican Republic for Altadis SA.
Here are all of our reviews of Montecristo Cigars to date. This includes some of the best non-cuban Montecristo cigars currently in production.
Monte by Montecristo Jacopo No. 2 Review
Buy the Monte by Montecristo at Famous Smoke Shop Size: 6-1/8″ x 54 (Cuadrado) MSRP: $122.50 (box of 10); $12.50 for a single Country of Origin: Dominican Republic Wrapper:Ecuadorian Sumatra Binder: Dominican Republic Olor, Nicaraguan Corojo Filler: Domican Republic Body: Medium Strength: Medium Humidor Time Prior to Review: 3 months Cigars Smoked Prior to Review: […]
Montecristo Crafted by A.J. Fernandez Churchill Review
Buy the Montecristo Crafted by A.J. Fernandez at Famous Smoke Shop Size: 7″ x 50 (Churchill) MSRP: $122.50 (box of 10); $12.50 for a single Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra Binder: Mexican San Andreas Filler: Nicaraguan, U.S., Honduran Body: Medium Strength: Medium Humidor Time Prior to Review: 3 months Cigars Smoked Prior to […]
Montecristo White Series Rothchilde Cigar Review
Buy the Montecristo White Series at Famous Smoke Shop Size: 5″ x 52 (Rothchilde) MSRP: $300.00 (box of 27); $11.00 for a single Country of Origin: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican Body: Medium Strength: Medium Humidor Time Prior to Review: 9 months Cigars Smoked Prior to Review: 4 […]
Montecristo History
Like many of the classic cigar brands, Montecristo was founded in Cuba. The year was 1935, and Alonso Menendez purchased the Particulares cigar factory in Cuba with the goal of creating a new high end cigar brand. “Montecristo” was named after the novel by Alexandre Dumas. Apparently it was being read by someone on the factory floor, and that was inspiration enough for Alonso to launch the now iconic Montecristo cigar brand.
In 1937 Menendez brought on José “Pepe” Garcia and the two created a new company to produce the Montecristo cigars. The company went on to do great things, including developing the legendary Montecristo No. 2, which is arguably the most popular cigar in the world.
Unfortunately, the Cuban revolution in the early 60s caused Menendez and Garcia to (understandably) flee their home country for the Canary Islands. The partners then got into a trademark dispute with the Cuban government over the Montecristo brand name. The Canary Island operation was eventually moved to La Romana, Dominican Republic, and the partners began manufacturing cigars once again under the Montecristo name, and releasing them in the United States. Because the U.S. Government didn’t recognize any of the Cuban government’s rights to “Montecristo” Menendez and Garcia were able to sell their Montecristo Cigars in the USA. And that’s why we have 2 different Montecristo brands today.
These days the non-cuban Montecristo cigars are still made in La Romana for Altadis, a huge multi-national cigar company that owns the U.S. rights to a bunch of Cuban legacy brands including H. Upmann, Henry Clay, and Romeo y Julieta, as well as machine rolled brands like Dutch Masters and Phillies.