Upon first inspection, the Espada looks like a typical premium cigar. Its wrapper has a medium- brown color, and there is a slight sheen of oil. There is some visible veining, but not too much. The cigar is firm and tightly rolled.

The Espada's aroma is earthy with a hint of spice. Unsurprisingly, the pre-light draw of the Espada is also earthy, with some spicy undertones and a hint of sweet tobacco.

First Third

The first few draws after lighting the Espada are exactly what you'd expect: the earthy and spicy flavors from the pre-light draw return, only stronger than they were before lighting the cigar. The first few draws also provide flavors of sweet tobacco, citrus, and white pepper. The white pepper flavor has an appealing kick to it that is reminiscent of jalapeno.

As the cigar reaches the midst of its first third, the citrus and pepper flavors get stronger and the sweet tobacco flavor fades into the background. Around this time, hints of coffee start to balance out the Montecristo's flavor profile.

Once the first third of the cigar nears its conclusion, the coffee and sweet tobacco flavors strengthened from background notes to the foremost flavors in the cigar. The coffee and sweet tobacco flavors continued to intensify as the cigar transitioned into its mid-third portion.

Mid-Third

Its in the mid-third part of the Espada that the cigar really shines and shows why it is so highly rated. At the beginning of the mid-third, the citrus and pepper notes have faded to background flavors while the coffee and sweet tobacco flavors dominate. The pepper notes were less spicy than they were in the first third of the cigar, with a taste more reminiscent of white pepper than of jalapeno. As the Espada passes through its mid-third portion, the delicious natural sweetness of its high-quality tobacco provides a delectable background to the notes of pepper, coffee, and citrus.

Final Third

As the Espada starts to near its conclusion, the delicious sweet tobacco flavor fades a little, and the peppery notes take center stage. The coffee and sweet tobacco flavors are still present, and serve to balance the Espada's flavor profile. The majority of the citrus flavor fades in the Espada's final third, though it is still detectable at times.

The Espada burns cleanly and evenly right down to the nub. The smoke does not get hot, and the nub does not get mushy.

The Montecristo Espada is Worth Trying for Fans of the Brand

In conclusion, the Montecristo Espada is quite different than what most cigar lovers expect from Montecristo. The origin is different, the blend is unique, and even the look is distinctive. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The Montecristo Espada is on the top shelf of cigars, exactly where you'd expect a Montecristo to be. It breathes fresh life into a prestigious brand that had started to get a little stale. The Espada is certainly worth smoking for fans of Montecristo cigars.