Today we're smoking the Montecristo White Series, an absolute staple for every humidor around the United States. The name Montecristo is synonymous with Cuban tobacco, but on the US market we have the Altadis-branded version of the Montecristo line along with a few other non-Cuban versions of Cuban classics, like H. Upmann, Romeo y Julieta, Trinidad, and things like that. The White Series is the crème de la crème and the most widely known, in my opinion.

[Tyler Caldwell]: When you think of Montecristo, your mind might gravitate toward the Cuban counterparts. The Montecristo No. 2 Cuban is probably the most desired and well known outside of the domestic versions of Montecristo. The White Series is what you're gonna think of from a domestic point of view.

[Alan Britt]: It's a golf course staple.

Background About The White Series

The White Series came out at a time in the mid 2000s when Altadis was really focusing on these non-Cuban brands. I think they were gearing their portfolio more toward the newer cigar smoker, the golf course cigar smoker, and someone who might gravitate toward lighter cigars when a majority of the market was shifting toward fuller-bodied Nicaraguan cigars.

Altadis released the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real in the mid 2000s, which is crazy popular.

[TC]: At one time it was the biggest selling cigar within the United States.

[AB]: Yeah, for sure. And White Series Montecristo was just another one that blew that portfolio up and for good reason. It's a delicious cigar.

[TC]: It was released right after the cigar boom of the '90s. Connecticut leaf wasn't necessarily seen as the big thing anymore, and essentially Altadis said hey, with this Montecristo White, we want to bring that back in a new form where you're gonna find a medium body. When you think of a Connecticut wrapper, you automatically think lighter and smoother. This cigar has a lot more oomph to it than you would get from a Connecticut, especially at the time period that it was coming out.

The White Series' Profile

[AB]: Yeah, it took me a while in my cigar-smoking journey to smoke a White Series, and I think I was surprised at the profile. I expected a much milder experience, but it's way more geared toward my palate than I expected it to be.

[TC]: This is a cigar that could be for absolutely anyone at any time of the day. But it's got some complexity to it. Considering this is probably one of the most mass-produced blends in the cigar market, I think to find the ability to make it that consistent and complex at the same time is a true form of art.

[AB]: Yeah, it's got this creamy body to it with some white pepper spice. I get a lot of hay, light woods, like cedar, and a general floral tone.

[TC]: Yeah, absolutely. The cedar is spot on. It's got that creamy texture going along with it, and almost a little hint of a light roast coffee, especially on the retrohale.

[AB]: Yeah, a little dulce de leche.

[TC]: That's fancy.

[AB]: It's good, man, I think that's the best way to put it. This is a really good cigar. It's approachable and it's in a realm where I think it's at a good price point. It's mild enough you could smoke it in the morning. It's full enough you could smoke it after a meal.

Who Should Try The White Series

[TC]: I think if you have never smoked a cigar before and you came to my house or into my lounge or whatever wanting to understand what a beginner-level cigar is, this is the perfect one to try. But it's also not necessarily a beginner cigar. Once you smoke it and you understand it, this is something that could be your staple in your rotation that you could smoke for as long as you want to smoke cigars.

[AB]: Yeah, I agree. It's one of those cigars I would not grow tired of. If you're into more of the boutique style of cigars, we can be guilty of not necessarily showing love to these things that are more widely known. I think it's good to revisit these classics and staples in the cigar industry, and you'll be surprised at just how dynamic and how complex they can be.

[TC]: Sure. I would say, coming from someone who has smoked cigars for the better part of 18 years, I got into a group of friends who introduced me to cigars who were handing me boutique cigars like Tatuajes, and I gravitated toward that mindset. As I furthered into my cigar-smoking career, I guess you could call it, this was always something I'd say I would never want to put into my humidor.

I'm glad that years later someone introduced me to the White Series, especially in the No. 1 size. It's a nice little Corona size. I kicked myself in the backside for not trying this sooner in life.

[AB]: Be sure to try the Montecristo White Series on Smokingpipes. It comes in a variety of sizes. Like Tyler said, we personally prefer the No. 1, but each size presents itself a little bit differently on the palate.