Montague #2

It was spices and tobaccos that brought Indonesia its early success in international trade. Now, after years without representation in U.S.-bound cigars, a new variety of wrapper leaf and a modern cigar plant have restored the "Spice Islands" to their former status in the tobacco industry. Indonesia's rising profile in cigars isn't limited to strictly growing and curing of cigar tobacco. While it may be true that, as Swedish Match's Van Glabbeek notes, "...there's no such thing as an Indonesian cigar," his company has taken a great leap in that direction, setting up the country's first significant premium long filler production, branded the Montague. Swedish Match's factory, in Pandaan near the city of Surabaya, began wrapper and binder cutting and processing in 1993. Recognizing that Indonesia was consistently producing high-quality, world-class tobacco, and that Consolidated Cigar - a leading U.S. manufacturer - was already utilizing Indonesian leaf in significant quantities, including a number of its top brands, Swedish Match seized the opportunity to make full use of everything Indonesia had to offer. In the first year of its U.S. launch, 400 people are currently employed on the Montague brand, 280 of them hand-rolling cigars in the traditional Cuban method. The investment has obviously paid off as the Montague line has been very well received, garnering a 90 in Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar Insider and a 4.4 in the Fall 1998 issue of Smoke magazine, the third-highest rating published. This is a great smoke. We loved it. You will too.

The first thing you’ll notice about this cigar is a rich & oily, dark Brazilian broadleaf wrapper that just begs you to light it. It’s filled with a generous amount of tobacco, yet not too firmly rolled. The draw is quite easy and the burn even all the way. Note a robust, earthly aroma even before you light this one up! We found the flavor to consist of a core of spiciness, as one might expect from Indonesia. It’s medium bodied and offers hints of cedar, and a light toastiness. The finish is a lingering earthiness. Overall…Wow! Very well made. Great flavor. What more do you want? Pair it up with a tawny port, kick back and enjoy your life!