The Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua is a full Nicaraguan puro born to celebrate 85 years of one of the most legendary names in cigar history. Crafted by Rafael Nodal and A.J. Fernandez at the San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua, built entirely from tobacco grown on Fernandez’s own estate farms. I smoked the No. 2 Torpedo, 6⅛ inches with a 52 ring gauge, and what followed was one of those sessions where you stop thinking about what else you should be doing.
- Full Nicaraguan puro built to celebrate Montecristo’s 85th anniversary, Rafael Nodal and A.J. Fernandez collaboration at San Lotano, Ocotal, Nicaragua. Landed in the top three of multiple industry year-end rankings for 2021.
- Earth and pepper open to dark chocolate and cream, closing with cedar and baking spice. Three genuinely distinct chapters.
- BLC Rating: 95. At $16.43 for the No. 2 Torpedo, regular rotation is genuinely tempting.
FROM THE PORCH
The first time I saw this cigar, I had to ask a stranger what it was. We were in Las Vegas the day the Montecristo Cigar Bar opened inside the Paris. The night before had been the Eight Lounge, loud and glittering, this was something completely different. A gentleman asked to join us, the way it works in any good lounge, and pulled out a stick I did not recognize. Dark, oily, that familiar Montecristo crest on a band I had never seen. So I asked him what it was, and he walked me through the whole cigar while people kept stopping by our chairs to ask for a picture with him. That should have been my first clue. The man smoking it was Rafael Nodal, the man behind the blend. I got the story of the 1935 Anniversary straight from the source, in a Montecristo lounge, before I ever lit one.
I have bought a case or two since, and neither lasted as long as I planned. These days it has a standing spot in the porch rotation. Dallas comes out with me every time, he gets his bully stick, I get the 1935. He is convinced he has the better end of the deal. He is wrong. My notes are below.
BEHIND THE BLEND
The name Montecristo goes back to 1935 in Havana, Cuba, founded by Alonso Menéndez and named after Alexandre Dumas’ novel, the story goes that factory lectores read it aloud while the rollers worked. After the Cuban revolution, the brand moved into Dominican production and built a decades-long reputation for refined, mild-to-medium puros. Then in 2020, to mark the brand’s 85th anniversary, Altadis U.S.A. handed the project to Rafael Nodal, the man in charge of its blends, and A.J. Fernandez to create something that had never existed before: a Montecristo built entirely from Nicaraguan tobacco. The result landed in the top three of multiple industry year-end rankings for 2021.
BLC BLEND BREAKDOWN
BLEND SPECS
Every leaf comes from Fernandez’s own estate farms, which delivers a level of consistency that not every blend can claim. The exact varietals? Altadis keeps those to itself, and the finished cigars rested about two years after rolling before they ever shipped. That dark Nicaraguan wrapper, smooth and noticeably oily, sets the tone before you ever reach for the cutter.
THE VITOLA LINEUP
| VITOLA | SIZE | MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| Churchill | 7 × 52 | $17.50 |
| No. 2 Torpedo ← reviewed | 6⅛ × 52 | $16.43 |
| Toro | 6 × 54 | $15.95 |
| Demi | 5½ × 46 | $10.40 |
The No. 2 is where the blend performs at its most focused and expressive. The Demi at $10.40 is the sleeper, small ring gauge brings the wrapper character forward prominently and makes keeping a box on hand very easy.
THE COLD DRAW
The wrapper on the No. 2 is a rich dark chocolate brown, smooth and slightly oily with minimal veins. The foot aroma delivers rich earth, dark cocoa, a whisper of cedar, and a faint sweetness underneath. Cold draw is effortless, cocoa powder, dried dark fruit, and a touch of leather. A very encouraging preview.
BLC CIGAR PROFILE
Burn: even line start to finish, firm ash, zero touch-ups.
Draw: effortless on the cold pull, settles medium-firm once lit, rich smoke volume throughout.
THE FIRST THIRD
From the first light, thick satisfying smoke output. Opening notes are earthiness and dark roasted coffee, followed by black pepper on the finish and red pepper on the retrohale. There is a brightness to the spice that is engaging rather than challenging. Underneath, cocoa powder and a hint of dark cherry are already detectable. Construction is excellent, burn line stays even, ash holds firm, draw is effortless.
THE SECOND THIRD
This is where the 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua becomes genuinely special. Dark chocolate comes forward in a way that feels almost syrupy. Dark chocolate, rich cocoa, and a hint of dark fruit fill the palate with a creaminess that smooths out the entire experience. This is the section where you settle in and pay full attention.
THE FINAL THIRD
Cedar notes make a welcome appearance, giving the profile a drier, woodsy quality that balances the sweetness. Baking spice returns with more presence, warm and satisfying. The pepper flares up one more time late, giving the close some energy. Burn and construction stay consistent all the way through. No touch-ups needed.
OVERALL RATING
BLC OVERALL RATING
Flawless construction, genuine complexity, and a progression that rewards patience. At $16.43 the No. 2 sits at a price point that makes regular rotation genuinely tempting. Some anniversary cigars celebrate history. This one is busy making its own.
WHO GRABS THIS CIGAR
For the smoker with some miles on their palate who is ready for real depth and complexity. If you have been in medium-bodied territory and want to step up without diving into full-throttle Nicaraguan powerhouses, this is a very smart next move.
Pair with an aged bourbon or sweet single malt to deepen the chocolate and cedar. Strong black coffee or cold brew locks in the cocoa notes. Abbina Tower 44 for non-drinkers, clean complexity that lets the tobacco lead.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common questions about the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua.
