While most the cigar world gathers in Las Vegas, Nev. for the upcoming IPCPR convention and trade show, the latest Montecristo is arriving on retailer’s shelves. The Espada by Montecristo, the first Nicaraguan puro to bear the famous name, was slated to arrive on July 1, but has begun arriving at retailers over the last week according to multiple retailers

The Espada is a collaboration between Altadis U.S.A. and the Plasencia family: a Nicaraguan puro that uses a habano Jalapa vintage 2010 wrapper, while the binder is a 2009 vintage from Jalapa. The filler consists of a trio of 2008 vintage leaves: habano Jalapa seco, habano Ometepe viso and habano ligero from Condega.

Espada_by_Montecristo_Open_Box

It is sold in 10-count boxes and comes in three different vitolas: Ricasso (5 x 54), a Guard (6 x 50) and Quillon (6 x 56).  All three vitola names are based on terms used in swords and knives in keeping with the name Espada, which is the Spanish word for sword. Pricing is set between $11.25 and $12.50.

The cigar is produced at the Plasencia factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.

Avatar photo

Brooks Whittington

I have been smoking cigars for over eight years. A documentary wedding photographer by trade, I spent seven years as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram. I started the cigar blog SmokingStogie in 2008 after realizing that there was a need for a cigar blog with better photographs and more in-depth information about each release. SmokingStogie quickly became one of the more influential cigar blogs on the internet, known for reviewing preproduction, prerelease, rare, extremely hard-to-find and expensive cigars. I am a co-founder of halfwheel and now serve as an editor for halfwheel.