Montecristo Espada Signature Valiente

When Altadis U.S.A.’s Espada by Montecristo debuted in 2014, it carried the distinction of being the first Nicaraguan puro to be released under the Montecristo name. That original creation cigar was created for Altadis U.S.A. by the Plasencia family and incorporated tobacco from three of the four growing regions in Nicaragua: Condega, Jalapa and Ometepe.

Two additional Espada lines—each made entirely of Nicaraguan tobacco—followed during the next five years: the Espada Estoque was released in 2016 while the Espada Oscuro was shipped to retailers in 2019.

This brings us to a third Montecristo Espada line that began shipping in February bearing the name Espada Signature Valiente, Spanish for valiant or brave. As with the previous Espada creations, the Valiente is a Nicaraguan puro; specifically, it incorporates a Colorado claro wrapper grown in the Jalapa region covering a binder and filler tobaccos sourced from Estelí. The line is rolled at Plasencia Cigars S.A. in Estelí.

 

“This exciting blend was developed by Rafael Nodal, Grupo de Maestro and the Plasencia Family in way that each tobacco’s signature, when blended, creates a harmony of flavors and elevated complexity,” reads the Altadis U.S.A. website.

There is only one size so far, a 6 x 55 toro gordo with an MSRP of $15 per cigar that is sold in boxes of 10. While Altadis has indicated that the Montecristo Espada Signature Valiente is a limited edition release, the company has so far declined to confirm actual production numbers.

• Cigar Reviewed: Montecristo Espada Signature Valiente
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A.
• Wrapper: Nicaragua (Jalapa Colorado Claro)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 55
• Vitola: Toro Gordo
• MSRP: $15 (Box of 10, $150)
• Release Date: December 2021
• Number of Cigars Released: Undisclosed
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

While two of the three Montecristo Espada Signature Valientes are covered in a very attractive milk chocolate brown wrapper—the last sample is a noticeably darker shade—all three are silky smooth to the touch and are covered in quite a bit of oil. In addition, there are some very obvious bumps and veins, and all three are a bit more spongy than normal when squeezed. The aroma from the wrapper includes strong dark chocolate, sour earth, leather, manure and a vegetal note. The foot brings notes of sourdough bread, wood, black pepper, barnyard, earth and generic nuts. Finally, after a v-cut the cold draw includes flavors of distinct almond flour, cedar, mineral salt, leather tack, sourdough bread and faint vanilla bean sweetness.

The Espada Signature Valiente starts with plenty of spice and black pepper—on my tongue and on the palate, respectively—along with an oatmeal flavor that is joined by a cedar note about eight puffs in. While that combination remains at the top during the entire first third, various other flavors are present at various points, including gritty earth, citrus peel, leather tack, mineral salt, anise and a light floral note. In addition, two of the samples have a faint metallic note on the finish that sticks around for a bit, although it begins to fade as the first third burns down and has completely dissipated by the time the second third begins. The retrohale features quite a bit of black pepper and bready sweetness, both of which are remaining at fairly constant levels so far. After a v-cut, the draw is a bit loose on all three cigars—albeit easily within a normal range—and the burn is wavy but not bad enough to need correcting, while the smoke production is both thick and copious off of the foot. Flavor is medium, body is a bit over medium and the strength ends the first third just under the medium mark.

Not only do the spice and black pepper recede quite a bit—although both are still present—but the profile becomes noticeably creamier on the palate during the second third of the Valiente. Cedar and oatmeal continue to be the main flavors, followed by a more distinct earth note, peanut butter, hay, leather tack, espresso beans and sourdough bread. There is still plenty of both black pepper and bready sweetness on the retrohale, but the metallic note on the finish from the first third is long gone. Construction-wise, the draw tightens up nicely and there is still plenty of smoke emanating from the foot, but two of the three samples develop enough of an issue to warrant some attention with my lighter. Both the flavor and body end up at a point slightly over medium, while the strength hits a solid medium by the end of the second third.

Once again, the profile of the Montecristo shifts in a number of ways during the final third, with new main flavors of earth and leather leading the charge. Additional notes of cocoa nibs, sourdough bread, anise, hay, brewed coffee and slight cinnamon flit in and out, while the retrohale sees an increase in the amount of black pepper as well as a decrease in the amount of bready sweetness. In terms of construction, both the draw and the smoke production continue on their excellent paths, but the burn on one of the cigars still needs help twice in quick succession. Flavor and body remain at a point between medium and full, but the strength takes a huge jump to end up closer to full than medium as I put the nub down with an inch left.

Final Notes

• According to Jennifer True of Altadis U.S.A., an unspecified number of Montecristo Espada Signature Valiente were sent to Casa de Montecristo prior to last Christmas as part of a soft launch, but the vast majority of the boxes did not start shipping to other retailers until Feb. 4, 2022.
• This cigar is a great example of how knowing the tobacco in a cigar does not tell you everything: Jalapa tobacco—which is used on the wrapper—is generally considered to be a sweeter, less aggressive tobacco; but this is a spicy, peppery blend due to the tobacco used in the binder and filler, some of which is grown in Estelí.
• Considering how many bands there are on this cigar, I was pleasantly surprised that all three were extremely easy to remove, with no resulting damage to the wrapper.
• This is one of those cigars that becomes extremely harsh if you puff on it too fast or too hard, so my advice is to take it slow and easy.
• While the Altadis U.S.A. website lists this as “a medium-bodied gem,” but I would peg it as a medium plus blend easily, and perhaps even knocking on the door of full.
• The website also states that the cigar is “packed with valiant flavors.” I honestly cannot tell if the company used the word valiant—which means “possessing or showing courage or determination”—as an additive in an attempt to refer back to the name of the release, or if the word vibrant was supposed to be used instead.
• There have been a number of different cigars released with Valiente—or Valientes—in the name, including the Sancho Panza Valientes, the La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Valiente and the E.P. Carrillo Encore Valentes.
• Altadis U.S.A. advertises on halfweel.
• The cigars smoked for this review were purchased by halfwheel. Altadis U.S.A. sent some cigars to halfwheel but those were not sued for this review in any way.
• Final smoking time for all three samples averaged one hour and 58 minutes.
• If you would like to purchase any of the Montecristo Espada Signature Valiente cigars, site sponsors Cigar Hustler, Corona Cigar Co., JR Cigar and STOGIES World Class Cigars all have them in stock.

Update — The original version of this review said that the cigars were at Casa de Montecristo of Chicago prior to Christmas. The cigars were at Casa de Montecristo locations, plural, before Christmas, not just a single store.