Montecristo White Series Vs Vintage Connecticut Cigar Review

Montecristo White Series Look & Feel

Firstly, both cigars have been stored for three weeks in a Boveda Acrylic Humidor with 69% RH Boveda packs. They were monitored frequently to ensure that the environment was consistent using a Boveda Butler.

In terms of construction, the cigars are very similar. Overall, the cigars are quite even with perhaps a few bumps here and there, but nothing too off-putting. The spring when you squeeze them is also quite pleasant with a decent firmness.

Aside from their bands, the key difference is that the Vintage Connecticut is paler than the original White Series, which is slightly darker in hue. The Vintage has a more café au lait appearance, whereas the White Series has a stronger resemblance to praliné.

Both feature an oily sheen and the veins aren’t too prevalent. As for the aromas, the original White Series consisted of haylage, which is cured grass, raisins, and nutmeg. Meanwhile, the Vintage gave a spicier flavour of anise, birch, and cinnamon.

Pre-Lighting Experience

Both had a pleasant draw with an ideal level of resistance. Their resulting flavours were both quite rich and in terms of aromas, but there was a distinctive difference. The original White Series reveals dried apricot, vanilla, and hazelnuts with an overall sweet and mellow bouquet.

Meanwhile, the Vintage Connecticut delivers tonka bean, cocoa, and nutmeg. Therefore, it was much more on the spiciness and succulent tantalizing gourmand flavours that you will soon learn about.

1st Third Tasting Notes

With the Original White Series in the first third, I experienced latte coffee, cashew nuts and vanilla. Although the Vintage was had the same latte coffee note, I also identified hazelnut rather than cashew nut.

Overall, the Vintage Connecticut was tougher and a little bit sharper. Similarly, instead of vanilla, we had leather. Therefore, it offers a more robust flavour profile in the first third.

2nd Third Smoking Experience

In the second third, the original White Series delivers butterscotch, white pepper, and roasted thyme. overall, it was quite sweet, mild, aromatic, and creamy.

Meanwhile, the Vintage offers malt, white pepper, and roasted sage. In both cases, I experienced white pepper, but the Vintage Connecticut leans towards a chargrilled sage aromatic note. Given the presence of malt, it was still creamy but it more cereal than dairy.

Final Third Tasting Notes

It was the final third where the two cigars really started to diverge, even more than beforehand. In the original White Series, there were distinctive flavours of molasses, ginger, and oak.

As you can imagine, it was syrupy and sweet with an essence reminiscent of honey. Nevertheless, it was quite tangy with a zesty property. Yet, there was a distinctive woodiness that provided some substance too.

As for the Vintage Connecticut White Series, I noted white pepper, which continued from the second third, as well as dried earth and brazil nut. Therefore, it was still nutty in profile but with an additional musty earthiness that you could probably compare to a Cuban cigar. However, it was very savoury in comparison.

Flavour Profiles & Smoking Experience

Both cigars featured a similar level of complexity with a relatively intricate profile. The mouthfeel was much smoother on the original White Series, and the Vintage was a little bit drier, a little bit sour on the pallet, whereas the Original was more balanced.

Meanwhile, the palate stimulation itself was overall more balanced on the Vintage than it was on the Original White Series. I found the Vintage to have a much fuller flavour profile that covered all of the tongue, specifically in the second third.

In terms of lifecycle, I found that the Vintage Connecticut was far more developed than the original White Series. Indeed, the original White Series tended to be a little more linear whereas the Vintage Connecticut had greater personality overall.

Finally, the Vintage Connecticut’s finish is much more lingering and longer-lasting whereas the Original tends to be shorter and fades sooner.

Overall Burn

Both the Montecristo White Series and Montecristo Vintage Connecticut had very pleasant combustion. The draw was quite similar with nice resistance and were cool smokes overall, despite the Vintage having a slightly thinner ring gauge.

Nevertheless, their burn angles were both somewhat wavy. I found the Vintage generally corrected itself far more than the White Series, but they tended to compensate in the second third together.

As for the backbone, the original White Series had tougher ash, which stayed on for far longer than the Vintage Connecticut. Indeed, the Vintage Connecticut was slightly flaky, which could be due to the difference in ring gauge.

In general, however, I found that the White Series, the original, had ash that lasted longer and I could develop some decent stacks.

Overall Experience

Both the White Series cigars feature the same main band, which says “Montecristo White Series”. The original White Series differentiates itself because it has a second “White Series” band. Meanwhile, the Vintage Connecticut has a long second band, which depicts a barn in a tobacco field.

In terms of box, the original White Series box has Cuban appearance in the sense that it’s a wooden box that has been covered in stickers. Compared to the Vintage Connecticut, it doesn’t quite look as premium.

Instead, the Vintage Connecticut has a very lavish wooden box with a cedar insert inside with a glossy, lacquer finish. In terms of value, I was surprised to learn that both are very similarly priced.

The White Series as a toro will usually be found for about $12 a single. Meanwhile, the White Series Vintage comes at only $14 for a single. Therefore, there is only a $2 difference in price between the two. You can usually find both via Mike’s Cigars for the prices I just mentioned.

Finally, both cigars can be enjoyed for similar occasions. Given their comparable flavour profiles and presentation, they’re suitable for casual smoking or even special occasions, too. For instance, their white band colour would certainly be fitting for a wedding.

If you want something a little bit more special, perhaps go for the Vintage Connecticut. Otherwise, the original White Series is an overall easygoing smoke that would be easier for beginners.

Montecristo White Series & Vintage Connecticut Pairings

For the original White Series, I was first and foremost leaning towards fudge, thanks to its caramelized and vanilla notes. Another suggestion would be candied fruit due to the molasses and ginger in the final third.

As for the Vintage Connecticut, it would likely pair better with nuts or even a savoury choice such as French fries. In both cases, milk chocolate would also be ideal.

With regards to beverages, a Campbelltown Scotch or even a Riesling white wine would be floral and balanced for the White Series. Meanwhile, the White Series Vintage Connecticut would benefit from an aged rum such as Flor de Caña 18.

Otherwise, I would suggest champagne, which is partly why I mentioned french fries earlier. French fries and champagne sounds may sound strange, but it is a wonderful pairing. With the Vintage Connecticut in addition, you would have a triple threat!

Finally, both would pair well with a latte coffee. A white coffee of this type would likely offer a better pairing than black coffee or espresso given the creaminess it provides.

Closing Thoughts

In conclusion, these are overall two very similar cigars and they’ve both been rated five stars using the cigar formula. Their actual scores only show a difference of a few points with the Vintage Connecticut taking an overall lead.

Although these are overall similar cigars, they do have some very distinctive differences in terms of aroma and notes. I found that the original White Series was much more mellow and milder with a smooth and and sweet profile.

Meanwhile, the Vintage has much more personality. It may come across as a little too rough around the edges at first, but once near the end of the final third, it really revealed some beautiful, hidden notes in its bouquet that accorded throughout the whole experience.

If you have a preference for milder cigars, probably go for the original White Series. Nevertheless, the Vintage Connecticut is not much stronger in body and has a more adventurous character.

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