Some irreplaceable cigars from Menendez y Garcia! Montecristo is, without question, the most valuable and best-known cigar brand on earth. As such, Consolidated Cigar (now known as Altadis) refused to launch a non-Cuban version of this great brand for a quarter of a century, waiting for the day the embargo would end. Then, in 1987, in the face of competition from other manufacturers who had already released non-Cuban versions of other prestigious Havana brands, the decision was made to market a Dominican Montecristo.

With the company’s vast tobacco resources, trial cigars were made in 1987 using a top-quality Connecticut shade wrapper in just one size—the Lonsdale, or Number 1, which was the most popular style of the day. Fearful that these very smooth, mild smokes—which were completely different than the more powerful Havanas—might possibly damage its most valuable asset (the Montecristo trademark), the company salted them away in the vast cold rooms of the La Romana factory after the seasoning stage. And, consequently, the launch of the brand was put on hold.

Each year thereafter until 1993, test cigars were created but continuing temerity prevented the actual large-scale production and launch of a Dominican version of the Montecristo. And, each year, anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand cigars—unbanded and unboxed—were stowed away.

Therefore, the cigars we are offering are the only ones of their kind. Some will disappear rapidly and others may stick around awhile. Note however, that the cigars listed here from each year are not necessarily all the same blend. Frankly speaking, no record was kept of their existence, much less the recipes used. And, even if such records had been kept, the tobaccos would likely be unavailable today.

We had the factory band these cigars and pack them in units of 10 to keep the cost down. While they are not cheap by any means, the prices here are far lower than they would be if these cigars had fallen into someone else's hands.