It's not often that I review exclusive, hard to find cigars. I don't want to get folks excited about a cigar that they can't find at their local shop. But, with the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) trade show just 42 days away, I thought I would take the time to talk about one of those limited production cigars. The trade show is a very exciting event, in which cigar retailers all over the country will meet with every cigar maker under the sun. It is the industry’s chance to launch new items, reinvigorate old brands and, of course, offer big deals for the coming year. But for me, the best part of the show is the new releases. It is sad that we can’t buy them all, but it sure is fun giving them all a test drive. There will be cigars that will have very limited distribution and that is what inspired me to write about this week’s subject, a cigar that upon its release was only available for purchase in New York City. I am referring to Montecristo's first connoisseur edition cigar, New York City.

The cigar was first released in 2011, but I have not had the opportunity to smoke one of these until now. I recently received a nice collectors set of these cigars from our good friends at Altadis. The pack contains New York City along with later releases Texas and Las Vegas.

Upon visual inspection the Montecristo NYC really hits it out of the park. The gorgeous Ecuadorian Habano wrapper perfectly encases the box-pressed beauty. This cigar only comes in the 6 x 60 vitola.   Here comes a little cigar cutting hint. I have found that the best way to handle a box-pressed cigar or any other cigar with a squared head is with a straight punch or v cut. Trying to clip below the cap can be difficult and even if you do it right, the squared shape has a tendency to squeeze in and release small bits of tobacco in your mouth. For this cigar, I use the bullet punch on the bottom of my lighter and after a skillful push and twist, I’m ready to explore New York City from the quiet calm of my back yard.

Without lighting the cigar, it gives off deep, rich tobacco flavors with hints of oak and leather. After toasting the foot and taking a few puffs, there are some really nice things going on. Not a lot of spice, but what is there is mildly on the sweet side, perhaps nutmeg with a hint of cinnamon. As I retrohale the flavor takes on a mild cedar quality. As I complete the first third this has developed into a medium bodied smoke.

As I stroll into the second third of the cigar the strength picks up along with the creaminess of the smoke. It now lingers on my palate a little longer. Now the sweet spice gives way to the peppery version. As the ash approaches the first band, flavors of coffee enter into the flavor profile. The cigar is now a solid medium to full bodied experience.

As the smoking experience winds down and the cigar has become a nub, the smoke intensifies a bit but remains cool. The coffee flavors are more pronounced and the black pepper spice is at its strongest. Until the very end the cigar burned cool and very even. I removed both bands without any damage to the wrapper and I would definitely like to get my hands on a few more if these. This cigar is a solid medium to full bodied cigar as bold as the city it is named for. This cigar has also taught me that I don't need Billy Joel to get into a "New York state of mind," I just to light up a Montecristo New York City.

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits regional manager in Jacksonville. Follow him on Twitter @chrisgnole