Montecristo Monte Jacopo No. 2

Montecristo doesn’t mess around, and the Monte Jacopo No. 2 is proof. This Torpedo takes a classic name and gives it a modern twist with a more complex, layered blend. Built with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and a unique dual-binder setup (Dominican and Nicaraguan Corojo), this cigar delivers a depth you don’t always see. Inside, aged Dominican fillers round things out for a medium-to-full-bodied experience. Flavor-wise, think leather, spice, and a touch of chocolate on the finish—rich, refined, and super satisfying. With ratings in the 90s (including a 96 panel score), it’s clear this one hits the mark. Pair it with a Napa Valley Malbec like Titus Vineyards for a bold, structured pairing. The wine’s dark fruit and tannins play beautifully with the cigar’s spice and chocolate notes. This is a “sit down and enjoy it” kind of cigar—perfect when you want something a little elevated.

Though tobacco is indigenous to Hispaniola, the tobacco industry in the Dominican Republic existed in the shadow of Cuba’s dominance through the 1960s. When the exodus of Cuban cigar makers began in the wake of the revolution, many decided the Dominican Republic would be ideal for the resumption of their livelihoods. Unrest in Nicaragua in the 1980s fueled the Dominican cigar industry further. The country now makes more than half of the premium cigars imported into the U.S.

The Cibao Valley and the nearby city of Santiago are the center of cigar production in the Dominican Republic. Three main varieties are grown here: the mild and native Olor Dominicano; the intense Piloto Cubano, brought from the Vuelta Abajo of Cuba; and San Vicente, a milder and more acidic Piloto hybrid. Dominican puros were once unheard of as it was widely thought impossible to grow quality wrapper leaf on the island, but new growing techniques are now allowing some exceptional puros to be produced.