Montecristo Open Master

Montecristo Open Master

There is a particular kind of anticipation that comes with peeling back the foil on a tubed cigar—the aluminum cylinder preserving not just the leaf, but the promise of time well spent. For the golfer standing at the 19th hole, or the late afternoon contemplator seeking something refined without demanding the full commitment of a churchill, the Montecristo Open Master answers with quiet confidence.

The Story Behind the Smoke

When Montecristo introduced the Open line in 2009, it marked a considered departure from their traditionally solemn portfolio. Designed explicitly for outdoor leisure—golf courses, yacht decks, garden terraces—the Open series sought to capture a younger, more contemporary audience without sacrificing the DNA that made Montecristo the most recognized Cuban brand in the world. The Open Master, wearing its distinctive white-accented band, carries that intention in every detail.

What distinguishes the Open Master from its siblings in the regular Montecristo lineup is approachability. Where the No. 2 or Espléndidos demand reverence and ritual, the Open Master invites conversation. It is a cigar that understands not every smoking moment requires ceremony—sometimes the occasion is simply the fading light of a Sunday afternoon, or the satisfaction of a round well played. The tobaccos, sourced from the storied growing regions of La Vuelta Abajo, deliver the house style in a more immediate, generous fashion, with none of the reserve that can make younger Cubans feel withholding.

The tubos packaging serves both practicality and preservation. Each aluminum tube maintains optimal humidity for the cigar within, making this three-pack an ideal companion for travel, for the golf bag, or for those who prefer to stock their humidor gradually rather than by the box. It is Montecristo's acknowledgment that modern aficionados move through the world differently than their predecessors did.

The Tasting Experience

First Light: The opening draws reveal a composed, woody foundation—cedar and dried tobacco leaf interweaving with a dusting of white pepper on the retrohale. There is an immediate presence of cocoa, not the dark bitter variety but something closer to shaved chocolate folded into lightly toasted bread. A curious grassiness threads through the background, lending the smoke a fresh, almost springlike quality that distinguishes it from the deeper, more brooding Robustos in the Cuban canon. The draw offers just enough resistance, and the burn establishes itself with the reliability one expects from Montecristo's quality control.

The Journey: As the ember works into the second third, the profile broadens and warms. Cedar remains the spine, but now it carries additional weight—roasted coffee bean, a buttery nuttiness recalling almond and butternut squash, and an elegant floral lift that appears on the finish. The cocoa recedes, replaced by a more integrated spice that suggests balsamic herbs rather than direct heat. A citrus brightness, lemon zest specifically, flickers in and out, keeping the experience animated. This is where the Open Master reveals its design philosophy: generous, evolving, but never demanding the smoker's complete attention. It accompanies rather than consumes.

The Finale: The final act brings the expected Cuban progression toward earth and gravity. Leather enters the conversation, supple and well-worn, while the grassy notes from the opening return in a more cured, hay-like form. The cedar deepens into something closer to humidors and cigar boxes—the smell of a well-kept collection. Pepper reasserts itself on the tongue in the closing centimeters, providing a satisfying firmness to the exit. The finish lingers with cedar and mineral earth, a clean conclusion that leaves the palate ready for whatever follows.

Who It's For

The Open Master finds its ideal smoker at the intersection of tradition and modernity. It suits the golfer who understands that a cigar should complement the round rather than compete with it, the traveler who needs a reliable companion for uncertain humidity conditions, and the newer aficionado ready to graduate from machine-made offerings but not yet prepared for the full intensity of a Partagás Lusitania. This is a cigar for moments of transition—between the course and the clubhouse, between afternoon and evening, between conversation and comfortable silence. It respects the Montecristo legacy while acknowledging that not every smoking occasion calls for ceremony.

Pairing Suggestion

A lightly aged rum, perhaps a seven-year Dominican or Cuban silver, will mirror the Open Master's cocoa and cedar notes without overwhelming its more delicate citrus and floral threads. For those preferring non-spirits, a well-pulled espresso with a touch of brown sugar finds harmony with the cigar's roasted coffee undertones.