Montecristo No. 4 Review: Cuba’s Most Popular Cigar for a Reason

The Montecristo No. 4 is, without qualification, the finest entry point into Cuban cigars and the most consistently satisfying short smoke in Habanos S.A.’s entire portfolio. At roughly $23 per stick from a box of 25 priced at $587.10, it delivers a medium-bodied, 30-minute experience built on cocoa, cedar, and cream that has made it Cuba’s best-selling cigar worldwide for decades. Whether you are lighting your first Cuban or your ten-thousandth, the No. 4 earns its reputation every single time.

Background: The Montecristo Legacy

Founded in 1935 at the H. Upmann factory in Havana, Montecristo takes its name from Alexandre Dumas’ novel The Count of Monte Cristo, which was a favorite among the factory’s cigar rollers during their daily readings. The brand rose from a modest beginning to become the dominant force in Cuban cigars, and no vitola in the lineup has contributed more to that dominance than the No. 4.

The No. 4 sits in the Mareva (Petit Corona) format, a classic Cuban size that predates the modern obsession with ring gauges north of 50. At 5 inches by 42 ring gauge, it is a cigar designed for flavor concentration rather than marathon smoking sessions. The smaller ring gauge means a higher wrapper-to-filler ratio, which amplifies the character of the wrapper leaf and produces a more focused, intense flavor than what you might expect from such a compact cigar.

Within the broader Montecristo range, the No. 4 occupies a unique position. It is the most accessible in terms of price and smoking time, yet many seasoned aficionados argue it rivals or surpasses its larger siblings in pure flavor delivery per inch.

Construction and Pre-Light Inspection

Pulling a Montecristo No. 4 from its box, the first thing you notice is consistency. This is one of the most quality-controlled cigars coming out of Cuba. The wrapper is typically a smooth, oily Colorado shade with minimal veining. The cap is neatly applied in the traditional triple-cap Cuban style, and the seams are tight without being so rigid that they restrict airflow.

The cold draw delivers sweet cedar and a faint trace of dried fruit. Resistance is just right, maybe a slight firmness that suggests the cigar was packed with care rather than stuffed carelessly. Over the years, I have smoked well over 300 of these, and the construction hit rate is remarkably high. You will encounter the occasional tight draw, as with any handmade Cuban, but the No. 4 has one of the best consistency records in the Habanos catalog.

One practical note: this cigar benefits enormously from resting in your humidor for at least two to three weeks after arrival. Cuban cigars often travel under less-than-ideal humidity conditions, and giving the No. 4 time to stabilize at 65-67% relative humidity will reward you with a noticeably smoother smoke.

Flavor Profile by Thirds

First Third: A Gentle Welcome

The opening draws of the No. 4 greet you with mild, creamy sweetness. There is an immediate cocoa note that sits right at the center of the palate, flanked by light cedar and a whisper of toasted bread. The smoke is cool and voluminous for such a small cigar, producing a surprisingly thick plume with each puff.

Strength at this stage is genuinely mild to medium. There is no pepper attack, no blast of nicotine. This is a cigar that invites you in rather than announcing itself with force. For newcomers to Cuban tobacco, this first third is immediately approachable. For experienced smokers, it sets a baseline of refinement that promises good things ahead.

The retrohale in the first third is where the magic begins. Pushing smoke gently through the nose reveals a floral sweetness that does not appear on the palate at all. There is a light honeyed quality that adds a dimension of complexity you might not expect at this price point.

Second Third: The Heart of the Cigar

As the burn line crosses into the middle section, the No. 4 shifts gears. The cocoa deepens into something closer to dark roast coffee, and a gentle spice emerges on the finish of each draw. This is not aggressive pepper; it is more like a light dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg that tickles the back of the throat.

Cedar becomes more prominent here, moving from a background accent to a defining characteristic. The cream remains, but it takes on a toasted quality, like warm milk with a hint of caramel. The overall body has moved solidly into medium territory.

This second third is where the No. 4 truly distinguishes itself from other cigars in its price range. The transitions are smooth and deliberate. Nothing arrives abruptly. The flavor evolves in a way that rewards attention without demanding it, which is precisely what you want from a 30-minute cigar.

Final Third: A Satisfying Close

The last inch and a half of the No. 4 is where opinions divide. Smoked too quickly, the final third can turn bitter and hot. But with patience, keeping your puff cadence to once every 45 to 60 seconds, the ending rewards you with the richest flavors of the entire experience.

Coffee and dark cocoa dominate now, supported by a leathery undertone that was absent in the earlier thirds. The spice intensifies slightly but never overwhelms. There is a satisfying nuttiness that appears in the very last draws, almost like roasted almonds, before the cigar asks to be set down.

I find that the No. 4 smokes best when you let it go out naturally rather than chasing it to the nub. The cigar has a natural stopping point, and respecting it means your last impression is one of balance rather than harshness.

How It Compares

Montecristo No. 4 vs. Partagas Serie D No. 4

This is the comparison every Cuban cigar smoker eventually makes. The Partagas Serie D No. 4 is a bolder, earthier cigar with more pronounced pepper and a fuller body. Where the Montecristo No. 4 seduces with cocoa and cream, the PSD4 grabs you with leather and spice. If you prefer your coffee black and strong, the PSD4 may speak to you more directly. If you appreciate nuance and elegance, the Montecristo No. 4 is the better choice.

Montecristo No. 4 vs. Cohiba Siglo II

The Cohiba Siglo II occupies a similar size category and is often positioned as the “premium” alternative. It delivers a more refined, arguably more complex smoke with a higher price tag, typically around twice what you would pay for the No. 4. Is it twice as good? No. The Siglo II is excellent, but the No. 4 offers roughly 80% of that experience at half the cost. For daily smoking, the value proposition of the Montecristo is unbeatable.

Within the Montecristo Line

If the No. 4 appeals to you but you want more, the Montecristo No. 2 torpedo is the natural step up. It offers a longer, more complex smoke with similar flavor DNA but greater depth and intensity. The Montecristo No. 1, a Lonsdale, stretches the experience to roughly 45 minutes with a more measured, contemplative pace. All three share the core Montecristo character but express it through different dimensions of time and format.

Aging Potential

The Montecristo No. 4 ages beautifully, though it has a different trajectory than larger-format cigars. With two to three years of proper storage at 65% humidity, the rough edges smooth out completely, and the cocoa note deepens into something approaching dark chocolate truffle territory. The cedar mellows and integrates more fully with the other flavors.

At five years, you encounter a cigar that has transformed significantly. The spice recedes almost entirely, replaced by a rich, rounded sweetness and a silky texture that fresh boxes simply cannot match. However, unlike the No. 2 or No. 1, the No. 4 does not benefit much from aging beyond seven to eight years. Its smaller format means it reaches peak maturity faster, and holding it too long can result in a flat, lifeless smoke.

My recommendation: buy two boxes. Smoke one now and cellar the other for three years. You will get to enjoy the cigar at two distinct stages of its life, and both are genuinely worth experiencing.

Pairing Suggestions

The No. 4’s medium body and cocoa-forward profile make it one of the most versatile Cuban cigars for pairing. My top recommendations from years of experimentation:

• Espresso or cortado: The classic pairing. Coffee amplifies the cocoa and adds a bitter counterpoint to the cream. A cortado is ideal because the small amount of milk mirrors the cigar’s creamy texture.
• Aged rum (Havana Club 7 Anejo or similar): The caramel and vanilla in a well-aged rum complement the cedar and sweetness of the No. 4 without overpowering it.
• Single malt Scotch (Speyside): A honeyed, lightly sherried Scotch like Balvenie 12 DoubleWood pairs beautifully. Avoid peated whiskies, which will steamroll the cigar’s subtlety.
• Sparkling water with lemon: Do not underestimate this pairing. The carbonation cleanses the palate between draws, and the lemon cuts through any buildup of richness, letting you taste each draw as if it were the first.

Who Is This Cigar For?

The Montecristo No. 4 is for everyone, and I do not say that lightly. It is the cigar I hand to a friend who has never smoked a Cuban, and it is the cigar I reach for on a Tuesday evening when I have 30 minutes before dinner. It punches well above its price point, delivers consistent quality, and does not demand a special occasion to justify lighting one up.

For the beginner, it is approachable without being boring. For the experienced smoker, it is a reminder that complexity does not require strength, and that a perfectly executed medium-bodied cigar is among the hardest things to achieve in tobacco blending. For the collector, it is a reliable aging candidate that does not require a decade of patience to show its potential.

Explore the full Montecristo collection or browse our guide to Cuban cigar brands to find your next smoke.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Montecristo No. 4 a good cigar for beginners?

Yes, the Montecristo No. 4 is widely regarded as one of the best introductory Cuban cigars. Its medium body, manageable 30-minute smoking time, and approachable flavor profile of cocoa, cream, and cedar make it accessible without sacrificing the complexity that makes Cuban cigars special. The price per cigar is also reasonable, making it low-risk for someone exploring Habanos for the first time.

How long should I age a Montecristo No. 4 before smoking?

While the No. 4 is perfectly enjoyable fresh, aging it for two to five years at 65% relative humidity will soften the flavors and add depth. The sweet spot for most smokers is around three years, where the cocoa deepens into dark chocolate and the overall texture becomes noticeably silkier. Unlike larger Montecristo formats, the No. 4 reaches peak maturity relatively quickly due to its compact size, so there is little benefit to aging beyond seven or eight years.

What is the difference between the Montecristo No. 4 and No. 2?

The Montecristo No. 2 is a larger torpedo (6 1/8″ x 52) that provides a longer, more complex smoking experience of roughly 60 minutes. It shares the same core Montecristo flavor DNA but delivers greater depth, richer transitions, and a fuller body. The No. 4 (5″ x 42) is a shorter, more focused smoke that excels in flavor concentration per puff. Many aficionados keep both in rotation: the No. 2 for occasions that call for a longer sit-down smoke, and the No. 4 for everyday enjoyment.

Why is the Montecristo No. 4 Cuba’s best-selling cigar?

Three factors drive the No. 4’s dominance. First, the format: at 30 minutes, it fits comfortably into modern schedules without requiring a major time commitment. Second, the flavor balance: its medium body and cocoa-cedar-cream profile appeals to the widest range of palates. Third, the consistency: Montecristo’s quality control on this vitola is among the best in Cuba, meaning smokers can trust that each cigar will deliver a reliable experience. Add competitive pricing to those qualities and you have a cigar that satisfies both casual smokers and devoted aficionados.