Martinez Don Antonio Escogido Numero 5

Purchased: 5-pack Numero 5 (6 X 50)
Price: $12.00
Store: Martinez Hand-Rolled Cigars
Buy Again: Yes
Box Worthy: Yes, but I’ll continue to buy 5-packs
Experience Rating: 93

I don’t smoke many connie wrapped cigars because I prefer the deeper, almost brooding flavors of maduros or the natural sweetness of broadleaf wrappers. But there are exceptions that will always be part of my rotation such as the Montecristo White Label Especial No. 3, and this gorgeous offering from Martinez.

The Don Antonio line is one of the super-premium sticks Martinez makes. And while I normally like the maduro, I like to smoke the connie as well. Admittedly though, I have to be in the mood. But I was in the mood for a bright connie this afternoon, so I picked this one out of my humidor.

This cigar is all about nuance, even more so than the maduro. Like the Monte White, it’s medium- at best. But it’s creamy and complex with a shifting palate of flavors that include caramel, vanilla, grass, peppermint, malt, wintergreen, sweet cream, white pepper, cayenne, toast, mushrooms, cedar, moss, and roses. To break this stick down into thirds would be a disservice. From the get-go, this thing transitions. But here’s the thing, being a milder cigar, it would be easy to miss those transitions.

This is why I’d never give one of these to a newbie. It’s a cigar for the afficionado who will take the time to appreciate what it has on offer. A newbie would certainly enjoy this stick, but this is one I’d give to someone with a developed palate who would appreciate its bounty of flavors and not blow through it.

And here’s an interesting take. My wife just came home from a trip and brought me back a bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs! I’ve been eating a few while taking puffs on my cigar. What accompaniment! The rich, creamy Cadbury chocolate brings out coffee notes of all things! But I also got a hint of Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies! Holy shit! This tells me one thing: This cigar will go well with some nicely aged añejo rum, like a Ron Centenario 25. Next time I buy a bottle, I will be sure to smoke this with it.

Back to the cigar… In a way, this cigar is a bit enigmatic. On the surface, it smokes like a typical Connie, bright, light, a little creamy. But the underlying blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan filler with a Sumatran binder provide a depth that forces you to slow down and appreciate the bounty of flavors it has on offer. Funny, when I start waxing poetically like this it’s usually because I’m smoking something special. And believe me, this is a special cigar!