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We all appreciate the sacrifices you're making for the cause!  ;)

So I'm nubbing the real Montecristo GR. It has an interesting taste almost like a Cohiba, not so much in terms of profile, but in terms of refinement, if that makes sense

It's a really nice cigar. I don't think I'd pay $70 for it, but it's definitely a good experience, despite being the 3rd cigar in so many hours. Thanks, Gibbleguts

How much is there in common with the other sample in terms of profile?  I suspect, as you said, that the gifted cigars were an entirely different beast than the sold samples.

Conclusions....

The "gift" TL Montecristo GR was indeed a Cuban Montecristo, but a recent production, non-vintage tobacco Monte #2, not a GR

Some of TLs Monte GRs are "real" in that they are $8 Monte #2, some are obvious fakes of unknown origin. An indicator MAY be the toothy, rough, dark wrapper and bulbous head compared to a real #2

The real Monte GR was noticeably different, more refined, and more enjoyable right from the first few puffs

Dan, yeah, I had quite the nic buzz earlier.

Oh well, I wanted to get that known real Montecristo GR smoked before the Rapture came ;)

BTW, Gibbleguts, I took some nice hires pictures of the packaging and Montecristo GRs before I defiled them. I'll post them to Vitolas, and give you the link.

Thanks for doing this Moki. I know you were hesitant to smoke one but I really think that people needed to here that there is more to this cigar then just a second band. That they should be able to taste that it is different. Now they can be a little more confident when they do come out that they are or aren't getting the real thing. As for the price tag I doubt they will be $70 a stick at all vendors. Some had the CGR's for that price and I really doubt the Monte will carry the same premium. In Havana boxes of the CGR's were $795 so I am hoping the monte's will go for $600 ish. Some of the online retailers should have them for $850ish will be my guess. Is any cigar really worth $70?  I don't think there really is a cigar that good to justify that kinda pricing but it somehow doesn't stop me from occasionally paying those prices. Big thing here is if we wait them to be released it is way easier to spot the fakes. Very few cigars that can be 100% sure are real are floating around. Glad it was a good experience for you. And again thanks for doing this.

vis-a-vis [url=http://www.onlinehumidor.com/forum/index.php?topic=9459.0]this thread,[/url] the TL "Montecristo GR" I smoked is the 3rd cigar from the left, and the real Montecristo GR I smoked is the 1st from the left here:

[img]http://people.ambrosiasw.com/~andrew/cigars/tl_monte_grs1.jpg[/img]

The TL "Montecristo GRs" that I strong suspect will be entirely fake of unknown origin is the 4th from the left.

Pics, as promised:

TL "Montecristo GR":

[img]http://people.ambrosiasw.com/~andrew/cigars/tl_cigars_smoked5.jpg[/img]

Real Montecristo GR:

[img]http://people.ambrosiasw.com/~andrew/cigars/tl_cigars_smoked6.jpg[/img]

HAHA at least he has a ridding John Deere to do all this mowing and smoking on. Thanks for the reviews

[url=http://www.vitolas.net/displayimage.php?pos=-1274] Montecristo Grand Reserva 2011 Festival cigars[/url] from Gibbleguts.  Links to the hires pictures are at the bottom of the page.