The Russians also are great lovers of the weed

The Russians also are great lovers of the weed. A writer says:--
"Everybody smokes, men, women, and children. They smoke Turkish tobacco, rolled in silk paper--seldom
cigars or pipes. These rolls are called parporos. The ladies almost all smoke, but they smoke the small,
delicate sizes of parporos, while the gentlemen smoke larger ones. Always at morning, noon and night, comes
the inevitable box of parporos, and everybody at the table smokes and drinks their coffee at the same time. On
the cars are fixed little cups for cigar ashes in every seat. Ladies frequently take out their part parporos, and
hand them to the gentlemen with a pretty invitation to smoke. Instead of having a smoking car as we do, they
have a car for those who are so 'pokey' as not to smoke."
Throughout the German States the custom of smoking is universal and tobacco enters largely into their list of
expenditures. A writer says of smoking in Austria:--
"We have been rather surprised to find so few persons smoking pipes in Austria. Indeed, a pipe is seldom seen
except among the laboring classes. The most favorite mode of using the weed here is in cigarettes, almost
every gentleman being provided with a silver box, in which they have Turkish tobacco and small slips of
paper, with mucilage on them ready for rolling. They make them as they use them, and are very expert in the
handling of the tobacco. The chewing of tobacco is universally repudiated, being regarded as the height of
vulgarity. The Turkish tobacco is of fine flavor, and commands high prices. It is very much in appearance like
the fine cut chewing tobacco so extensively used at home."
The cigars made by the Austrian Government, which are the only description to be had are very inferior, and
it is not to be wondered that the cigarette is so generally used in preference.
The smoking of cigarettes by the ladies is quite common, especially among the higher classes. In no part ofthe world is smoking so common as in

South America; here all classes and all ages use the weed. Smoking is
encouraged in the family and the children are early taught the custom. A traveler who has observed this
custom more particularly than any other, says of the use of tobacco in Peru:--
"Scarcely in any regions of the world is smoking so common as in Peru. The rich as well as the poor, the old
man as well as the boy, the master as well as the servant, the lady as well as the negroes who wait on her, the
young maiden as well as the mother--all smoke and never cease smoking, except when eating, or sleeping, or
in church. Social distinctions are as numerous and as marked in Peru as anywhere else, and there is the most
exclusive pride of color and of blood. But differences of color and of rank are wholly disregarded when a light
for a cigar is requested, a favor which it is not considered a liberty to ask, and which it would be deemed a
gross act of incivility to refuse. It is chiefly cigarritos which are smoked.
"The cigarrito, as is well known, is tobacco cut fine and dexterously wrapped in moist maize leaves, in paper,
or in straw. Only the laborers on the plantations smoke small clay pipes. Dearer than the cigarritos are the
cigars, which are not inferior to the best Havanna. Everywhere are met the cigarrito-twisters. Cleverly though
they manipulate, cleanliness is not their besetting weakness. But in Peru, and in other parts of South America,
cleanliness is not held in more esteem than in Portugal and Spain."
The Turks have long been noted as among the largest consumers of tobacco as well as using the most
magnificent of smoking implements. The hookah is in all respects the most expensive and elaborate machine
(for so it may be called) used for smoking tobacco. A traveler gives the following graphic description of
smoking among them.

The fine Monte Carlo cigarette

Monte Carlo is a brand of cigarette made by JT International. JT International is a world's third largest International tobacco company, manufacturing Internationally recognized cigarette brands including Camel, Mild Seven, Salem and Winston etc.
Monte Carlo cigarettes are considered to be the French Rivera of cigarettes. They have a smooth savor and a rich, full-bodied taste that appeals to almost any smokers. These cigarettes are the embodiment of magnificence and the symbolism of being capable to live the high life. They may be a little complicated to find in the United States but are well worth the effort it takes to locate this superb brand of cigarettes. Named after the country of Monte Carlo, these cigarettes are meant to bring elegance and style to everyone that smokes them. The smoke is dense enough for the smoker to feel its weight but it is not harsh or abrasive against the smoker’s throat like some other trademarks can be, making smoking the Monte Carlo cigarettes more agreeable for any smoker.
Monte Carlo cigarettes are manufactured and sold by a business named JT International, which is a fairly new company to the tobacco industry. JT International is a product of a merger of two top tobacco companies that happened in 1999 when Japanese Tobacco purchased RJ Reynolds. Japan Tobacco has been manufacturing quality tobacco products since 1898. The headquarters for JT International is in Tokyo, Japan but this particular brand is manufactured mainly in Europe.
This brand features five tastes, which are the Monte Carlo Full Flavor, the Monte Carlo Lights, the Monte Carlo Super Lights, the Monte Carlo Menthol and the Monte Carlo One. Each of these flavors is offered in the Soft Pack, King and Hard Box styles to fit any lifestyle and likeness of every smoker. The cigarettes are famous for their smooth flavor that comes from their top quality and finely chopped tobacco.

The package

The package of Monte Carlo Cigarettes is very graceful in its ease, which only adds to the amazing flavor and smoothness of the cigarettes. The box is a clean, crisp white with a colored band around the middle that contains the Monte Carlo name and logo. There is a smaller blue band underneath the larger one that gives the flavor. The Full Flavor band is red, the Lights are blue, the Super Lights is silver, the Menthol is green and the Monte Carlo One features a white on white color scheme. Each pack also features the royal lion logo that indicates the Monte Carlo Brand, making them easy for everyone to identify not only the cigarettes but also the statement of luxury the lion symbol represents.

The famous Montecristo brand

Montecristo cigars, the most famous of the many famous Havana brands started only in 1935 as a new brand from Menendez, Garcia y Cia., then the owners of the H. Upmann brand. The name is reported to have been inspired by Alexandre Dumas' 1844 novel Le Comte de Monte Cristo. With a strong marketing effort from Alfred Dunhill of London, Montecristo Cigars became the most popular of all Havana exports. There are no machine-made shapes in this range and the strength is medium; in fact, it has become the standard by which all other Havanas are now judged.

History

Distributed widely throughout the world and sold originally by Dunhill New York, the Montecristo brand cigar currently accounts for almost 50% of all Cuban cigars exported each year, making the Montecristo the most popular Havana cigar in the world. The Montecristo was originally branded in 1935 under the name “the H. Upmann Montecristo Selection”.When appointed the British distribution agent, the John Hunter firm shortened the brand’s name to Montecristo. The John Hunter firm also redesigned the brand’s logo to its distinctive red and yellow box with the triangular crossed swords.These delicious, full-flavored cigars are highly recognizable to the pallate due to their unique tobacco blend, and their highly distinctive flavor. The Montecristo brand is also highly popular as the result of it’s exeptionally consistent quality.


The most important cigar model of montecristo:
The Montecristo No.4 Reserva 2007 pays tribute to the Montecristo No. 4; the worlds most popular Havana cigar. Since its launch in 1935 the Cubans have produced the unfathomable amount of over one billion Montecristo No.4 cigars - more than 7500 tons of first class tobacco. Manufactured with tobacco leaves specially selected and carefully aged for three years gives the Montecristo No.4 Reserva 2007 a unique quality which sets them apart from other Montecristo releases. These cigars come packaged in luxury black lacquered cases and are a special release of only 5000 numbered boxes. The 20 double banded cigars look regal in both the Montecristo and Reserva specific ring bands.

This new release from Montecristo is the little brother of the reknown Montecristo Edmundo. The Montecristo Petit Edmundo measures 110mm in length with a ring gauge of 52. The Petit Edmundo is classified as a petit robusto and measures exactly an inch shorter than the Montecristo Edmundo. Hoyo de Monterrey released the Petit Robusto in 2004 which was the first release of this size. This vitola is consistent with the current trend of thicker gauged and shorter Cuban cigars. The concept being a full, complex smoking experience in a shorter amount of time. It guess that’s the way of the world! Partnering the Petit Edmundo for the review was the equally creamy Kilkenny Irish Ale.

In 2003 Habanos S.A. released the Combinacciones Selección Robustos 5s case. This case contains five robustos of the most well known Habanos brands including Montecristo, Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey and Partagas.Montecristo RobustosThe Romeo y Julieta and Montecristo robustos are only available in the Selección Robusto case and are not included as a standard offering. The Selección Robusto case is totally handmade with specially selected leaves from the region of Vuelta Abajo. The robusto vitola (124mm x 50 ring gauge) has been one of the most popular sizes released from Habanos and for the review we’ll look a little closer at the Montecristo Robustos.
Montecristo is by far the most popular Havana brand. With their characteristic Colorado Claro, slightly oily wrappers and delicate aroma this wide range of cigars offers a medium to full flavour spiked with a unique, tangy taste. Whilst the No 2 Torpedo size has many devotees the No 4 Petit Corona is still the largest selling havana cigar by size worldwide.In 2004 the launch of Robusto size "Edmundo" marks the first new cigar in the Montecristo range for 33 years. Rolled in the new H.Upmann factory in Havana the cigar is milder than expected with an excellent draw and very attractive price. Certain to establish itself as a favourite among those who enjoy this brand. See our News section for details of the launch of this new Cigar.
In 2005 we have received the Montecristo "D" - a Limited Edition Lonsdale or 8-9-8 size in unique 3-4-3 packaging containing just 10 cigars. A perfect gift for the Montecristo fan.
In 2006 after five successful releases of Limited Editions (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005), Habanos SA has decided decided this year to repeat one of the most popular vitola in the past Montecristo Robusto. The specially aged, dark wrappers for this year's release are from 2003 crop and each size is offered in a distinctly different presentation from its predecessor.
In 2007 a New Baby has been born Petit Edmundo, a small, fat cigar to appeal to those who require a short but involving smoke.

The Tobacco

Montecristo cigars take a little something from their name: they’re rich, full-flavored, and very distinctive. Montecristos come in six basic sizes (none of which are machine made) with several variations and special editions. While there is a Dominican brand of cigars that goes by the same name, the Dominican brand has no relation to a Cuban Montecristo - Dominican Montecristos are really nothing special. Cuban Montecristos, however, have become the standard by which other Havana cigars are judged.