Three new shapes were added then – the Especial No. 1, Especial No. 2 and Joyitas – and are still in the line today. Two more shapes, the Montecristo “A” and “B” were introduced in 1971.

The “A” is widely known although produced in very small quantities thanks to its enormous size: 9 1/4 inches long by 47 ring gauge. The “B” was much smaller at 5 3/8 inches and 42 ring and quite similar to the No. 3 (5 1/2 x 42). It was discontinued later in the 1970s and hasn’t been heard from since.

Until now.

Habanos has introduced a special edition of the Montecristo “B” in a limited-edition humidor similar to that offered for that size in the 1970s. It’s a commemorative item to salute the centennial of the birth of the famed Cuban musician Compay Segundo, who was born on November 18, 1907.

Segundo, in addition to being a celebrated musician, was also a Montecristo devotee. Habanos produced a special run of Montecristo cigars in tribute to his 95th birth in 2002 with Segundo’s picture on the band; he died in 2003.

The old-style humidor includes 50 Montecristo B cigars and is available – as are many of Cuba’s specialty products now – only in the Casa del Habano stores worldwide.

Politics: smoker supporting smoker:
Not that it will shake the political landscape that much, but former Boston Red Sox star pitcher turned cigar promoter Luis Tiant will be appearing in support of New Mexico governor Bill Richardson in New Hampshire this weekend, according to the Boston Globe.

According to the story, “Richardson, New Mexico's governor and a Tufts grad, said he was proud to have a competitor like Tiant on his team. ‘Luis and I share an affinity for Red Sox baseball and maybe the occasional cigar,’ Richardson said in a news release today.”

Tiant, of course, is no occasional cigar smoker. Born in Cuba, he now represents the El Tiante 23 Series, a Nicaraguan-made line distributed primarily in the Northeast that pictures Tiant and his unique, back-to-the-batter delivery that made him an instantly-recognizable pitcher during 19 major-league seasons from 1964-82.
~ Rich Perelman

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