Gilbert de Montsalvat: A flop or a masterpiece? 16 years of ageing put to the test!

I have a real treat in store. A 16-year-old Gilbert de Montsalvat cigar – who would have thought it would still have any flavour at all? This sort of ageing is usually more commonly associated with Cuban cigars. This Gilbert de Montsalvat cigar dates from the brand’s early days – it is the original band from the first cigar in the third series. The brand itself was launched on 1 April 2008.

Observed during the tasting

• Smoke pattern: Dense; it dissolves slowly and becomes more compact in the final third.
• Balance: Bitterness, acidity and umami remain perfectly balanced.
• Development: A gentle start with a very subtle spiciness; more complex and full-bodied in the second half.
• Strength: 2/5 → 3/5.
• Design: Neatly rolled, with just the right amount of drag.
• Burn-up: Slow and steady; compact ash right to the end.
• Ageing potential: Still stable after 16 years; further development is likely to take place gradually.

16 years of ageing: The yellowed cellophane encased the original blend of the first Gilbert de Montsalvat cigar from the 3rd series.

At a glance

• Brand: Gilbert de Montsalvat
• Cigar: The brand’s first cigar, an original blend from the 3rd series
• Vitola (format): Corona; exact length and diameter not documented
• Origin: Nicaragua
• Cover sheet: Ecuador (Connecticut Shade)
• Cover: Nicaragua (Condega), tobacco from the company’s own farm
• Insert: Nicaragua (Condega), tobacco from the company’s own farm / Panama (Chiriquí)
• Age of tobacco: The Original Blend was made using tobacco that had been aged for several years
• Tasting on: 17.08.2026
• Estimated age: Ages 16–17, 3rd series of the original comic (launch date: 1 April 2008)
• Strength: 2/5 → 3/5
• Available: sold out

Smoke pattern – How does the smoke behave?

Right from the very first puffs, I notice how dense the smoke is. Thick smoke rises in front of me and dissipates only slowly. I give the cigar time and watch the smoke drift through the room. In the final third, the texture changes noticeably: the smoke becomes noticeably denser.

At the start, the 16-year-old Gilbert de Montsalvat exhibits a controlled smoke flow and a wrapper that remains supple.

Why does the cigar behave like this?

The density of cigar smoke and the way it behaves in a room can, in general, be influenced by factors such as the density of the tobacco, the moisture content of the tobacco, the specific rolling technique and the rhythm of the draw.

Balance – How harmonious is the blend?

During the tasting, I detect an excellent balance between bitter and sour flavours. A subtle spiciness accompanies the umami notes, with the umami impression lingering for a long time on the finish. On the retronasal passage, I find there is a great deal of balance – spicy and characterised by a full tobacco aroma.

During the tasting, the blend remains well-balanced; the strength gradually increases from 2/5 to 3/5.

Why does the cigar behave like this?

The balance of flavours and the interplay of basic taste sensations such as bitter, sour or umami are generally determined by the selected tobacco varieties, the position of the leaves on the tobacco plant, the degree of fermentation and the storage conditions.

Invitation from Zigarren.Zone

Development – Is the cigar changing?

The cigar gets off to a surprisingly „deep“ start, with an immediately noticeable balance. In the first half, the smoking experience is full-bodied and consistent, with a consistently balanced retronasal profile. In the second half, the balance becomes more prominent; to me, the flavour becomes noticeably more complex and even fuller-bodied.

The slow, even burn and the compact ash are indicative of a clean roll and the right level of moisture in the tobacco.

Why does the cigar behave like this?

Changes in the way smoke flows can generally be caused by the continuous advance of the burning zone, the heating of the tobacco mass, the accumulation of condensates, and the individual smoking rhythm.

Strength – How does strength develop?

In the first half, I’d rate the strength as 2/5. As the second half progresses, the cigar gains strength moderately, reaching a strength of 3/5.

Why does the cigar behave like this?

The perceived strength of a cigar is influenced by the nicotine content of the tobacco leaves used and their distribution within the wrapper. The moisture content and burning temperature can also affect how it is perceived.

Construction and burn – How clean is the cigar?

I can see that this is a neatly rolled cigar with just the right amount of draw resistance. It burns evenly and slowly. I can occasionally take a break from smoking it – taking just one puff per minute or even every two minutes – without the ember going out. The ash remains compact right to the end.

As the cigar burns on, the dense smoke becomes more compact, whilst the cigar retains its structural balance.

Why does the cigar behave like this?

Smoking characteristics, burn rate and ash strength generally depend on the craftsmanship of the rolling, the evenness of the filling, the airflow patterns and the moisture content. W

The effects of fermentation and ageing

My notes indicate an age of 16–17 years. Over the course of these 16 years, the tobacco has been well stored: it is still moist and has not rotted. This is testament to the excellent selection of tobacco.

After 16 years, the Original Blend continues to demonstrate a robust construction, consistent tobacco moisture levels and a controlled burn.

Why does the cigar behave like this?

Fermentation takes place before the tobacco is rolled and breaks down proteins and reduces the sharpness. During the years of ageing whilst the finished cigar is in its rolled state, slow chemical degradation and oxidation processes take place, which can alter the flavour compounds.

Conclusion

For me, this tasting of a 16-year-old Gilbert de Montsalvat A real treat. This cigar produced a dense smoke, which became more compact in the final third, and delighted with an excellent balance between bitterness, acidity and umami. Consistent and full-bodied in the first half, the cigar gained in complexity and strength in the second half (from 2/5 to 3/5). The excellent selection of tobaccos kept the cigar moist and intact throughout its long burn. A neatly rolled piece of craftsmanship with a long umami finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Further reading

• Cigar Blends – What Really Makes a Great Blend

• Why consistency is a greater achievement in cigars than constant change

Sources and background information

This article is based on my tasting of the cigar described, drawing on my own experience as a cigar connoisseur since 1996, as well as on specialist literature on tobacco, fermentation, ageing and the physical processes that occur during smoking. In addition, recent scientific publications on tobacco fermentation and on heat and mass transfer in tobacco have been taken into account.

• Hu, W. et al. (2022): Study on the chemical compositions and microbial communities of cigar tobacco leaves fermented with an exogenous additive. Scientific Reports. → Fermentation, chemical changes and microbial processes in cigar tobacco.  
• (2023) Study on the correlation between the dominant microflora and the main flavour compounds in the fermentation process of cigar tobacco leaves → Investigates the relationships between dominant microorganisms and key chemical indicators.

Photos

• Vasilij Ratej

Note regarding the photos: All the photos were taken by me and edited in Affinity Photo. To achieve the final cinematic look, I also carried out digital colour grading with the aid of AI. The subject, composition and image content remained unchanged.