Monsdales – Mandrake Cucumber and Mint Gin - El Dorado 15-Year-Old Rum

When talking Cuban cigar luminaries, names do not come much bigger than Don Alejandro Robaina and Enrique Mons. Sadly, neither are still with us. 

I had the pleasure of meeting Robaina twice, the first time organised by Rob on our first adventure to the Island when we spent time with him and his family at the farm. Wonderful experience. The second was briefer, at a launch of some of his cigars in Havana. 

Enrique Mons, I never met. His cigars, of course, have a slightly different aura to them than the “legit” Vegas Robaina. Word of mouth? Not what you know but who? Under the table rumours? It always reminds me of ‘Seinfeld’. I can see cigar lovers lined up at the one place that sold these famous smokes, stepping up with their order, praying that it won’t be ‘no cigar for you’! 

Quite a few years back (sadly not long after he passed), one of our great Cuban friends who had known the man himself and was heavily involved, took me out to the “source”, Club Habana, once the Biltmore Yacht and Country Club, and we picked up a bundle. Mind you, when we first arrived, we were assured that no such thing was ever possible. It was only when someone more senior arrived, and recognised my friend, that we got the tick. And a bundle of joy. From memory, five bucks a stick. 

It is, of course, a slightly difficult decision to use one for Kenfessions, because it is simply impossible for many to get hold of one. I assure you that I did think about it. In the end, no one is forced to read it so if that upsets you, skip a week. 

I thought it was worth trying to find out some background. 

Enrique Mons was born in 1942 in Pinar del Rio, part of a tobacco-farming family. He passed away in 2014 at the age of 71. He originally followed the family as a tobacco farmer but rose to become a trusted ally of Fidel Castro and was in charge of quality control at Cubatabaco for many years, as well as a retailer and a man renowned for his knowledge and palate. He received Castro’s personal approval to open Cuba’s first La Casa del Habano in 1989. His cigars were usually rolled by the legendary Jorge Lopez. 

After leaving the family farm in 1959, he became a roller in Havana. Later, Fidel appointed him to his role at Cubatabaco in 1971 and he held the position for the next 18 years. 

During his time at Club Habana, he created the famous ‘Monsdale’, so highly desired by cigar lovers. In doing so, he used the simplest of criteria – he designed it to suit himself and based it on the time he liked to spend smoking a stick. He liked the Montecristo No 1, but wanted something a little longer and fatter. It is claimed that the tobacco is aged for an extra three years above the norm. The size is technically a Lonsdale (hence, the name, Monsdale’). 

Apparently, a Lonsdale is named after the 5th Earl of Lonsdale, Hugh Cecil Lowther. He also gave his name to the Lonsdale belt in boxing. His “pigtail cap” is immediately recognisable. Just when they first appeared is a matter for debate, but it is at least as early as 2001. 

In his later years, when beset by ill-health, his doctors told him to smoke fewer cigars. He did. But he made sure that they were cigars he created and they were bigger than the traditional Monsdales. 

Mons’ connection to Fidel dates back to April 1961 when, as a teenager, he fought alongside Castro’s revolutionaries to repel the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion. Subsequently, he went on ‘missions’ to Ethiopia and Angola, the latter with Che Guevara, to spread the Cuban revolution in Africa. He, Che and Fidel often shared cigars at the place with which he would become linked, the expropriated Biltmore.

I fired one up one recent afternoon with a good book and some drinks. 

The wrapper was Colorado and the smoke was a complete experience – every now and again, you get a cigar or a wine or a spirit that is just ‘complete’. Nothing sticks out. Nothing is obvious. Just perfectly balanced. This was such a cigar. Mild and balanced. Balance was the key. Construction was as impressive as you’d expect and the draw was fine. Great length, hints of nuts. There was a character which ran throughout that I could only describe as honey profiteroles. Gentle coffee notes weave in and out. For me, an easy 95. 

For drinks, at that stage, I was still in the mixing ‘gin and cigars’ phase. A local (Melbourne) gin, the Mandrake Cucumber and Mint Gin – love the bottle. From the Nosferatu Gin company. I love the cucumber notes of Hendriks but here, they have gone to a new level with that refreshing hint of mint, which is fabulous. But one starts to wonder if we are drinking gin or a pre-bottled cocktail. But I do like the aromatics, even if I am not absolutely certain that they work well with a cigar. A pleasant afternoon near the ocean – it was pretty close to perfect. 

The other ‘drink’ was the 15-Year-Old El Dorado Rum. I've done their 21-Year-old several times already for Kenfessions so I won’t go over all that again. Suffice to say, a cracking rum. Deep and richly flavoured, with honey and caramel notes. Licorice and lanolin. Dense and delicious. Great length. A Christmas pudding of a rum. It was much more suited to the cigar, although it was probably a bit too over the top for it to be a perfect match. Very good, though. 

A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, weaving a great cigar, the history, a top book, delicious drinks. What more could you want?

KBG