First up, the Monte #2's from 04 are choice. Make no mistake about it. But last night, I discovered it is time to bid them adieu for a year or two. Even knowing that in a box, there are on and off stix, I am going to assume that February boxings are heading into a bad patch. Good smoke, but a shadow of the first 8-9 I burned, and muddled flavors. It's a shame, but I am a hoarder, anyway, so I will see them in a year or so.

Inconsistent is right. I had a 10 box from Jun 04 that I received in July. They were fabulous. I have an AUG 04 box that are either really powerful with no flavor, or really flavorfull with no power. Go figure. They don't appear to be sick yet, just inconsistent.

I've got a box from jul and aug 04 one box is brown and one is black but both are smoking great.

Jun 04 was a nice medium to light brown. Probably my best Habanos to date.

The Aug box were darker, almost Maduro. Not nearly as good as the Jun box.

El Prez, what was your Aug code? mine was ECA.

The Aug box was DTF. I wish they were all LLN. (Most of my Seleccion boxes came from LLN)

Yep, JUL was LLN also just got a box of H.UPMAN #2s from OCT 02 LLN they are very dark as well. and quit tasty.