Match M22 brought together two full-strength Nicaraguan cigars seeking their first Group D victory. Foundation Olmec entered after a narrow loss to Davidoff Millennium. Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua also arrived at 0-1 after falling to Davidoff in Match M20.
The cigars shared Nicaraguan production and substantial Toro formats, but built their character differently. Olmec used a 6 x 52 format with Mexican San Andres Maduro, Jalapa binder and fillers from Esteli and Jalapa. Montecristo used an all-Nicaraguan, soft box-pressed 6 x 54 Toro produced by A.J. Fernandez.
Construction, draw, burn and balance all tied. Olmec created the only separation by scoring 5.0 in flavor complexity and finish against Montecristo's 4.5 in each. Two half-point advantages produced a clean 28.5 to 27.5 victory.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Foundation Olmec | Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Foundation | Montecristo |
| Origin | Nicaragua | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Mexican San Andres Maduro | Nicaraguan |
| Binder | Jalapa, Nicaragua | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Esteli and Jalapa, Nicaragua | Nicaraguan |
| Factory | A.J. Fernandez Cigars, Nicaragua | Produced by A.J. Fernandez in Nicaragua |
| Vitola | Toro, 6 x 52 | Toro, 6 x 54, soft box-pressed |
| Strength | Full | Full |
| Ashology score | 28.5/30 - Elite | 27.5/30 - Superior |
| M22 result | Winner | Loss |
Olmec opened with cocoa, earth, molasses and black pepper. Dark chocolate and mineral earth formed a rich first third. Espresso, leather, dark sweetness and roasted nuts added depth before earth, coffee and pepper intensified around a persistent cocoa core.
Montecristo began with cedar, cocoa, coffee and mild pepper. Toasted cedar, espresso, earth and dark cocoa led the opening. Leather, roasted almond, cinnamon and restrained sweetness developed in the middle, followed by pepper, dark-roast coffee and oak into a rich, woody finish.
Both cigars delivered cocoa, earth, espresso, leather, roasted nuts, coffee and pepper. Montecristo emphasized toasted cedar, cinnamon and oak within a firm structure. Olmec added molasses, mineral earth and darker sweetness, then carried those flavors through a longer and more distinctive conclusion.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Four categories could not separate the cigars. Construction tied 5.0 to 5.0, while draw, burn and balance each finished 4.5 to 4.5. Both delivered excellent craftsmanship, comfortable airflow, dependable combustion and control appropriate for full-bodied blends.
Olmec won two categories; Montecristo won none; four categories tied.
Flavor complexity provided the first half-point. Olmec's dark chocolate, molasses, mineral earth, leather, roasted nuts and evolving sweetness earned 5.0. Montecristo's cedar, espresso, cocoa, cinnamon and oak created a strong progression, but stopped at 4.5.
Finish supplied the second half-point. Olmec's long, earthy and slightly sweet close scored 5.0, while Montecristo's rich, woody, medium-to-long finish earned 4.5. With every technical category tied, those two flavor advantages became the complete one-point margin.
Official Result: Foundation Olmec Wins Match M22
Foundation Olmec defeated Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua and improved to 1-1 in Group D. The victory restored Olmec after its opening loss and established the complexity and finishing power that would carry it into an advancement position.
Montecristo fell to 0-2 before defeating Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real in its final group match. That win produced a 1-2 record and third place, leaving the Superior 27.5 cigar outside the Top 16.
Olmec next beat Romeo y Julieta to finish 2-1 and take second place behind Davidoff. Its tournament ended at 2-2 after a Top 16 loss to My Father Cigars Blue Label, completing a strong run as one of the field's final 16 cigars.
Final Ashology Verdict
Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua earned a Superior 27.5 through perfect construction and steady 4.5 performance everywhere else. Its all-Nicaraguan blend was bold, balanced and technically sound, but it lacked a category advantage in this matchup.
Foundation Olmec earned an Elite 28.5 by matching Montecristo technically and surpassing it in the two categories most responsible for memorability. Perfect complexity and finish turned a closely matched Nicaraguan contest into a decisive one-point win.
M22 proved that a cigar can win without a construction or combustion edge. Olmec tied four categories, then separated itself through deeper development and a longer close. Those two precise advantages revived its Group D campaign and moved it toward the Top 16.
Tasting notes reflect the cigars and vitolas evaluated during the 2026 competition. Flavor, strength and burn performance may vary based on storage, age, vitola and individual palate. Tobacco products are intended only for adults of legal smoking age.