Suspect Montecristo Edmondos

[Williamos]

Hi everyone,

I received a box of OBM AGO15 Montecristo Edmondos 25s from a reputable source I've delt with before (needless to say not our host...)  I smell a rat.  The box code checks out on the Habanos website but there's just something fishy about this box.  Several of the cigars are quadruple capped (see pics) which I haven't seen before and about half of the bands are just not right - sloppily joined, glue on the surface.  The box came wrapped in double shrink wrapped plastic.  The Habanos seals were broken.  But the main thing that got me looking for other signs was in the smoking.  I've smoked plenty of these as singles and from boxes and for such a young cigar I'd expect plenty of "mongrel" but I have never smoked anything milder or less flavoursome.  It was like bloody dishwater.  

Thoughts?

[MC4]

Looks good to me.

[ChefBoyRG54]

^yup

[dicko]

Ive seen quadruple caps before. Could be as simple as the roller felt it needed an extra cap or they just simply stuffed up.
Ive also had young cigars with that dishwater taste. In particular a box of young epi 2's a while back but they came good after 6 months. Soapy/solvent/ammonia tastes come up from time to time in reviews of young cigars.

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[saintsmokealot]

I don't see a problem with the roll but the name may be a problem.

[Smallclub]

58 minutes ago, Williamos said:

I can't see a problem of legitimacy here. You just got a poor box of one of the poorest habanos IMO. All the Edmundos I have tried were a diluted version of the Montecristo liga, it's the cigar that initiated  the trend of huge "ring gauge volado roll".

 

 

[Cubatabaco]

 

Well said! It is the very same sentiment I have for these cigars. I have never had one that I've enjoyed.

[Williamos]

You're right: Edmundos!!


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[zeedubbya]

I've got some quadruple capped something or rather here lately.  I'll have to go back and find a picture of one for you. I don't think that's overly unusual.  

I share same sentiment as a lot of people on Edmundos.  Blah cigar at best.  Needs age to come up in Strength it seems and even when they do they're still a bit disappointing--just my opinion.  Petite Edmundo is a whole different animal--a very good smoke fresh.  

[SCgarman]

See if you can trade the box away for something else that might be better. A nice box of Monte 4's is just as good as anything. With classic Monte flavors.

[OZCUBAN]

Hi Williamos 

They seem ok to me sometimes you just get ones like that  I should not be to concerned let them rest for a while and see how the flavour is then 

its also nice to see another Perth guy on the the forum you should come along to one of our many Herfs just keep an eye on the Aussie forum page next one is on the 12th @the Garden Bar in Leederville 

cheers 

[irratebass]

Well now you all have me dreading my purchase of these.....actually naw, I'm good they are new to me, so I have no taste reference.

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[LandCruiser]

Look and sound completely legit to me, probably just need some time. 

[Guest blrrobinson21]

1 hour ago, irratebass said:

Well now you all have me dreading my purchase of these.....actually naw, I'm good they are new to me, so I have no taste reference.

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Same here lol, I ordered a box on a recent 24:24 and haven't even got them yet.  Kinda bummed at all the negative comments but you never know each pallet is different.

[SCgarman]

2 hours ago, LandCruiser said:

Look and sound completely legit to me, probably just need some time. 

Unfortunately no amount of time will improve a bland flavorless cigar. Big ring cigars contain too much filler, which can lead to blandness.

If you want flavor intensity, small ring gauges rule!

[TomF]

I don't understand all the hating on the Edmundos. I got a box of MUL DEC 14 seconds from our host a while back and they have proved to be one of my favorite Monte vitolas. Rich, smooth, flavorful....coffee and cream. Love them. Only 15 left in the box. Maybe they aren't consistently good, but inconsistency seems to be a characteristic of the Monte marca in general. Don't don't despair, give them some time down.

And I don't see anything wrong with the looks of the ones you got by the way...

[TheMonk]

Have you done the usual checks? Moon cutout on the cedar sheet, stamped lettering at the back of the box, etc? In terms of flavour, and while Edmundos have, IMO, been miles ahead of the DEs, some inconsistency is always to be expected.

[Orion21]

No offense to the OP because I was where you are now back in the day!

With all due respect, if this the the worst box of Cuban cigars you have ever purchased count yourself lucky.  The stuff that comes out of Cuba sometimes makes me shake my head.  Seriously, sometimes you just get a bunk box.  But please remember, Cuban cigars are grouped by color.  Every single cigar could be rolled by a different roller on different days.  I have never had a box of Cubans that were 100% consistent from 1-25.  If you use trusted sources like Rob you have nothing to worry about.  Flavorless cigars are another thing!

 

[PigFish]

Frankly, if you seriously scrutinize a box of Cuban cigars, there are arguments that just about every box sold can be questioned as 'illegitimate.' This is all Tabacubas' fault, as such it becomes a growing pain for the neophyte in his course of understanding the Cuban cigar.

I posted that I did not like a cigar in a review here this last year, and some knot-head suggested it was fake because the band ends did not line up...! Really!!!

Smoking is the most definitive test I know. And with spotty quality even smoking cannot always tell you for sure, as some cigars can be that bad!

My last comment is that I am glad that these threads don't turn into vendor witch hunts as they often did in days of old... (not on this forum).

-Piggy

 

[SCgarman]

12 minutes ago, PigFish said:

Frankly, if you seriously scrutinize a box of Cuban cigars, there are arguments that just about every box sold can be questioned as 'illegitimate.' This is all Tabacubas' fault, as such it becomes a growing pain for the neophyte in his course of understanding the Cuban cigar.

I posted that I did not like a cigar in a review here this last year, and some knot-head suggested it was fake because the band ends did not line up...! Really!!!

Smoking is the most definitive test I know. And with spotty quality even smoking cannot always tell you for sure, as some cigars can be that bad!

My last comment is that I am glad that these threads don't turn into vendor witch hunts as they often did in days of old... (not on this forum).

-Piggy

 

Agree. Too many folks have been quick to accuse a legitimate vendor as selling fakes simply because the buyer is inexperienced to see the "imperfections" in Cuban cigars and their packaging.

[Williamos]

Thanks everyone.

Like I wrote originally, the box checked out on the Habanos website. Date stamp, cedar inserts, overall cigar appearance, pack and roll - they all look great. And the vendor will stand by the box too so I'm not accusing them of slight of hand.

I was just working backwards from smoking one. It was like thin air. Imagine pouring a single malt whisky that tasted like water and you get the picture. I've had great cigars and bad cigars but never one as non descript from start to finish that made me think "this can't be real."

I'll lay them down for a year and see if there's any improvement.

Thanks for the great advice everyone. I appreciate it.


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[...]

It happens... I was gifted a Cohiba maduro magicos a few years back and I guess I had a similar experience. Draw was ok, burn was fair but I could barely get any smoke and less flavor out of it. Smoke long enough and you may end up seeing it all ?

[TheGipper]

5 hours ago, Williamos said:

I was just working backwards from smoking one.

You only smoked one?

[Dude]

On Wednesday, November 02, 2016 at 10:04 AM, blrrobinson21 said:

Same here lol, I ordered a box on a recent 24:24 and haven't even got them yet.  Kinda bummed at all the negative comments but you never know each pallet is different.

Let me know if your box from a recent 24:24, like mine, is SOM, DIC 15. I just received mine this week and smoked one right off the truck. Sorry folks but it was outstanding :-)

[Dude]

On Wednesday, November 02, 2016 at 11:41 AM, NYgarman said:

Unfortunately no amount of time will improve a bland flavorless cigar. Big ring cigars contain too much filler, which can lead to blandness.

If you want flavor intensity, small ring gauges rule!

I have to disagree on both of these statements. It all depends.