Montecristo Edmundo '05 (MRW2)

[Notsocleaver]

I found this single Edmundo rolling around my singles humidor. I know its from an 05 box, but the code is long gone. My recollection of the box was that the construction was brilliant, but the cigars themselves tasted mediocre. Now, 15 years later I'm gonna burn the last one and see if it will change my opinion. To be honest, Montecristo is a marca that never really clicked for me, save for the monte 5, so this might be an uphill battle for the good Edmundo.

This cigar has a nice wrapper. The cold draw upon clipping the cap is perfect and has a bit of a floral note. Upon lighting there are some notes of hazelnut and more of that floral but the overwhelming flavor is just that straight pleasantly sour twang note that is unique to Cuban cigars. After 15 years, this has become a very mild cigar, not a hint of nicotine.

As it progresses the sour notes become less predominate at the mid point. The nutty flavors play up more, along with some oak and vanilla notes like you might find in the background of a bourbon. Burn stays pretty good throughout.

As the cigar concludes I have to say that while this cigar was unmistakably Cuban, nothing besides the band would make me think Montecristo. This was a smooth, aged Cuban cigar that had unfortunately lost it's distinctiveness. I'll give it a 83 today, and say that it is certainly past it's prime.