Anyone Smoked an ERDM Tainos RE lately?

[MrBirdman]

I have these somewhere deep in the humi, and I've been holding off smoking them because I like my ERDM with at least 3-5 years of age. I'm considering cracking a box to check their progress. Anyone tried one within the past few months, and if so how are they progressing? 

[Chibearsv]

Yep, had one last week or so and posted it up on the daily smoke.  It's the 2nd from a 2019 box.  The first was mostly musty and vegetal.  This one still had some mustiness, but now has a twangy bite to it and also a bit of sweetness.  I compared it to my Kon Tikis which are a little older.  Even though the Tainos isn't as smooth as the Kon Tikis yet, it's coming along nicely.  That twang will make it hard to keep my mitts off.  

[Hammer Smokin']

I smoked the one from the 2019 Christmas sampler a little while back. 

I got some sweetness and honey....to be honest, somewhat similar to Cohiba flavours. 

I haven't opened either of my two boxes though. Trying to save them for at least 3 years before starting on them. 

[JohnS]

@MrBirdman, yes indeed I grabbed one of my humidor six weeks ago. My notes are below...

The 2018 Asia-Pacific Regional Edition release from Taiwan (hence the band labelled 'Exclusivo Formosa') is an obvious and wondrous gift to cigar enthusiasts who pine for a time when Cuban cigars were 'less' in girth and 'more' in length. Note that I referred to this cigar as a 2018 release. It didn't actually hit the market until mid-2019. It also represents Taiwan's first Regional cigar. Wow...what a cigar to release first up!

The original El Rey del Mundo Tainos had the same dimensions; a Churchill-sized cigar at 47 ring gauge x 178 mm (or 7 inches) in length. Unfortunately, it was discontinued in 2006, as were many other Churchill (and Lonsdale) cigars in the meantime. In regular production we have only three left...the iconic Romeo y Julieta Churchills, the Cohiba Esplendidos and the seasonal H.Upmann Sir Winston. That's why I'm so glad that Pacific Cigar Company, the Habanos Regional distributor for the Asia-Pacific market, brought out a regional release in this vitola.

Yes, I'm especially enamored that Pacific Cigar Company took a huge risk in re-releasing this iconic cigar. More so, I'm glad I have a box left, but I consider that I may lament that I did not acquire more in the future! After all, I believe the availability of the ErdM Regional Edition Tainos is about 'saturated', so-to-speak or done and the similarly risky, but successful, Punch 8-9-8 Regional Edition is nearing the end of its 'time' until it is no longer around.

It's been six weeks since I last visited this cigar, and twelve months prior to that for the one before. The delay in re-visiting this cigar for twelve months was due to the fact that I've felt that some ERdM Tainos' I had in the first half of 2020 were slightly closed in their flavours. Six weeks ago, I felt that the cigar had opened up much more with those trademark El Rey del Mundo candied almond nut, citrus, cake, shortbread and honey flavours that were stupendous from beginning to end over two hours and twenty minutes of smoking time.

Today, this ERdM Tainos had candied almond, citrus cake and honey flavours and was a touch lighter on the shortbread. Again, it was an easy and thoroughly enjoyable ride over two hours. In other words, an exemplary smoke.

A year ago I asked the question whether the El Rey del Mundo Tainos is approachable when young more often than not? The answer, for me at that time, was yes it can be, but only around half the time. The other times made me lament not giving the cigar more time. Fast forward twelve months (or so) and I'm glad I was willing to wait longer until I had my next one, six weeks ago. With this ERdM Tainos smoking so well today, I can only envisage these getting even better with more downtime!

[dt2]

10 hours ago, Hammer Smokin' said:

I smoked the one from the 2019 Christmas sampler a little while back. 

I got some sweetness and honey....to be honest, somewhat similar to Cohiba flavours. 

I haven't opened either of my two boxes though. Trying to save them for at least 3 years before starting on them. 

I had a very similar experience with the single Tanios that I’ve smoked - it was reminiscent of a great Cohiba. Regardless of any Cohiba comparison, the Tanios was a fantastic and exceptional cigar in its own right, and easily one of the best cigars I’ve smoked in 2021. 

It was Clearance LOS Feb 20, received in Feb 21. I smoked it in early May 2021. Had some issues with frequent relights being needed, and although that usually frustrates me it didn’t take away from this  experience at all. In fact, as soon as I saw Tanios come up again in May I bought two more boxes. All boxes are now at the back of storage, and I’m looking forward to revisiting in ‘23!