montecristo edmundo

[Ken Gargett]

i know that there has been some division on the forum over this cigar but i have always been a fan. tried another last night and while it was certainly not the best edmundo i have had, it was still a terrific smoke. have had two or three others of late that have even exceeded this one. had a few re-lit problems which didn't help this one but still richly flavoured with spice, citrus and hints of raisins. quite densely flavoured. from 04. anyone out there still to be convinced?

[Professor Twain]

Montecristo is one of my favorite marcas, and so far the Edmundo is my least favorite Monte. I have smoked most of the way through an August 05 15 pack. They look great, burn well, draw has been easy (maybe even loose) and they have hints of the Monte mocha, coffee, and honey flavors that I enjoy in a Monte. But I find this flavor to be far less intense than my favorite Monte, the Especial #1, and also not as good as the #1, 3, and 4. I also find the 52 ring gauge a bit of a chore to smoke.

My experience is pretty much just with that one box from August 05. I have an October 05 15-pack I have set aside, I plan to let that one age a bit and give them another try.

I want to like them but for the money, I would rather have a box of Especial #1s or two boxes of #4s.

[Tampa1257]

anyone out there still to be convinced?

Yes, I am still in need of a proper example that provides some evidence that this cigar is worth smoking. I echo much of what Professor Twain said. Of all the Montecristo line, this would be the absolute least likely item purchased because it just does not do it for me. I have heard that they are finally coming around, but the flavors are still muted and bland. Just my humble opinion, but this is a very weak attempt by Habanos to bring out another large ring gauge cigar to meet the expected desire of the consumers for a large ring gauge format cigar. They could have used the tobacco in bring out a Montecristo Especial No.3 and had a much better tasting cigar. The Edmundo is a failure in my opinion.

[habanohal]

My last box I ordered, I asked Lisa for late 05. The 04s I have had were nothing short of BLAND

Maybe they changed blend a bit, but my 05s now are about better than Monte #2s.

I was going to give up on the new size till I heard to go for boxes late 05 and younger

[greenpimp]

I got some from the original release, and was extremely disappointed with them. Lacking and kind of insipid.

Tried some again from the middle of 05 and was very impressed. Strong and very flavorful, enough so that I bought another box I'm sitting on.

I agree, though, the ring guage is silly.

[Jimmy2]

I think Edmundo is the largest selling Cuban in Europe today also i think Rob mentioned this a while back.

Also the late 05 and 06 do not taste like the early Edmundo's ( the blend was changed) they are much much stronger with some complex flavor's.

Try a newer box code of the Edmundo's and than make your decision you will be surprised.

[Professor Twain]

» I think Edmundo is the largest selling Cuban in Europe today

Hey Jimmy, Budweiser is the best selling beer in the US but you would be hard pressed to convince me that it is any good!

I would love to give some 06s a try, and will do so at some point, since I am such a big Monte fan. And I do have some October 05s resting.

[MarkM]

» » I think Edmundo is the largest selling Cuban in Europe today

»

» Hey Jimmy, Budweiser is the best selling beer in the US but you would be

» hard pressed to convince me that it is any good!

LOL @ Prof. Twain

I have to agree with Jimmy, the early Edmundos were VERY good, but when they changed the blend they werent half as good as they were. If the 06's are like the original releases I may have to pick a box up.

[gyosa]

very interesting .........

i have 3 untouched boxes dated nov 05... was going to let them rest a while longer , but may have to bust a box open and give them a try.

i've never smoked a bad monte - a BAD monte is still better than a GOOD dominican !

-bk

[BigSlick]

I've smoked two from a DIC 04 box that have been great. A bit young? Yes. I think with a few more years these smokes will begin to be fantastic. Hope I am right, will let you know when the time comes.

[Tampa1257]

» I think Edmundo is the largest selling Cuban in Europe today also i think

» Rob mentioned this a while back.

Frankly who cares that it may be a big seller, that does NOT mean that the cigar is worth a tinkers damn!

»

» Also the late 05 and 06 do not taste like the early Edmundo's ( the blend

» was changed) they are much much stronger with some complex flavor's.

Please provide evidence that the blend has been changed, You have made a Statement as a fact and have provided absolutely no evidence as to when, where, or how the "Blend" has been changed. While it might be your "Opinion", unless you have "Fact" as to a blend change, it is better to make a statement that in your opinion that the blend may have been altered from the original concept of the vitola, but I seriously doubt that Habanos has made any blend change in such a new cigar.

I still think that the Edmundo sucks!

[DrAlejandro]

Im a big fan of monte but have never gotten into the edmundos. Im always excited when I try one, hoping that Ill finally enjoy them but they always seem to lack substance... guess Ill just have to keep trying :-D :-D

[Jimmy2]

WoW Tampa1257 you have to calm down temper temper now.

I am not the biggest fan of this cigar fact is fact thats all i am stating.

As far as the blend its been post over and over on many forums.

Also i tried many of these cigars over the years since its been around and the change is evident night and day.

Also the outer leaf is much much darker than the earlier ones.

Taste one for your self i know you don't smoke nothing but aged cigars but give a 06 a try and you will find out for your self.

Tampa i know you know alot about cigars and i have learned alot from your posts but well you don't know everything about cigar's.

[chibnkr]

I have a box of these from '05 that are absolutely deliscious. They have the oiliest maduro / colorado maduro wrappers and that classic Monte "twang." I for one think that these are quite good.

[Tampa1257]

Jimmy,

What I am trying to do here is to establish fact from opinion.

Eventhou some people on several different cigar forums may have said that they feel that the blend has been changed, I seriously doubt that Habanos would alter the blend in such a young cigar. Could it be that they are now using different aged leaf? Could that make a difference in the taste and flavor? In my opinion that is the reason why people are tasting a difference, not that Habanos has made a blend change. Please consider that everyone has an opinion. Just because some people think that a blend change has happened, does not make it fact. That is what I am attempting to discuss. Unless someone has documented fact, or that there is some evidence as to a major change in a blend, such as the Ligero shortage of the late 90's, it does not make it a fact that a blend change has occured.

If I was successful in getting your attention, that was what I was trying to do. There is a difference in making a statement of fact and a statement of opinion.

It may be your opinion that the blend has been altered, but it is not a fact.

[Tampa1257]

» WoW Tampa1257 you have to calm down temper temper now.

Jimmy, please understand, I am not mad, I was trying to make a point so that everyone can learn something here

» As far as the blend its been post over and over on many forums.

Unfortunately, that still does not make it a fact, it is their opinion. Making a statement as a fact does not show leadership which you are very capable of Jimmy, that is why all of us should be careful to distinguish the difference in fact and opinion

» Also i tried many of these cigars over the years since its been around and

» the change is evident night and day.

Could this have anything to do with the different tobaccos being used, and nothing to do with an actual blend formula change?

» Also the outer leaf is much much darker than the earlier ones.

There are over 64 different shades of wrapper leaf, could their be a possibility that a different shade of wrapper is being used?

» Taste one for your self i know you don't smoke nothing but aged cigars but give a 06 a try and you will find out for your self.

Many cigars have noticed a marked difference in flavor because it is reported that Habanos is now using 1 year old Volado, 2 year old Seco and 3 year old Ligero in all of the current regular production cigars, could that have any significant factor in the taste in the 2006 production cigars and the blend itself not be altered?

» Tampa i know you know alot about cigars and i have learned alot from your posts but well you don't know everything about cigar's.

I have never said that I am all that experienced to claim any expertice, but I do a lot of homework and smoke a lot of cigars and have a fair palate. Jimmy, all I am trying to do here is to establish fact from opinion, that is all

[Jimmy2]

No Problem Tampa i understand what your saying.

But i think they did something as they taste unlike the classic Monte flavor when they first came out.

Much more bite on the palate without that classic Monte taste as if they put more Ligero in the blend.

[Tampa1257]

» Much more bite on the palate without that classic Monte taste as if they put more Ligero in the blend.

Could the difference be that when they first came out they were using 1 year old Ligero and they are now using 3 year old aged Ligero? That might make a difference. Do you see my point? I do not have all the answers, but I am trying to look at the possibilities and what the significant differences that the use of aged tobacco is having on all the cigars in production. Like I have said, it is my opinion that the differences are the result of the aged tobacco and not a blend change, but it is after all just my opinion.

[Jimmy2]

[Cam]

actually just to be contrary i think theyre a great smoke, no but really they are! the cigars i've had are very well constructed, burn excellently and re light easily, if they need to be relit! though i could be guilty of a crime for saying this, i favour the older edmundos over the very few cuban davidoffs i own, although Ive had bad experiences with older cigars.

i did have some problems with a new cigar i tried (of the edmundo) a 2004 I think it was, which i brought from havana house in auckland, the draw just wasnt good enough and the cigar was not nearly as well constructed as some of the slightly older edmundos ive tried

[Cam]

just a correction on my last post, it was a cigar which was produced in october 2005, not 2004

[Ken Gargett]

» anyone out there still to be convinced?

»

» Yes, I am still in need of a proper example that provides some evidence

» that this cigar is worth smoking. I echo much of what Professor Twain

» said. Of all the Montecristo line, this would be the absolute least likely

» item purchased because it just does not do it for me. I have heard that

» they are finally coming around, but the flavors are still muted and bland.

» Just my humble opinion, but this is a very weak attempt by Habanos to bring

» out another large ring gauge cigar to meet the expected desire of the

» consumers for a large ring gauge format cigar. They could have used the

» tobacco in bring out a Montecristo Especial No.3 and had a much better

» tasting cigar. The Edmundo is a failure in my opinion.

i seemed to have jagged a great box, though sadly it is almost finished. although others have also enjoyed them, i am a bit nervous about another given thata so many others have had poor experiences. i was surprised last time i was in havana to find that they were more expensive than the monte 2's.