Montecristo Edmundo ENE 06

[jakebarnes]

I have a box of the same date and i have to say it was pretty good. Again, I did have the bitterness at the end that reminds you it is still young, but the blend is a lot better than before. And I agree... the aroma is amazing.

Wasn't a big fan of the original release... glad i took a chance on these again.

[genevapics]

Tantalizing review Rob. I had one of the originals and was not wowed by it. What date code do the traveling humidors carry?

[El Presidente]

» Tantalizing review Rob. I had one of the originals and was not wowed by

» it. What date code do the traveling humidors carry?

I didn't check the codes of the travelling humidors but they would have been 2006/07 stock.

[wdh]

» I didn't check the codes of the travelling humidors but they would have

» been 2006/07 stock.

granted, they are young....recently tried one from the traveling humidor and was fairly underwhelmed...uneven burn, couldn't keep it lit to save my soul :-| ....will let them rest for a few months before trying again. OTOH, the humidor is a thing of beauty in every respect

[El Presidente]

» » I didn't check the codes of the travelling humidors but they would have

» » been 2006/07 stock.

»

» granted, they are young....recently tried one from the traveling humidor

» and was fairly underwhelmed...uneven burn, couldn't keep it lit to save my

» soul :-| ....will let them rest for a few months before trying again.

» OTOH, the humidor is a thing of beauty in every respect

The Humidor is a beautiful piece :-)

The cigars in the humidor felt and looked wet when they arrived. I wouldn't be surprised if they came right off the tables.

[shrink]

It has evolved into the cigar version of Caruso or Pavarotti playing in the background.

Well, it certainly has a Pavarotti ring size, eh?

Thanks for the review, Prez!

[Gryphon]

» This Montecristo Edmundo was a very enjoyable cigar. Nothing like its

» poisonous hobbit brother the Petit Edmundo which I have an immense dislike

» for.

When you reviewed the Monte PE you gave it a score of 87 with possible improvement. What experiance have you had that makes you react to it as ' the poisonous hobbit brother'??

[winelover]

The edmundo can either be great or mediocre or at least my experience has not found many inbetween. I went through a box of Nov04's, which although pre the so called blend change, did not really get any good until summer 06, whereupon I had few left - as is always the case!

In fact it is a totally different cigar with the benefit of humi time. In my experience they do not become weaker, they develop in strength and flavour concentration. I can still remember the tingle on my lips of the last cigar I had from this box, simply sublime.

Whereas, I find the edmundo very uni-dimensional and without enough punch when young. This is my experience with the post blend change smokes too.

With some humi time and a glass of single malt they really cannot be faulted and should instead be savoured.

[Colt45]

» Nothing like its poisonous hobbit brother the Petit Edmundo which I have an

» immense dislike for.

»

Wonderful. I shall now refer to the PE as the gollum.

[El Presidente]

» When you reviewed the Monte PE you gave it a score of 87 with possible

» improvement. What experiance have you had that makes you react to it as '

» the poisonous hobbit brother'??

That was in November 2006 from memory. I have had plenty in 07 which have been very, very disappointing. To me the Petit Edmundo has gone backwards. Recent examples are showing less strength and a disturbing grassy/herbal character with no counterbalancing flavour nuances. Every Petit Edmundo I have had in 2007 would struggle to reach an 85. Smithy and I sat down on the deck on his final days here and we both agreed that the Petit Edmundos we were smoking were appaling.

[Gryphon]

» » When you reviewed the Monte PE you gave it a score of 87 with possible

» » improvement. What experiance have you had that makes you react to it as

» '

» » the poisonous hobbit brother'??

»

» That was in November 2006 from memory. I have had plenty in 07 which have

» been very, very disappointing. To me the Petit Edmundo has gone backwards.

» Recent examples are showing less strength and a disturbing grassy/herbal

» character with no counterbalancing flavour nuances. Every Petit Edmundo I

» have had in 2007 would struggle to reach an 85. Smithy and I sat down on

» the deck on his final days here and we both agreed that the Petit Edmundos

» we were smoking were appaling.

Please clarify if you are saying newer production is off, or have those original release PE's lost it?

[CoryOllis]

Thanks for the great review!

I had a box from DIC 2005 that was so good I couldn't keep my hands off them and they are sadly gone now. I would love to know how this batch turns out down the road a piece. :-D

[El Presidente]

» Please clarify if you are saying newer production is off, or have those

» original release PE's lost it?

We enjoyed the first of the Petit Edmundo'e in July 06 in Havana watching a movie called "Blowing Smoke" at the Melia Habana Divan with a few Habanos s.a mates. It was freshly rolled but showed real promise. The initial releases were good without being world beaters. I think subsequent releases have become progressively milder and "greener" in profile. Too much amonia, too much grassiness with no offset flavours.

[Ken Gargett]

i must respectfully take a slightly different view. i have enjoyed these from the get go. perhaps i jagged a really good box up front or... funnily enough, the only time i have been is than impressed is recently with a few when we were in havana.

[El Presidente]

» i must respectfully take a slightly different view. i have enjoyed these

» from the get go. perhaps i jagged a really good box up front or... funnily

» enough, the only time i have been is than impressed is recently with a few

» when we were in havana.

They have plenty of fans Ken. I have just struggled with them this year. It could be me :-)

[El Presidente]

Habanos s.a denies any blend changes in the Montecristo Edmundo from the initial release which was greeted with a luke warm response from Habanos lovers worldwide. Don't believe it. The transformation occured sometime in 2005 and it was a change for the better.

So how are the 06's faring?

Smell at cold is of easter morning chocolate eggs. Well constructed big cigar with great weight in the hand and the promise of an enjoyable hour ahead.

Cerrated the cap and the draw was almost perfect. Sweet tea on the lips. Torched the foot and was met immediately with a flavour profile which screamed MONTECRISTO....milk coffee and fresh baked bread. The body wad straight medium with a nice level of white pepper spice through the nose. This cigar is never going to bring on a case of the "shake and sweats"...it is a refined beast for those who are looking for a larger version of the Montecristo No 4. I would place it in strength/body between the Monte 4 and the Monte 2 (especially recent 06 offerings).

The Edmundo is developing nicely if staying true to its flavour profile of Milk coffee/fresh baked bread. It reminds me so much of cold winter mornings in San Sebastian dunking simple cup cakes into stove top brewed coffee served with lashings of hot milk.

Occasional citrus note plays on the edges of the core flavours enhancing the overall balance of the cigar. The aroma if this cigar is captivating best described as a mix of toasted tobacco and fresh baked bread. Through the halfway point and very pleasant. It certainly is not a cigar in the Partagas Serie De Connoisseur mould which challenges the senses. It has evolved into the cigar version of Caruso or Pavarotti playing in the background.

Some elements of bitterness near the band reminding me that it is still a babe in the woods but it is in no way offensive. A little more pepper spice perhaps which leads one to think that the body of the cigar is getting near Medium /full...but it is not really. I clipped the cap, purged the cigar and voila, the bitterness has gone and the core medium bodied profile returned.

This Montecristo Edmundo was a very enjoyable cigar. Nothing like its poisonous hobbit brother the Petit Edmundo which I have an immense dislike for.

I would reach for an Edmundo before I would reach for a Trinidad Robusto Extra. It delivers in terms of flavour, is true to its Marque and is carving for itself a definitive personality.

89/100 4.5/6 smokerings