Padrino Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 During December I was fortunate enough to be gifted a 10ct box of Petit Edmundo's (purchased at the Madrid Duty Free) These have some seriously dark wrappers..... So here is a compare with the box, a single and some other well known dark wrappers. So dark is the Petit Edmundo that it could even be a 2007 Petit Edmundo EL ?? (i'm messing around with bands, the only fun i'll be having with this Edmundo ) Or a mini-Sublime.... Anyway..... Off to the "review". Construction: Very solid, nice weight to it. Well packed and firm to the touch. Appearence: Dark, damn dark. Oily wrapper, leathery to the touch. The pre-light draw was just perfect, exactly what it should be. The taste being a mixture of cedar and leather, the wrapper tasting unusually strong on the lips. So i light it up and i'm almost instantly greeted by loads of spice and a very strong espresso flavour, with a slightly creamy finish. Not bad, this shows some promise ! A few puffs later and it's obvious that this little Edmundo is very full bodied...... as far as I know these little guys are supposed to be milder, not this full bodied. Each puff I take gives out rich intense smoke with rich espresso flavours, too rich in fact. At the completion of the first third smoking this is like sipping on double rich espresso without sugar, interesting at first but now it's becoming uncomfortably rich. The slightly creamy finish is a thing of the past. it's full out espresso. This is as one dimensional as you can get, and it's frustrating. Towards the end of the second third the body just remains full, no letting up at all. There is no tobacco flavour but just more and more of this sickeningly powerful espresso..... take the strongest coffee you've ever had (no sugar) and multiply it by ten and you might come close. This Petit Edmundo is on steroids and it's not fun at all... This is an angry little stick. This is for Colt, a cone ! just for you Off to the final third.... It begins to develop a slight leathery aftertaste, things are just getting weirder. I've had enough. I pitch it. I have never come across a Monte that was this strong, EVER !. I like strength, but when it's this overpoweringly one-dimensional it just becomes uncomfortable. I'm putting this box away for a long,long time. Hopefully by then it would have lost some of it's violent rage and have matured into something decent. Score: 78 Or: 2.8 out of 6 Very disappointing and unlike a Monte.
aavkk Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 I have to admit that I am intrigued by this... I'm not sure that I would have a problem with pure espresso? This could be a great cigar with a few years of age on it.
jeromeroselli Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 It's very attractive, but I suppose a dark wrapper on a regular production cigar isn't the same as a dark wrapper on an EL. I'm guessing that is what the issue was here, because I recently smoked a young much lighter wrapper Petit Edmundo that was smooth and creamy, just like you had expected.
Colt45 Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 I've not tried the PE, but have gone through something similar with a box of Montecristo No.4 from January '06. They were very strong when young. It's taken until just recently for them to smooth out - the last being medium bodied and not what I'd call rich. Thanks for the review.
perfectform Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 I have a box with the same production date and the wrappers could not be more different. Mine have an almost greenish/greyish hue to them. The flavor is no where even close to as strong as you describe them either. They are refined and full of light coffee flavors. I find them very enjoyable. It seems the dark wrappers impart the overwhelming strength you spoke of, Padrino. They need lots of beauty sleep! I've never seen PE's with wrappers that dark...interesting. Thanks so much for the review.
Habanos2000 Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 Sounds like an angry youngster at this point. Let it rest a couple years and I bet those dark wrappers will reward you! They look dynamite...
Padrino Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 I'm not sure that I would have a problem with pure espresso? That's what I thought starting out the first third, it was the intensity of it that just floored me. It's very attractive, but I suppose a dark wrapper on a regular production cigar isn't the same as a dark wrapper on an EL. I'm guessing that is what the issue was here, because I recently smoked a young much lighter wrapper Petit Edmundo that was smooth and creamy, just like you had expected That was exactly it, they look so good I was expecting something great. looks are definitely not everything when it comes to Habanos. I've not tried the PE, but have gone through something similar with a box of Montecristo No.4 from January '06. They were very strong when young. And I'm sure due to the PE's large RG and short length the strength is even more pronounced. One more reason why i prefer smaller RG's. I have a box with the same production date and the wrappers could not be more different. Mine have an almost greenish/greyish hue to them. The flavor is no where even close to as strong as you describe them either. They are refined and full of light coffee flavors. What you mention just shows the inconsistency when it comes to Habanos, you just never know with any certainty what you're going to get. Sometimes it's downright annoying. Like the box of San Cristobal La Punta i received from Czar - the weirdest pale wrappers - almost nothing like the usual La Punta's. Sounds like an angry youngster at this point. That perfectly describes this box of PE's
jwm8592 Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 Thanks for the review Padrino, its never fun to throw of of your youngsters out hopefully w/time they will become an enjoyable smoke.
Padrino Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 Yup, hopefully time will be kind to them. With almost 2 years on them I was thinking that just maybe they would be good, but at least they live to fight another day
El Presidente Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 Great review I have come across cigars such as that from time to time. Ruthlessly strong and one dimensional. They are put aways and should come good (in my experience) however they rarely come back to be symbolic of their Marque. I prefer a young cigar to make a statement as opposed to not making any
Guest rob Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 Well written review, mate. A shame it didn't perform for you though. It'll be interesting to see how they develop in years to come. by the way, I've never seen a box code with an " * " symbol on it.... any idea what it means?
Padrino Posted March 10, 2009 Author Posted March 10, 2009 Thanks guys Good question about that star symbol next to the box date Rob, no idea myself what it means. Maybe Prez might know, or Punch Joe ? Maybe someone else knows ?
jamesward Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 I love the Edmundo. I have had one of the Petit Edmundo and found it to be very similar in constuction, draw, burn and taste - so the paralles are there, at least enough to give my 2 cents. My feeling is that it is a beast of a cigar and has its time and place. Not a casual light up and not for the faint of heart. But, this is a cigar that improves with age and I would hold on to them.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now