Monte Petit Edmundo RTO MAY 07

[PigFish]

So what do you do when you are in a funk? Do you reach for the very cigars that you have forged your allegiance over the many years, the very cigars that have perhaps caused the "funk" in the first place? Do you lay them to blame? Have you been forsaken by the same allies that you have stood by... and they by you for what seems an eternity? Do you explore the distant continents for new cigars, new worlds to explore, or do you simply look for different contents from the same container? It has been suggested that I explore a number of different worlds, from different provenances and lands but that I cannot do. Out of character yes, but out of country... well not yet anyway! Perhaps when my choices are thusly limited to the acceptance of what the majority considers to be fine cigar, well, I prefer not to speak of such a day!

I chose a Montecristo Petit Edmundo; the vintage, and classified as RTO MAY 07, a gift from my friend Ryan. We explore some cigars together, while separated by thousands of miles. He shares my old discoveries, narrow cigars, many out of his size preference and I share the rotund, certainly out of mine. It has been a rewarding and symbiotic partnership. One forged of common interest, of friendship, discovery and enjoyment.

What of the cigar? This was a nice sample of a cigar in any form. Having been acclimatized in my preferential surroundings for awhile now she had acquired a firm exoskeleton, a crust with a bit of crackle under pressure of my grasp; just the way I like them. Her skin was even and with a tan that a shade darker than colorado claro. He perfume pleasant; the incense of properly fermented tobacco a lure, for me like a bee to her honey. Her weight seemed light for such a stout creature, but I am not one to measure, her profile is not that of my usual company. She was of lean muscle and not flab, she sprang back to my advancing pressure, she cut cleanly... although barely fitting in my cutter. I wonder if they make these size cigars for those who cannot otherwise gauge how deep to cut the head of a cigar. Well, it is just a thought!

Our first shared breaths were not breath taking. It took no effort at all to make her breathe. I detected not taste on her lips. I expected a bit more romance but without fire I detected no love at all from this lady. Perhaps it was me again. I expect a tad more fight from my lover. I don't expect her to surrender her essence so readily and easily but at this point, without the heat of flame there would be no passion. So bring us hereto, the flame!

It was with the heat of passion that she surrendered to me. At first was the aroma and taste of medium tobacco. I had expected more robustness from such a fit and rotund a lady. But she was easy in her strengths, almost like the dancing hippos in Fantasia. There was a gracefulness in ease at which she danced and performed her magic on my lips. We were accompanied by a quartet of tastes, those of mocha, the slightest hint of cream, cinnamon and mild aromatics.

She was a easy virtue. While nimble on her feet, she knew but the simplest of dances. The known steps were linked well, they were performed rhythmically and routinely; she was a dime-a-dance partner. What she performed she performed well, well enough for some but not enough to be more than proficient. There existed variance in her routine, not enough to be considered by me to be complex, but enough to keep interest and throw off the label of monotony. She possessed no semblance of youth, and there was little beyond her outward appearance. I found no real follow through in her steps, there was little aftertaste and finish. This was a clean, dry cigar. There was the cream, but no oils. This cigar could not hold its own to strong drink but might be a good accompaniment for other delicate flavors.

I am not going to say this cigar was not good. It was certainly enjoyable, enjoyable but not altogether interesting. For the short period of time that we shared company, I was entertained and accompanied; any longer and I would have been bored. I enjoyed the experience but I would have to rate this cigars as slightly above average for me. I would rate this a beginners cigar. It was easy to smoke, possessive of adequate and mild "fun" flavors but nothing extravagant, elegant or in any excess.

My only dislike is common with this size cigar. It is how they often become somewhat limp when they come to smoking temperatures. Having been dried to my preference the cigar was springy and quite firm prior to lighting. The light-weight nature of the cigar based on its size was a tell tale to this characteristic. Did the cigar fail me? No. But with that said, with an inch or two more in length, this cigar would have likely failed completely to hold up under my fat fingers and double chins!!!

I am going to rate the cigar 85. Thanks for reading. -

[cellinisart]

I have had some very good ones that I would rate a 90 and some that are flat. I find that this cigar likes to be a little humid but at the same time suffers from too much humidity. They seem to burn/taste best with a touch soft, no crackle. They bat at 50/50.

I just bought two HQ boxes so I guess the ones that are very good I'm drawn to enough to keep searching for them.

[Ken Gargett]

piggy, this is one of my least fave smokes, though i do love the edmundo itself.

[Bartolomeo]

Thanks for the review Ray, that box has been up and down for me and now these cigars are ones I hand to my friends to try Cubans

Bart

[PigFish]

I obviously can't speak for all of them as my Edmundo experience is quite limited. But as far as this cigar was concerned, I think it makes a nice beginner model. I would prefer the HdM Petit Robusto not only in its size but more importantly in its taste performance and potency.

Thank you Ryan! I did enjoy the cigar, it was a worthwhile experience. -Ray

[Wil]

Thanks for the review - an interesting read!

[PADDYWHACK121272]

nice review

[thechenman]

Sorry to hear that the cigar was only a bit above average. I've smoke quite a few Petit Edmundos and Edmundos. They were some of the first Cuban Cigars I smoked...as you commented on Piggy. Overall...I have to say that I did enjoy the Petit Edmundos over their larger bretheren. I do agree with you though that this is a lighter cigar, not a nuanced as many, and certainly not as strong as most. I dare say my tastes have moved forward from this point to marcas like Partagas and Punch, but I still do come back to these from time to time. However, as Montes go...I still prefer the No.'s 2 and 4 over these.

[MontrealRon]

I'll bet I enjoyed reading the review more than you enjoyed smoking the cigar.

Thanks, Ray.

[Nedule]

I had a petit edmundo the other night & had a similar experience, OK but not great, I was waiting & hoping for something more but it just never happened. Luckily I only bought a 3 pack.

[android]

I had a great box from early 06 that were stellar and I now have a box DIC 06 that r just so so! Not my everyday smoke but a nice change of pace and enjoyable.

[Pilsner14]

Smoked my first Petit Edmundo last night....OPA Ago09.......really young box picked up in Cuba a couple of months ago. I'm a relatively new habanos smoker compared to the experts in this forum but certainly have smoked enough to know my way around their cigars. It seems like they can get ' some bad press' from what I've read....that being said, it smoked really well including loads flavorful smoke, great burn, and excellent draw......and this, from a very young cigar that has great potential for aging. I was impressed with the performance of this cigar. Just my 2 cents.