Montecristo Petit Edmundo (HQ) MUL DIC14 -- Montecristo Review Week

[skalls]

The petit robusto is a format that I frankly never bothered looking at until I had a Quintero Favorito.  Granted that isn't a good cigar, but it's a great one to have when I want a cigar to keep my mind off what I'm currently doing (mowing, golfing...).  The Monte PE isn't a cigar I want to have to take my mind off stuff though, I want to focus on this little bugger and enjoy the trip (short as it may be) that it takes me on.

Today's example is 2 months shy of 2 years old. So I'm not expecting any harshness or youthful character to this guy.  Based on the shade I'm not expecting much in the way of chocolate either.  Past experience has taught me that the colorado maduro wrapper is just chocolate laden.  That experience includes a PSP 10 count box that did not last long (they never do, do they?).

Pre-Light:

Draw is perfect, just enough resistance.  The wrapper is silky to the touch and full of oil.  I'm getting predominantly espresso with a hint of chocolate on the draw.

1st Third:

I'm getting cream, chocolate, espresso and a touch of white pepper.  What's surprising me is that the cream is the dominate flavor here, not the espresso.  The pre-light draw pulled a fast one over on me.  The smoke output is good.  The smoke itself has a very creamy texture to it.  The finish isn't terribly long but imposes itself when you take a puff.  This may not be the first cigar you think of when you think Montecristo, but it delivers the core flavors in spades.  Excellent start.

2nd Third:

This isn't a big cigar so the thirds come fairly quickly.  15 minutes in and a transition happens.  The ash holds on only about 1/2-3/4" at a time.  I suspect this is mostly because of how windy it was today.  Wasn't windy enough for me to hold off on having a cigar but enough to be annoying.  Which led to a couple minor touch ups.  I would've expected a couple to happen anyways because of the wrapper's oil content.

Sadly the white pepper left.  The chocolate has also faded but it still there.  The espresso has asserted itself to about level with the cream.  Smoke output is good.  The finish continues to be fairly short.  All told, this third lasted 20 minutes.

Final Third:

The cream and espresso are still paired up in equal amounts with the chocolate still there.  Getting some salted nuts that came up as well.  The cherry remained cool till the end.  No youthful character either.  Besides the white pepper and salted nuts, this cigar just oozes Monte flavors.

Final thoughts:

The MPE lasted 45 minutes.  I think the wind stole 5-10 minutes from me today, but this is such an enjoyable little cigar.  This box isn't as good as the PSP box I had last year (those were 95-96 point cigars) but certainly enjoyable.  It's not a cigar to have if you want to sit outside and relax for 90 minutes, but if you have under an hour and want to go on a fun little journey, this is it.  This one came very solidly at 92.  I'm not really sure what the upside to this box will be.  The oil content in the wrappers is certainly helping it, but I'm not sure where or if this cigar will evolve.

[Smoking Ninja]

Great review!  The PE I have are just a shade darker.  I actually never seen a PE having dark wrapper.  Regardless, this was my first CC and it will remain its place as one of my all time favorites!!

[miurajus]

Out of likes (was out splurging on the daily thread)..  Thanks for the review!  Sounds like they are good to go the rest of the way!  Hope they last until you can scoop some reinforcements.  

[Sean3]

I'll take solid 92's all day long!  Nice review sir.

[subport]

Thanks for it, well done

[ck475]

These are great cigars! I had one last Friday. The one I had had some nice citrus along with what you described.

[TheMonk]

Nicely done! I've got a box on the way.