Edmundo is not good? Any truth in this?

[Uwiik]

Hi all, 

I just recently found a trusted dealer for Cuban in my area. He delivers in an hour or two by courier and I am in heaven…In the past week I have been amazed quite a few collection to age and right now I am waiting for a couple of Montecristo Edmundo box of 15 tubos to be delivered….along with quite a few other Cuban (CoRo, HDM Petit Robusto, Siglo VI and Partagas E2).

While waiting anxiously I browsed through the internet and realized that so many people are actually hating the Edmundo….Now I am baffled because I ordered a couple of Tubos boxes of the Edmundo… is it really the case with Edmundo? I also heard that Edmundo in Tubos is a different breed, supposedly much better than the dress box version, any truth in this? I can still return the box for exchange but I really want to like the Edmundo because I really love the Petit Edmundo (PE is my daily for the last week).

Thanks in advance for any insight 🙏

[NSXCIGAR]

I've never been a big Edmundo fan but I've always understood that not to be the consensus. Edmundo has always been quite popular to my knowledge. 

My problem with it is it tends to be a bit too mild for me. I'm not sure how recent production has been but pre-2019 it always struck me as mild. The Petit Edmundo is much stronger but has been very inconsistent for me in the last 5 years. 

My go-to Monte is the Double Edmundo as the Wide Edmundo--which I think is the best of all--is very hard to find. 

[Uwiik]

My supplier happened to have a box of Double Edmundo but I stupidly/rightfully picked the Edmundo as those who liked the Edmundo said that Edmundo is more of a cocoa bomb compared to Double Edmundo….The supplier also vouched for the Edmundo…

I have Petit Edmundo 2022 and 2023 from three different batch and all has been really really good to me, absolutely on my top list… 

Perhaps I should exchange to Double Edmundo? Ohhhh decision, decision 😅

[BrightonCorgi]

2 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I've never been a big Edmundo fan but I've always understood that not to be the consensus. Edmundo has always been quite popular to my knowledge. 

My problem with it is it tends to be a bit too mild for me. I'm not sure how recent production has been but pre-2019 it always struck me as mild. The Petit Edmundo is much stronger but has been very inconsistent for me in the last 5 years. 

My go-to Monte is the Double Edmundo as the Wide Edmundo--which I think is the best of all--is very hard to find. 

Agree on both the Edmundo and Double Edmundo.  Never had the Wide Edmundo.  The original Edmundos had super thin wrappers that I did not like at the time and I never looked for them after that.  Would like to revisit them if I see them available.

[Uwiik]

WEW…. The consensus is killing me…I really despise weak/light bodied/flavored cigar, doesn’t matter how fine it is… so Edmundo is really that negatively viewed? Anyone smoked the recent production 2022-2023 batch of the Edmundo? Is the Tubos version better? 
 

[Uwiik]

The courier has arrived…. So I returned one box and just took one box of 15 tubos of the Edmundo (excuse the fake Partagas box on the background, that was from my learning stage) 

[NSXCIGAR]

Well, at least you have El Laguito Edmundos! 

[Uwiik]

Awesome!! I suppose…should I test it immediately or wait for the cigar to rest a bit? It only travelled for an hour this morning direct from the vendor.

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, Uwiik said:

Awesome!! I suppose…should I test it immediately or wait for the cigar to rest a bit? It only travelled for an hour this morning direct from the vendor.

No rest needed for a morning of transit. If you're going to rest it, rest it for 6 more months. 

[nKostyan]

I think it's pointless to "stick labels" to Cuban vitolas. Different years of harvest, different leaves for the wrapper give different characters to the cigars. Never cross Cubans off your list, you just have to choose the Edmundo that you like. As for the photo, you didn't show the most important thing - how the cigars look…

[Uwiik]

There you go! Please enlighten me…

Who am I kidding… off course I couldn’t wait and just decided to light one up….

Initial impression is not too good… super tight draw, thin plume, and taste kinda bland…. Smell awesome, but the taste doesn’t reflect the smell… still on first few draws… will update as things progress…If this stays the same, then I am super glad I only took one box and should’ve listened to the consensus here… you guys did tried to warn me… 

I have a Petit Edmundo with date 23 code that taste million times better on first draw… not a good start for the vanilla Edmundo…My expectation was kinda high…

[nKostyan]

12 hours ago, Uwiik said:

There you go! Please enlighten me….

I assume that you have come across a good option. The main profile should be woody-spicy, coffee at background and roasted nuts. A lighter glossy wrapper gives coffee and milk notes. Maduro - full body, tannins, bitter espresso and bitter chocolate. This gradation of wrappers-tastes does not necessarily work, because there may still be variations of blending the filler.

 

[Uwiik]

11 hours ago, nKostyan said:

I assume that you have come across a good option. The main profile should be woody-spicy, coffee at background and roasted nuts. A lighter glossy wrapper gives coffee and milk notes. Maduro - full body, tannins, bitter espresso and bitter chocolate. This gradation of wrappers-tastes does not necessarily work, because there may still be variations of blending the filler.

Mine taste tangy woody with weak coffee and weak nutty flavor (tangy woody being dominant but now it’s starting to progress to spicy woody)… a bit hard to tell the nuances due to the very subtle flavor… weird that it doesn’t taste that great for my pallate while my nose is telling me it is smelling heavenly…one thing I notice though, retrohale is awesome although straight up smoke is not… still working through the first 1/3 slowly… it’s very tight and burns real slow… I also suspect the vendor has been keeping this one on 69-72% as is the case with so many vendors here…

 

 

 

[DaBoot]

I mean if you went in to the cigar with negative thoughts, that could influence your opinion. I’d lay them down for a year, you don’t know how he stored them, and a ‘23 date code puts them super fresh and travelled from Cuba. 

[Glass Half Full]

Given the RH % you mention (and without knowledge of the storage temperature), it's likely that you will have a much better experience if you store at 62% and below 65 degrees F. for a month or so -- at least, in my opinion.  

It's a great sign that your retro is wonderful.  I'm guessing that a slight change in RH would improve your entire experience.  

Hope that's helpful. 

[karp]

Edmundos can be very good but like others have posted, differences between boxes / cigars are going to factor in here. Your Edmundos look decent, give them a rest and try again down the road. They are just as good as any Montes. Some I’ve had from 2019-present have been regal. Bad and good cigars according to vitola and marca are not straightforward!

[Puros Y Vino]

Whether a cigar is "good" is subjective. I love cigars that others don't and vice versa.  The Monte Edmundo never did it for me. The MPE is stellar though. The double Edmundo, forgettable. The Grand Edmundo 2010 EL was also superb.  It all comes down to our personal tastes.

[NSXCIGAR]

20 hours ago, nKostyan said:

I think it's pointless to "stick labels" to Cuban vitolas. Different years of harvest, different leaves for the wrapper give different characters to the cigars.

Of course this is true in the short and maybe even medium term. But after 15 years of trying a particular cigar and finding it generally performing the same I think some conclusions can be drawn.

I do think it can take tasting at least 3 years of production to begin to get a grasp on a particular cigar and at least 10 to definitively judge it. 

[ha_banos]

Would love to try a pl magnum and magnifico. 40 years apart, Arnuldo Vichot supposedly finding a matching blend through aroma alone, as he didn't smoke... Stories or fairytales?

[X-Man]

I am a fan of the El Laguito Edmundos😄 and I smoked my first Wide Edmundo this afternoon.

Such a good cigar for really young age.

[Uwiik]

Tried to recall my experience and I think I will have to agree with you guys…smoke aroma and retrohale was awesome so I will keep positive thoughts and will put it on long term storage humidor and just forget about it for at least 2 years. 

[JY0]

Try a lower RH.

[El Presidente]

On 10/14/2023 at 12:17 PM, Uwiik said:

While waiting anxiously I browsed through the internet and realized that so many people are actually hating the Edmundo

Opinions are like A*******. Everyone has one. 

[BoliDan]

They just aren't up to the strength and flavor I expect from Montes. I like the numbered line up, and really have no need for the marca to expand in other vitolas. Especially Fatties. The 2 does the job. But some people love them. I think they've proven they have a market.

[jakebarnes]

Love the Edmundo. Way more consistent than the Monte 2. Definitely a fan.