Lately, I’ve been noticing a bunch of folks on my social media feeds enjoying the Montecristo Wide Edmundo cigar. I might be a bit late to the party, but I’ve been genuinely curious to sample this cigar!

Montecristo Cuban cigars are pretty special. In recent years, I’ve enjoyed smoking the Montecristo No2, Petit Edmundo, Open Eagle, Regata and the Linea 1935 Maltes. But the one that truly left a mark was the 80th Anniversary cigar – an unforgettable moment at No 6 Cavendish Square. With all these past experiences in mind, my expectations for the Montecristo Wide Edmundo are pretty high. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, let’s see!

Background:

Montecristo, a renowned Cuban cigar brand founded in 1935, has garnered significant recognition over time. Nowadays it’s widely regarded as an absolute classic among cigar enthusiasts globally. The brand’s name draws from the novel “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas, which was said to have been read to Cuban cigar rollers back in the day as they crafted their exceptional cigars in their cigar factories. Fast forward to 2004, the Montecristo Edmundo cigar line made its debut, paying homage to the character Edmundo Dantes from Dumas’ novel. This was followed by the Petit Edmundo in 2006 and the impressive debut of the Double Edmundo in 2013. The Wide Edmundo now joins this esteemed lineage as the 4th instalment in the Edmundo series.

Following its introduction at the Habanos World Days event in 2021 (the one that took place remotely during the global pandemic), and a celebratory launch in Spain in 2022, there has been a bit of a wait for the Montecristo Wide Edmundo to finally arrive on UK shores.

The stats:

Length: 4 7/8″
Ring Gauge: 54
Strength: Medium to Full
Vitola: Duke No. 3
Origin: Cuba

This cigar measures 4 7/8” (125mm) in length and has a ring gauge of 54, making it a heavyweight in the realm of Cuban cigars. You might have clocked the name of a new vitola (the name for the specific size and shape of a cigar) in the stats above called Duke No.3. I haven’t been able to uncover the reasoning behind this addition. If anyone has information, feel free to leave a comment below this post.

Cigar Aficionado (the U.S. cigar magazine) recently reviewed this cigar and acknowledged its excellence with a commendable rating of 92/100. They went on to write:

“A reddish-brown robusto with a flat head and slightly firm draw. Initial floral and earthy notes develop coffee, leather, spice and toasty intonations before a salted peanut finish.”

It’s interesting that they refer to the vitola as a ‘robusto’.

My Experience: 

Getting my hands on this cigar turned out to be quite an adventure. Initially, I placed an order for it with CGars Ltd. I was really looking forward to it arriving by post, but my excitement quickly turned into disappointment. Just a few hours later, I got a call from a friendly member of their team. They regretfully let me know that they had sold out, and they promptly processed a refund for my payment.

However, I wasn’t ready to give up. Determined to get my hands on this elusive cigar, I kept searching. Eventually, my persistence paid off when I stumbled upon an available one at GQ Tobaccos.

I waited a couple of days for its delivery.

Upon unpacking the packaging of this cigar, the initial thing that caught my attention was the shoddy looking secondary cigar band, in yellow, coupled with its unfortunate font selection. Given the meticulous craftsmanship of many other Cuban cigar bands, this one appears somewhat inferior.

The next thing is the size, whilst the ring gauge is perfect for me, the length of the cigar appears a bit on the shorter side.

I made a straight cut to the cap and proceeded to light the cigar. I must admit I didn’t do the best job, and to make matters worse, a gust of wind decided blow in my direction, resulting in an uneven burn. But hey, I’ll take the blame for that mishap.

Now, let’s talk about that first third – whoa, what a strong start! It’s like a vigorous rush of intense, full-bodied flavors right from the beginning, satisfying that strong cigar encounter I’ve been longing for. The intensity gives off a feeling more in line with the strength of a full-bodied cigar, rather than a medium-bodied one. However, it’s important to consider that the midday timing and the fact that this is one of my first cigars in a while (due to recent surgery and recovery) could potentially be shaping my perception here.

Subsequently, the flavor of cedar graced my palate. It felt like a warm woody embrace that lent a particular charm to the overall experience. I presume the cedar note originates from the storage in the likely cigar boxes they were shipped in, as it’s a familiar taste I often detect in the cigars I enjoy..

As for the other flavour notes, I wish I could pinpoint them, but honestly, I couldn’t sense anything else.

This cigar is wonderful! It’s got that special something that’s hard to put into words. I’m already dreaming about having a whole box of these beauties, even though I’m well aware that they fall on the pricey side, being Montecristo and all. But hey, one can dream, right? I’m definitely itching to smoke another Wide Edmundo cigar.

My rating: 8.75 out of 10 – It’s almost a 9, but a tad more length would have sealed the deal. I smoked through it a bit too quickly.

What others say about the Montecristo Wide Edmundo:

If you liked this review, check out my others at Cigars: A-Z 🙏