Montecristo Petit Edmundo

Description

Why the Petit Edmundo Might Be Montecristo’s Best-Kept Secret

I’ll be blunt: I think the Petit Edmundo is criminally underrated in the Montecristo lineup. Everyone obsesses over the No. 2 or the Edmundo itself, but this shorter format? It’s got everything I want in a Cuban cigar without demanding two hours of my afternoon. I picked up my first box back in – I want to say 2009? Maybe 2010. Doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’ve been keeping them in my humidor ever since, and there’s a reason for that.

This isn’t some watered-down version of its bigger brother. The Petit Edmundo brings that classic Montecristo character – you know, that refined, complex profile that made the brand legendary – but delivers it in a format that actually fits into real life. Got an hour between meetings? This is your cigar. Want something substantial after dinner but don’t want to be up until midnight? There you go. The vitola just makes sense, and I genuinely don’t understand why more people don’t talk about it.

What You’re Actually Getting Here

Montecristo needs no introduction, but humor me for a second. This brand has been the gold standard for Cuban cigars since 1935. Named after the Dumas novel – yeah, The Count of Monte Cristo – it was created for the British market and quickly became synonymous with quality and consistency. The blend has evolved over the decades, sure, but that core DNA remains intact.

The Petit Edmundo came along as part of Montecristo’s Edmundo line, which was introduced to give smokers that beloved blend in different formats. Thing is, while the regular Edmundo gets most of the attention, this shorter version does something special. It concentrates all those classic flavors into a more compact experience. The tobacco is all Vuelta Abajo – the finest growing region in Cuba – and you can taste the pedigree in every draw.

Who’s this cigar for? Honestly? Anyone who appreciates medium to medium-full bodied Cuban cigars but doesn’t always have time for a marathon smoke. If you’re the type who values complexity and refinement over raw power, you’re going to love this. And if you’ve been smoking Montecristos for years and somehow missed this vitola – well, you’re welcome.

The Experience – And Why It Works

Right off the bat, before you even light this thing, the cold draw gives you hints of cocoa and hay. Not overwhelming – just enough to tell you the cigar is properly humidified and ready to go. The construction on these has been consistently excellent in my experience. I’m talking firm but not hard, with that oily Cuban wrapper that catches the light just right.

Light it up, and the first third comes at you with this beautiful cedar note. I’m talking about that specific smell you get when you open a well-aged humidor – that exact character. There’s also this underlying sweetness, almost like honey, that balances everything perfectly. Some earthiness shows up too, but it’s subtle. Not the barnyard funk you get from some Cubans – this is refined earth, if that makes sense. The retrohale in this section is smooth, with just a touch of white pepper that tingles without overwhelming.

Second third is where things get interesting – and this is why I keep coming back to this cigar. The cedar stays but gets joined by leather notes, and there’s this developing coffee character that adds depth. Actually, scratch that – it’s more like espresso than coffee. Rich, slightly bitter in the best way possible. The sweetness from the first third is still there, but it’s integrated differently now, playing support rather than taking center stage. The burn stays razor-sharp if you’re not rushing it, and the ash holds for a solid inch before dropping.

Final third – and I’ll admit, this is where some Montecristos lose me – maintains that complexity without turning harsh. You get more of the espresso character, some dark cocoa joins the party, and there’s this interesting nuttiness that I can’t quite pin down. Almond? Hazelnut? Somewhere in between. The strength builds slightly here, moving firmly into medium-full territory, but it never crosses into overwhelming. I’ve smoked these down to the nub more times than I can count, which tells you everything you need to know about how the flavor holds up.

Construction-wise, these have been solid in my experience. The draw is usually perfect – not too loose, not too tight. Burns evenly without much attention. The ash is light grey and holds well. Only issue I’ve occasionally encountered is with boxes that are too young – give them at least six months of rest after you get them, and you’ll be rewarded. Actually, if you’ve got the patience, a year or two makes these absolutely sing.

What to Pair This With – From Someone Who’s Tried

Coffee is the obvious pairing here, and it works beautifully. I’m partial to a Cuban coffee – cortadito if you can get it – but honestly, any good medium roast espresso complements the cigar perfectly. That espresso note in the second and third thirds just harmonizes with actual espresso in a way that’s borderline magical.

Rum is the classic Cuban pairing, and I won’t argue with tradition. A nice aged rum – think Havana Club 7 Year or similar – brings out the sweetness in the first third and plays well with the complexity later on. If you’re more of a whiskey person, go for something smooth and not too peaty. A good bourbon works surprisingly well. I’ve paired these with Maker’s Mark at a poker night, and nobody complained.

Time of day? This is an afternoon cigar for me, though it works after dinner too. Mid-afternoon with coffee is probably my favorite way to enjoy it – you’ve got the time to appreciate it, and it won’t keep you up if you’re sensitive to nicotine. Occasion-wise, it’s versatile enough for casual smoking but refined enough for special occasions. Business meetings, celebrations, quiet contemplation – it fits everywhere.

What Members and Reviewers Are Saying

I’ve been hanging around cigar clubs and online forums for years now, and the Petit Edmundo has a quietly devoted following. Members of various cigar clubs I’ve been part of consistently rate this among their top Montecristo vitolas, even if it doesn’t get the headlines. The reviews I’ve seen echo my experience – people appreciate the concentrated flavor, the manageable smoking time, and that classic Montecristo character delivered without compromise.

One friend at my local lounge – Carlos, who’s been smoking Cubans longer than I have – swears by keeping a box of these on hand at all times. His take is that they’re the perfect “anytime” cigar from Cuba. Not so special that you’re afraid to smoke them, but never disappointing. That’s high praise from someone who’s pretty picky about what goes in his humidor.

The cigar community online tends to agree that these benefit from age. Fresh off the truck from Cuba? They’re good. Give them a year or two? They’re exceptional. I’ve got a few from 2018 right now that are smoking like a dream – all the rough edges smoothed out, flavors integrated beautifully.

The Bottom Line From Someone Who Keeps These Stocked

I’ve been keeping Petit Edmundos in my rotation for over a decade now, which should tell you something. This isn’t a cigar I’m recommending because it’s trendy or because some magazine gave it a high rating – though it deserves those ratings when it gets them. I recommend it because it consistently delivers that classic Montecristo experience in a format that actually fits into real life.

Whether you’re a longtime Cuban cigar enthusiast looking to explore different vitolas or someone ready to dive deeper into what Montecristo has to offer, this belongs in your humidor. Buy a box, let them rest if you can stand the wait, and enjoy what might become your new go-to smoke. Trust me on this one – or don’t, and miss out. Your call. But when you finally try one and realize what you’ve been missing, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Add a box to your cart and thank me later.