Edmundo Dantes Conde Belicoso Mexican Regional Edition

Review of the Mexican Regional Edmundo Dantes Conde Belicoso

     The Edmundo Dantes is a cigar with a strange but unique history. A brand built as a collaboration between Habanos S.A. and the owner of Importadora y Exportadora de Puros y Tabacos (IEPT), Max Gutmann. For whatever reason there were trademark issues of the brand Montecristo in Mexico, and the name Edmundo Dantes comes from the novel Count of Montecristo. The Conde Belicoso is the third cigar in the Edmundo Dante line. The first was the Edmundo Dantes Conde double robusto and the second was the 6 ¼ x 54 ring gauge Conde 54, Sublimes, a massive cigar of near perfect construction and smooth toasted flavors. A brand that only has existed in three distinctive sizes is a cigar of an understated notoriety. All the cigars in the marca are Mexican Regionals.

     As a side note the Regionals are developed by the distributor of a certain country and paid for by said distributor to Habanos S.A.  A majority of these Regionals are shared within other countries as in Canada one could find Asia Pacific or German Regionals if the respective distributors have good relationships.

Box Date – Unknown

Size – 52 x 140mm (5 ½”)

Factory Name – Campanas

1^st Third

     The Edmundo Dantes are well constructed cigars, I have smoked the El Conde 109, and it was flavorful. When trying the cut cigar unlit, one tastes cinnamon. The first third is earthy with light tones of vanilla. Spice builds with full thick smoke. The cigar burns perfectly and corrects itself with not guidance by the smoker.

     The similarities of the first third are equal. The hope that this cigar would develop by slow and meticulous smoking seems to go without success. Spice notes continue with a similar profile as the first third. Cinnamon does progress in the retro hale as a peat flavor does start to overwhelm, however quickly dissipates.

Final Third

     A similar profile as the rest of the cigar. Underwhelming finish to a cigar that one had high hopes. Cocoa with spice and earth are the flavors with about two inches remaining.

Summary

     Having only smoked one of these Conde Belicosos it is a difficult position to make a fair assessment on one cigar. However, on smoking the Conde 109 and the Conde 54, I did find that those particular cigars to be developed with an ascending array of flavor: cinnamon, earth, lemon zest and honey. The Belicosos did not share these highlights. To smoke one of the Edmundo Dantes is still a treat. A Cuban brand that exists, when no ‘new’ brands have been released since the early 2000’s, by the tenacity of a cigar distributor. Cigar smokers who love earthy and full-bodied cigars would do well to try the Belicosos. A rich cigar of earthy tones and powerful spice with an underwhelming final third.

Score

Construction – 9 out of 10

Flavor – 6 out of 10