Hello,
I am new to this forum, but wanted to add my :2 about this question.
I have recently tried both the counterfeits and the x-outs, and here is my experience.
I received a box of the counterfeits first. Maduro wrapper, torpedo shape. I shipped them 2nd day from Cigars International. When I received the box, I opened it up to check them out (the box was shrink wrapped). The cigars in the box were not individually wrapped, but looked nice and dark and oily. I picked one up to smell it. Holy cow, this thing was peppery. I have had the edge maduro several times before, and like you, I was looking for a cheaper alternative for an "everyday" smoke and to share with friends. I did not remember the edge being this peppery. I decided to smoke one right away and put the rest in my coolidoor.
When I looked closely at the cigar I was about to smoke, it had several cracks and damage to the wrapper all the way up to the foot. I did not look soo pretty. I cut it straight with a xikar guillotine cutter. The cut was smooth, but the wrapper started unravelling right away, about halfway up the cigar body. I moistened it with some spit and was able to get it to stick back down. I then put the cigar in my mouth and BAM....more pepper, an overpowering pepper taste just from the unlit cigar. I lit up, toasting the foot and then did a nice even light with my xikar.
The cigar burn was fairly even, I had to torch down the wrapper once I think, which I was fine with. The taste of the edge may have been there, but I could not tell as the peppery taste was so over powering. Like tingle on the lips overpowering. About an inch in, I think I detected a little ceadar and some real weak coffee tastes, but I am not too sure. Previous edge cigars I have had have gotten nice and smooth about an inch in and maintained the smoothness throughout, but this stick never got smooth.
The whole stick was very sharp and ultimately rather unenjoyable. I looked at the other sticks in the box, and they were just as damaged looking and smelled just as overpoweringly peppery. Thankfully, with CI's return policy, I sent for an RMA and get full credit on the box as I only smoked one.
Off to try the Leji "A" RP X-Outs. I ordered a bundle of those. Maduro Toro.
The sticks came in a bundle of 15, individually cellophane wrapped. I unwrapped one to inspect it. The stick was dark and oily, and alot less peppery smelling. Without smelling the stick right now, from memory, I think it was a leathery spicy smell. The stick was also nice and firm and had no visible signs of damamge such as the cracks and wrapper damage I saw on the counterfeits.
I unwrapped them and stuck them in a cedar box in my coolidoor overnight. Got a chance to smoke them yesterday. I also had an edge available, and since I was dropping someone off at the airport, I planned to smoke the x-out in the morning and the real deal on my way back from the airport.
I punched the x-out (my preferred method) and lit up. Once the initial smokey taste went away (after the first couple puffs), the cigar started to shine. All of the edge flavors were there. The smoke was thick and volumnous. And the best thing was, the spicy taste was still there, but without the overwhelming peppery taste.
Smoking it down, I did notice that it smoothed out. Not as smooth as the regular edge, but still smooth enough.
When I smoked the regular edge on the way back from the airport, I determined that the edge and the x-out taste practically identical. A couple of differences I noticed that may be the sticks or another variable in my test are:
- edge seemed to have thicker smoke. However, I smoked that in the car and the x-out was done outside with a slight breeze, so I can't be certain.
- the edge was definetly a little darker. I placed it in the box with the x-outs to compare, and it was a shade darker than all of them
- the edge got smoother. Not a huge deal to me as the x-out got smooth enough. I have also noticed I can taste subtlties in the cigar better when I am smoking in a semi-enclosed environment such as the car or when there is no wind, so that may account for the difference too.
All in all, I loved the x-out and would highly reccomend it as a cheaper alternative to the Edge.
Hope this information is helpful. Have a great day!
