Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure de Luxe

Overall Score

1 review for Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure de Luxe

  1. Avatar photo

    C**** I********

    Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure de Luxe

    Origin : CubaHoyo de Monterrey
    Format : Petit Robusto (Magicos)
    Size : 115 x 21 mm (4 1/2 x 50)
    Released in : 2012
    Packaging : box of 10
    Hand-Made
    Price : ~10 EUR

    The Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure de Luxe is a Cuban puro released by Habanos S.A. in October of 2012. The cigar was released as a retail exclusive for La Casa del Habano stores, and comes packaged in wooden slide boxes. Each box contains ten stogies. After giving the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure de Luxe a try, I was very glad I’d picked up a box; just like the H. Upmann Royal Robusto, this LCDH release is a success.

    Appearance : [rating:4.75/5] (4.75)
    The Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure de Luxe is a squat cigar with a medium-brown wrapper with a light oily sheen. The wrapper is incredibly smooth, with only a few ultra-fine veins noticeable. The wide band takes up around a third of the length of the cigar, and is very eyecatching. This cigar is absolutely flawless in appearance, and feels as smooth as it looks.

    Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure de Luxe

    Construction : [rating:5/5]
    This stogie not only looks and feels perfectly smooth, but smokes the exact same way. The draw, right from the very start, is ideal, and the burn is completely even and stays that way. The dark ash hangs on nicely, and the white, aromatic smoke really adds to the experience. I didn’t have to make a single touchup.

    Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure de Luxe

    Flavor : [rating:5/5]
    This is a deliciously complex and delightful smoke featuring spicy, peppery notes. Initially I pick up plenty of cedar with a hint of sweetness along with a splash of citrus. Going into the middle third, the black pepper surges into prominence along with notes of coffee and nuts. There is a creamy undercurrent starting to emerge, and now the peppery notes are really taking off. The pepper lingers on the palate, making for a spicy aftertaste. As you go into the final third, you’ll notice an abrupt twist as new characteristics emerge. A surprising burst of caramel steals the scene, morphing the blend into a much sweeter one. The sweetness remains until the end. You can easily take this one down to the nub without any harshness.

    Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure de Luxe

    Overall Rating : [rating:5/5]
    This is an A+ cigar, perfect in every respect, one of the best I can remember in quite some time. The construction is magnificent, the flavors and aromas are delicious and complex, and you will especially enjoy them if you are a fan of black pepper. Feel free to pick up a single or a box if you ever stumble on a LCDH shop. Some of them also operate online (hint: LCDH Knokke, and as far as I know they have the Epicure de Luxe in stock).

    Helpful?
    0 0
    • r**** h*****

      I bought a box of 10. The appearance is rustic and nothing like the smooth wrapper in the photos of the review. Its a 2018 box though, so it may changed over the years.

    • M***** N******

      I love it, right down my alley! Such a beautiful cigar in all aspects, but their boxes should be bigger for more pleasure 🙂

    • M*** J**

      Any HdM Epicure Deluxe with short filler or pieces of tobacco as its filler is FAKE!
      Only prime textured long filler tobacco leaves, meticulously hand fitted into its binder topped with a blemishless dark brown satin sheen wrapper & cap are artfully hand rolled into these gems.
      No matter what box codes and labels are included – no sweepings and bits are used in these HdM masterpieces. It cannot happen and never did.

    • J***

      I picked up a box on my recent trip to Havana. They are still quite fresh — less than a year old from the box date. Still a fantastic cigar at $7 per stick. A bit short but perfect diameter. A great smooth yet flavorful Cuban smoke. The wrapper is medium brown and slightly oily — perfection!

    • N**** R***

      I picked a box from Dubai DF and smoked one today…. let me say it quickly became my favorite Cigar! Amazingly perfect on all aspects. Above Review is a spot on and very well describes this Hoyo. Grab yourselves a box or 2 while still available.

    • c****** h*

      John, these are not a limited product, they have been made year round ever since 2012…these are a constant release from Habanos SA, all LCDH get them year round…I had a 2013 box that sucked bad! They were rolled with scraps and shortfiller…I got them from Pacific/Asian LCDH…

    • J***

      Hi guys.

      My cousin just got back from Cuba and bought a box of these at the la casa del habano in Santa Maria. They were released in 2012 but the stamp on the back says 2015. Check out the bar code on habanos sa and it checks out real.
      Can anyone give any feed back in why the box is stamped with 2015?

      Thanks John.

    • T**

      You are of course quite right that this is an excellent cigar. Problem with LCDH Knokke is the shipping fee on small orders.

    • P*** D*****

      Just taken the last inch butt end of my Epicure Deluxe apart and it was definitely long filler I have seen short filler before in Quintero so suggest Charlie changes his supplier and if possible ask for a Sealed box, cigars of habanos will send you a sealed unopened box if you request it

    • R** P

      Classy smoke based on the sticks I have tried. HDM cigars seem to be supplying great smokes currently.

    • P*** D*****

      My fifth box of these superb cigars arrived today and are my favourite small cigars just a smaller version of the Epicure No.1 which is my most favourite cigar.

    • E*****

      Agree 100% with this assessment, though I pick up a fair bit of those unique Hoyo floral flavor curlicues. Definitely agree with the bits about caramel, sweetness, and I get a lot of that sort of toasty, roasty stuff that only Habanos can provide. This is a truly lovely cigar, one of the best Hoyo De Monterrey has ever made.

    • M*******

      I am smoking the forth of the second box I bought. All of 14 cigars was perfect, just as described in the review.

    • C****** H*

      Everything checked out on Habanos website, they weren’t fake at all…I believe it was the roller. It was all the scrap tobacco from other cigars trimmings. I know a fake when i see it, the wrappers looked right and they smelled “Cuban” and nothing else smells like a Cuban, very distinct smell. But yes the seal checked out on the website…

    • P*** C

      Charlie H, those sound like they may have been counterfeits. Just curious, did the seals and everything check out on the Habanos SA website?

    • C****** H*

      The importer/distributor was Pacific Cigar(Asia), that is where they came from and that is why I will never purchase Habanos that have gone through them again (I will stick with my European connections). The whole box of 10 was all short-filler.

    • Avatar photo

      I********

      Interesting… short filler or scrap inside the cigar is very weird, and definitely shouldn’t be find inside an Epicure de Luxe. No wonder the extra ageing didn’t do any good to those cigars.

      I’d be curious to know where you bought them from, feel free to message me via the contact form.

    • C****** H*

      I couldn’t stand this cigar….imho (which doesnt mean much) was one of the worst Cuban cigars I smoked in 2014. I bought a box of 10 and the first 2 samples were plugged, I was curious to check the tobacco used in the filler so I cut the cigar open of the 2 plugged cigars. After cutting them open I found that all the tobacco inside was scrap/short filler. There was caps, stems, and trimmings from other rolled cigars..I have never seen anything like it (everything rolled in the cigar was trimmings from other cigars). Anyways, I let the rest of the box age for 6 or so months and they tasted as sour as lemon juice, bad experience. The LCDH that I bought them from wouldnt replace them and sent me to their distributer who did nothing.

    • B*

      Mine was a little harsher than your it sounds like. It also wasn’t too complex from what I remember. It was a good smoke but a little on the strong side for my taste and for what I am used to in the Epi2 and the DC. I will give it some time before i revisit.

    • P**** J*

      Your review Denis is right on point. I also was pleasantly surprised when I first sampled this Habano and was so impressed I purchased 4 more boxes. Keep up the great work.

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Cigar Region Cuba
Filler Cuban
Wrapper Cuba
Binder Cuba
Length 4 1/2
Ring Gauge 50
Vitola Petit Robusto
Construction Hand Made