Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2

Origin : Cuba
Format : Robusto
Size : 124 x 19.84 mm
Ring : 50
Weight : 11.66 g
Hand-Made
Price : ~$250 for a box of 25
More info about purchasing Hoyo de Monterrey cigars...

Epicure No. 2 is a nice robusto, known for its complex flavors. It's one of the best selling cigars at my local tobacconist.

Appearance :
Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 is beautiful in appearance; it has a nice shade of brown. It was firm yet pliant under the pressure of my fingers. The pre-draw was very easy and incredibly earthy.

 
Construction :
The draw was perfect: smoke comes through easily, with just that bit of resistance to give it more impact. Unfortunately, there are also some downsides. I found the cigar to have a very uneven burn and a flaky ash that didn't really hold. A quick relight of the wrapper leaf kept the burn quite balanced, but it remained a problem from start to finish.

Flavor :
After lighting, the cigar experiences a violent taste explosion, and you have to wait a while for the true flavour to come through. After about 1/8 of the length, the cigar starts mellowing out and the taste of smoke vanishes into the first tones of earth. After that, the earthy aroma gets stronger and the early power fades, making place for a balanced and pleasant palette of flavours. After about 1/4 of the cigar, the earthy scents suddenly get a welcome companion: a magnificent aroma of humus, reminiscent of raw mushrooms, the smell of autumn leaves fermenting on moist soil and fresh spring rain. For the remaining part of the cigar, these aromas go through a constant, gentle evolution, without ever changing much.

Value :
Definitely worth the money. If you're a Robusto fan, you won't be disappointed.

Overall Rating :
There are many great qualities about the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2. If you're after something earthy, look no further. When it is properly stored and aged, it will provide a reasonably rich smoke that delivers plenty of flavour without becoming overpowered.

This post was written by Denis aka Inspector. Click here for his latest articles and more information.