Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2 (ABR ENE 12)

[dangolf18]

For review is one of my favorite robustos. 2010 and 2011 production were spot-on. Let's see how the 2012s are doing.

Aroma/Color: Oily colorado wrapper. For a mass-produced Cuban cigar, appearance and construction are exceptional. Pre-light is heavenly–cocoa, cedar, and sweetness. This cigar has a great draw and is well-packed.

1/3: First few puffs are great. I’m not getting any hints of ammonia. The cigar is light-to-medium bodied. The first notes I pick up are cedar, coffee, cream, and light spice. Despite being slightly light-bodied, tobacco is very rich tasting. Burn throughout the first third has been razor-sharp.

2/3: The strength of this cigar is ramping up and is medium bodied at this point. The intensity of the cocoa and cream have picked up and I’m now getting lots of leather and hints of toasted bread.

3/3: While the cigar is medium-bodied, I’m definitely getting some sort of nicotine rush. Only change flavorwise is that I'm getting more pronounced notes of leather, coffee, and cream. Nothing goes better than the complexity of espresso and cream.

Overall impression: Very enjoyable smoke that' always great to have on-hand. I believe this is one of the most consistent and trustworthy habanos of the last 5 years. This is also one of the only robustos that offers such complexity of flavors with very little age.. For me, the flavor profile also makes it stand out from other robustos...the perfect medley of cream, cedar, hay, and coffee.

Verdict: 92/100 points. With 2-3 more years of age, I can see this being a solid 93 point cigar.

[Optic101]

Nice review, the Epi2 is nice and one of my favorite too.

[bummy]

Nice review! I've only got 4 more left from a box I got off Rob MLO ABR 12.

Didn't have a bad one at all , need to buy a box.

[Rye]

Nice review!

[Surucipe]

Nice review! Also one of my absolute favorite cigars, don't think I've ever had a bad one.

[rodrigodeanda]

A couple of days ago I had Jun 12 one, my first Epi 2 in fact. All I can say is that I agree totally on the complexity and flavour wise I enjoyed very much to say the least, already looking forward to my next one!

[...]

Great review, cheers!

[FLB03TT]

Great Review, you summed up my thoughts on the Epi. 2 better than I could have!

[OchoZacho]

Waiting on a box from the recent 12:12 deal to come in. Never had one - bought based on reviews and looking forward to it more now after this review!

[mickk]

Great review. Thanks you have inspired me to purchase a box!!