Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure No 2, MAE FEB 2014, Easter Weekend Review Competition

[mrjon86]

Disclaimer: This is my first review post on this forum. Come to think of it, its my first review EVER!

Lets start of with some origin stories, shall we? This particularly handsome stick is from a 12:12 from last year. It was the combo one with a box of Quintero Favoritos. It was my first ever purchase from El Prez (definitely not my last) and my first ever box of cubans. I havent been smoking cigars for long, mind you its only been a year plus that i've started smoking cigars as a hobby. Anyway, i digress...

This stick was paired with a cup of milk coffee, at home, after a hectic oncall in the hospital. Just some relaxing me time.

The wrapper has a gorgeous reddish hue, construction is impeccable, no visible veins, no soft spots.

The cap was cut, and lit with a single torch flame. Excuse the generic, cheap china made lighter. Been meaning to get a better lighter but the budget has skewed towards buying more cigars.

Cold draw: simple hay and barnyard, slight salt sensation on the lips. Resistance was just purrrrfect!

First third: Puffs of creamy smoke accompany a delicious cedar notes with a tinge of sweet spice. I was awaiting that mild milk coffee note that i am accustomed to with this cigar, alas it did not veer its head.

Second third: There it was, that luscious creamy milk coffee note arrived. It intertwined with the cedar notes and gently tickled my palate. This cigar is quite mild in body but boy is it big on flavor! The ash held throughout the first third but i ashed it anyway to avoid a cigar catastrophe.

Final third: Not much of a flavor change, as the milk coffee notes faded out. The cedar notes lingered and the final inch saw some bitterness creep up but not overpowering as to make it unsmokable. It is a young stick after all...

All in all a fine cigar, one of the best from this box. A testament to the construction of this cigar, it did not go out or need any burn correction, not once. It is a box from Rob after all, what can i say.

Cheers,

Hafeez

[bradbrennan]

Great review! One of my favorites, thanks for sharing keep them coming!

[JohnS]

Congratulations Hafeez, you pulled out a wonderful cigar out of the box there! Hmmm....it's making me want an Epi No.2 right now! Don't worry about the lighter, your cutter makes up for it!

[stunod]

Very nice review. It's easy to smoke um, not so easy to review. Great job

[Quint]

Nice review, great job

[Walt69]

Good stuff! I've only had a single Epi #2 and that was on the porch last summer during a party so I don't remember a fair bit of it. I hear ya' about the on call work... been an RN for a couple years now.

[Hunter1974]

Awesome review a pro couldn't have done better!

[FLB03TT]

Simply great review!! Keep 'em comin'.

[Shikar]

Salam Hadeez

Awesome review bro!!

Regards.

[Optic101]

Nice review and pictures, well done !

[PuroDan]

Nice Review. Beautiful looking cigar

[dflan82]

Nice review Hafeez! Love these cigars!

[maxcjs0101]

Nice!

[madandana]

Nice job. Thanks.

[mrjon86]

Thanks guys for the positive feedback. I too was surprised at the quality of the photo, I just switched my camera phone setting from auto to manual and put it on night scene. Turned out pretty well eh?

I know I tasted some other flavors/notes/nuances but my fairly nooby palate can't truly discern them. I guess I have to smoke more to taste more.

[rmill3r]

Epi 2 was my first box purchase as well. I still have half of that box and love it just as much as when I first smoked them. They are really rich and creamy. Love your ashtray by the way!

[mrjon86]

I have the owner of la casa Kuala Lumpur to thank for that ashtray. Second prize for a long ash contest a few months ago

[CoCigarSmoker]

Congrats on a great review. It was a pleasure to read!

Seth

[habanolover]

Really nice review and really nice looking cigar! Tried my first Epi2 a week or two ago, flavor was good but just found it too light in body for a cigar that size. May pick-up a few singles to try again...