Young Cigars & the Hoyo Epi No. 2

[Kruz]

I've seen the term "young" thrown around here by people in reference to smoking a cuban and I was wondering what it exactly meant and how you can tell.

I ask because tonight I smoked a Hoyo Epicure No.2 for the first time that I received from *****IT in a robusto sampler. The cigar took 14 days to ship and I stored it in my cooler at 65% for 48 days. There were parts of it I enjoyed but there were parts that had a charred flavour that was unpleasant. I purged the cigar a bunch of times and made sure I was not puffing on it more than 1-2 times a minute.

Could it be that it was a "young" cuban in need of more rest time in my cooler? Could it just be a dud?

I'm going to give this cigar another try with more rest time next time but I have to say I was disappointed in this cigar. Especially after hearing such good reviews about it.

[jrb5783]

a young cigar to me is a cigar that has a year or less of age for instance I just got in some hoyo epi 2s that are a may 12 box code so I wouldnt consider these young sticks now if was a 2013 box code the sticks would be young

[UpInSmoak]

Young is relative I would say. It's not so much the length of time,more so the taste of tannins and ammonia. I expect youngness from cigars with less than 2 yrs or so. Definitely not concrete though. Many take less time, some take longer. If you are unsure, take a handful, 5 or 10 of the same cigars, from same box and date, and smoke 1 every few months or so. I'm sure you will pick up quick.

Side mention - if also could be the length of time you let them rest. I try to wait 8 weeks. Enjoy!

[nikesupremedunk]

A month and half should've been more than enough time for the cigar to settle. Which part did you find enjoyable and which part were charred? It could've been that the cigar is still more humid than it should, I would try dry boxing it for 24-48 hours next time to see if that improves the taste. The Epi 2 smokes well young though. I enjoyed them a lot right after receiving them last year. Definitely give more a try, chances are you had a dud.

I'm still trying to determine what a young cigar is. I've experienced some cigars with a year or less that were great until the first two thirds then either turn bitter and harsh the last third or just turns into a dud. I believe these are considered "young" and time will smooth out the last third. Some "young" cigars just weren't very well balanced, and could've benefitted from more time.

[Thrassos]

Its hard to tell what you dont like about the young cuban cigars but in general i age all my cubans at least a few years before I smoke them. I just think they taste a lot better after a few years. However it's probably different for you guys.

[Kruz]

A month and half should've been more than enough time for the cigar to settle. Which part did you find enjoyable and which part were charred? It could've been that the cigar is still more humid than it should, I would try dry boxing it for 24-48 hours next time to see if that improves the taste. The Epi 2 smokes well young though. I enjoyed them a lot right after receiving them last year. Definitely give more a try, chances are you had a dud.

I'm still trying to determine what a young cigar is. I've experienced some cigars with a year or less that were great until the first two thirds then either turn bitter and harsh the last third or just turns into a dud. I believe these are considered "young" and time will smooth out the last third. Some "young" cigars just weren't very well balanced, and could've benefitted from more time.

To answer your question the enjoyable flavours and the charred harsh flavours alternated. The draw was also not that great (tab tight) so humidity may have been an issue. I've noticed similiar issues with some of my RyJ short churchhills (charred flavour and not that great of a draw) but none of my NCs. Lately I've been wondering if I should try and store my cuban cigars at even a lower RH (maybe 60%). I use 65% beads with a calibrated gauge so I'm pretty sure the cooler is at 65%.

Quick question about dry boxing. I live in a pretty dry area but my home stays around 50% RH in the summer. Will 24 hours of dry boxing kill the cigar? Also if in 24 hours I realize I will not be smoking ican I just put it back in the cooler?

[Laxman]

I have had quite a few boxes that when I first smoked one under 90 days tasted horrible or had no taste. Thanks to feedback from this forum I did not toss them! After being stored for a year or more those same boxes are flavor sticks now, only exception are two boxes of Upman 46's which still taste bad to me after 3 years. Guess I will have to put them away for another 3 to 5 lol.

[Charltonc]

I love 2012 epicure no. 2.