Wait, I'm smoking a what ?!?

[Dbone]

I'd have to say this is a first, at least in my fragmented memory. I have a box of Hoyo Epi 2 and I've smoked about a quarter or more through the box over the last few weeks and while I claim to be no tasting expect, these are the furthest things from an Epi 2 I've ever smoked. They smoke, if I had put a label on them, like an Upmann or Bolivar. Think its possible they put the wrong bands and box on these cigars?

To confuse me even more, when talking with some brothers... they liken the Epi 2 as a bold, meaty, gritty flavored habanos. Last box or two I went through were creamy, smooth, burnt marsh-mellow, med-light body cigar. Who really knows and doesn't really matter to me one way or the other, they're damn good but not what I'd expect as a Hoyo.

[PapaDisco]

Yeah, I'm certainly no pro, but the thing that stands out for me more than anything else is the enormous variability within a marca and within a box. Even the supposedly 'consistent' sticks, like Epi 2 and PSD4 are just all over the place from one cigar to the next. Mind you, they are almost all consistently good, but one Epi 2 will be all spice and white pepper and the next one cream and leather.

Just following the reviews on this year's blind tasting is an entertaining illustration of this. Even accounting for the vagaries of personal taste, the qualities of sticks from the same box is so different as to practically make it unidentifiable by taste . . . at least that's my excuse for the contest and I'm sticking to it!

[Smallclub]

My 2013 Epicure2 are on the strong side, but they're definitely Hoyo. Thinking that all Hoyo are necessarily "creamy" or mild is just a mistake…

I'm not saying that's what you think, but "Like an Upmann or Bolivar" makes little sense to me, the flavor profiles are so different!

[Vortigan]

Yeah I'd say the same about my '13's,definitely stronger than I've had before and a touch more of a spice kick.Very woody but defined as Hoyo with a floral nuttiness as a base.Recent #1's on the other hand,for me at least,have been all about the cream,toffee,caramel and sugar sweet lip smacking goodness!

[Dbone]

My 2013 Epicure2 are on the strong side, but they're definitely Hoyo. Thinking that all Hoyo are necessarily "creamy" or mild is just a mistake…

I'm not saying that's what you think, but "Like an Upmann or Bolivar" makes little sense to me, the flavor profiles are so different!

Yeah I'd say the same about my '13's,definitely stronger than I've had before and a touch more of a spice kick.Very woody but defined as Hoyo with a floral nuttiness as a base.Recent #1's on the other hand,for me at least,have been all about the cream,toffee,caramel and sugar sweet lip smacking goodness!

Good to see you two saying the recent vintage on the strong side, maybe Habanos did put them in the correct box. They are tasty.

[poisonowns]

Yeah I'd say the same about my '13's,definitely stronger than I've had before and a touch more of a spice kick.Very woody but defined as Hoyo with a floral nuttiness as a base.Recent #1's on the other hand,for me at least,have been all about the cream,toffee,caramel and sugar sweet lip smacking goodness!

Glad to hear this seeing as my #1s should be arriving soon. Can't wait to give them a go once they take a break from their trip!

[Smalls]

I don't think I am all that good at describing flavors. My descriptions would probably be useless to somebody else. I might think the flavor I am getting is shortbread while everyone else would describe vanilla or something.

It would be great if there was a master sommelier on the forum. They are pretty hard to come by. However, it would be interesting to hear someone who has spent years training themselves to taste describe the flavors in a cigar.

[CaptainQuintero]

To confuse me even more, when talking with some brothers... they liken the Epi 2 as a bold, meaty, gritty flavored habanos. Last box or two I went through were creamy, smooth, burnt marsh-mellow, med-light body cigar. Who really knows and doesn't really matter to me one way or the other, they're damn good but not what I'd expect as a Hoyo.

That creamy smooth mash mellow is what I associate with epi 2, not meaty or gritty. Maybe the last box or two you've had have been the ones true to the profile?

Epi2 for me is a digestive biscuit base with a tingle of ginger spice. With layers of cream on top and sometimes a slight melon profile, as if just a smidge of the juice has been folded into the cream.

As long as you're enjoying them it doesn't really matter!

[Dbone]

That creamy smooth mash mellow is what I associate with epi 2, not meaty or gritty. Maybe the last box or two you've had have been the ones true to the profile?

Yes, I'm with you Cap. And Vortigan as he described the Epi 1's. However this last box has been quite a head turner, woodsy, with a real nic kick to it, not smooth & creamy like I've come to know the Epi2. I waited until I've had a good sampling of the box. This blend is different, but it had me joking if they put the wrong labels on LOL I can only imagine it's happen more than once before.