Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial TEO NOV17 (SM2RW)

[teamrandr]

The cigar is very nicely constructed. Smooth Colorado wrapper. The feel is very uniform through out the stick. The aroma is so nice, barnyard, toasted tobacco, rich espresso and cocoa aroma at cold. I had a solid breakfast of eggs and bacon.  Rye is ready to go out and play fetch.  I grabbed this smoke to review for you fine folks.

1/3 Starts off with a snore. Basic toasted tobacco flavors to start. It is a cold gloomy Michigan morning. My grandmother passed recently and I am trying to pick up the pieces. The draw is just about right. I have had good experiences with this format. There is a slight chocolate espresso coming in. This is welcomed. Picking up steam. We have mocha in the mix with a slight baked goods flavor coming through. Can't quite put my finger on it. Retro is a bit spicy so to speak. Maybe a bit of cinnamon. Short bread dipped in chocolate is mingling with a cinnamon scone that has been made with whole milk. There are definitely tones of latte and of course tobacco. This has been enjoyable so far. Slight nicotine kick probably because its morning. Okay it is full blown rich tobacco coming in now. I can certainly see where people often cite cream in this marqua. To me it is a bit on the toffee coffee creamer/latte spectrum. Toss this in with baked scones. This cigar is near full bodied to me. The palate feels slightly coated. Flavors are rich. Half way it is the same story. Very enjoyable. Needed a few touch ups. Draw has tightened up a bit. Cocoa with the latte is gaining a new depth. The body is near full. Maybe not the best morning cigar but with the week I have had it is welcome. It is not beating around the bush. The flavors are straight forward.

  2/3 The cream aspect is unique. It is not a straight cream. Like previously mentioned it borders on a butter crunch pecan holiday treat. Toffee, espresso and it has now lost the scone flavors. Feels like I'm smoking a latte. I must reiterate that there is a full blown rich tobacco flavor that underlies all of the latte/cocoa front tones. Wim hof breathing technique is helping but not enough to counter the cold Michigan morning. Flavors are the leaning further towards tobacco with dark roast. The latte creaminess has all but dissapeared. It has been muted by full blown esspresso/cocoa. Retrohale has revealed a bit of spice. On the clove cinnamon spectrum. All in all there is depth in the 2/3. I wouldn't describe it as nuanced. It is straight forward and bold.   

  Final 3rd This is a good sized smoke. There is a spiciness at the back of the palate. The front is mostly tobacco right now. There are moments where latte/rum chatta is shining back through. I can see why these would benefit from a nice slumber party. The flavors have that grittiness of a 98 Jeep Grand Cherooke that has been wrenched on out in the driveway. We are moving back into mocha latte with the creaminess moving into the rum chatta spectrum now. Complex? Possibly, it could be the complexity of my life unfolding after the loss of a loved one during the holidays. This cigar has edges. The type of cigar you smoke when you need a jolt to the system. Full bodied draws are are a bit too spicy for retro as is it rounds the plate. I set it down because it is time to go have a great lunch with all my family that is in town. What a morning. Two cocktails some espresso and a a 20 minute cardio session. I am ready for the day.