HdM Epicure Especial – ASR-JUL-18 (FHHJRW)

[StogieSteve23]

 

Opening Remarks: Unfortunately, this is the last one from an El Pres selected box of 10 that I won here on the forum earlier this year.  This box was awesome and I shredded through it pretty quick.  I really enjoy the HdM marca as well as this robusto extra size.

Cold Draw: After I clip the head and test the draw, which was perfect, immediate notes of cedar and milk chocolate are prevalent.  Faint roasted almonds as well. This wrapper is a smooth velvety feel with a couple large veins running along top and sides but nothing uneven feeling in the hate. 

First Third: After lighting up the cigar, I notice smoke production, draw and burn are perfect. Vanilla and buttered cornbread are my immediate thought. Heavy cedar on the retrohale which I really enjoy.  I know some people don’t like an overpowering cedar note to their cigars but I’ve always found it quite pleasant.  The smoke is a cool velvety feel on the tongue.  Toasted white bread with almond butter spread now come to the forefront.  I knock the ash off after about an inch and need to do a touchup on one side as it was burning a little off.  Vanilla extract and a little hazelnut make their way into the mix.  Shortly before moving onto the second third, a couple large hits of coconut surprisingly mad an appearance.

 

Second Third: The ash is a little flakier than I like. As I write this review and do work at the same time, I find myself getting ash on my keyboard more frequently than favorable (not that it ever is, but it happens).  Still getting coconut!! Loving this smoke right now and I can only think of an Almond Joy that’s been sitting in the fridge for a day.  Delicious coconut, nuttiness, and a slight milk chocolate undernote. After knocking off the ash again, the cone seems to have departed along with it and I need a slight relight to continue peak combustion.  Vanilla extract and baking spices are now present with no more coconut lingering around.  The burn is a little wonky but nothing that is bothersome. The smoke smells like clean burning dry cedar and a little raw marshmallow. Roasted unsalted peanut flavors are dominant now.  Milk chocolate on the retro now before moving into the final third.

Final Third: The burn like is sharp but not perfect at this time.  Combustion is still great.  A little white pepper note moves into the mix which lingers for only a few puffs.  Creamy peanut butter and hazelnut makes its way into the smoke.  Not the overpowering peanut flavor I get in some Punch smokes but a nice lingering flavor on the tongue.  Another little touchup is needed for it to continue burning here. Dark chocolate covered peanuts for the prominent flavor now.  Peanut butter on the retrohale. A slight mint note, like wintergreen dip comes forward. Temperature of the smoke and cigar is still relatively cool at this time with just over an inch left in the stick.  Something I find quite enjoyable as I am deep into the final third.  The mint flavor is persistent and I find it very odd from this cigar to get it.  I know I’ve tasted it before in other smokes but not usually for the Epi Especial.  Milk chocolate and cedar to close out the cigar just before the ½ inch mark. 

 

Closing Remarks: I really enjoy this cigar. Some nice complexity in a great size.  Now that this box is done, I’ll need to invest in another or two.  The flavor profiles present and cool temperature of the cigar were a big plus.  Despite the touch-ups and relights needed, I loved every part of this smoking experience.

Burn: 3/5 (Decent burn – a few touchups needed)

Construction: 4/5 (Well filled but not overfilled – great draw)

Flavor: 5/5 (Very good – milk chocolate, nuts, cedar, coconut and slight mint)

Smell: 5/5 (Pleasant – fresh dried cedar)

Wrapper: 4/5 (Medium brown with some large veins but nothing sharp – a nice feel)

Overall Score: 21/25