HdM Epicure No.2: The Problem

[LaoFan]

I've always thought these tasted like sand and paper.

#boring

While in Singapore @ The Olde Cuban, the owner and I discussed. 

After a long chat someone handed over a '00 HdM#2. If that didn't change my mind, nothing would.

Smoked it tonight:

 

Tonight I thought of 4 important truths as I smoked:

1) Aged Cuban tobacco is, almost without question, fantastic — no matter the stick. Nothing comes close. While anything over 1 is solid, everything around 5 is great, Ten to fifteen years is where the true magic starts happening.

2) Smoking is unique to each individual. No matter how much someone tells you a stick is the best ('without question')... you're still going to have your preferences. The way we taste.. the way we smell.. the way we describe what we taste and smell. 

3) Outside of the aforementioned delicious Aged Cuban tobacco... I still think the Epi #2 is poop.

4) I probably shouldn't have had tzatziki before smoking this... now it's all moot?

Gawddamnit...

[NYGuido]

I have a box of these in my humidor that tastes like air and sandpaper had an unholy love child. It’s only a year old. Guess I need to wait. 

[Lucas Buck]

This is one of those eternally divisive cigars. I like them from 5+ years on and love them with 20+ years age. And yes there is something magic about long aged Cuban tobacco. There is just no substitute. Been smoking from my ‘70s stash this year and every one just mind blowing. 

[BG318]

Preach, brother, on all 4 points.

As well as the sand and paper part. I would add in the stale crumbs from underneath a tray of not great donuts too, but I would then be referred to point 2..

[qs210]

I'm comfortably on the opposite side of the spectrum. I love this stick. I have had a few total disaster smokes before though.

[Allroz]

I’ve noticed these things definitely need some rest or you risk the flatness mentioned above - honestly prefer the Epi 1 over the 2 but maybe it’s just the size. 

[alsiola]

There's a small specialist spirit and beer shop near my house with a very infrequently opened Hunters and Frankau humidor. Unfortunately the owners are not really into their cigars, but see it as an occasional source of extra sales - nonetheless, it does seem to be a well kept humidor.

The good side of this is you can find some absolute aged gems in there, unfortunately without any idea of how aged. Early in my smoking journey I bought an Epi 2 from them, and it was without doubt the single cigar that "hooked" me - mild, but incredibly smooth, creamy, and smoke texture like nothing I'd experienced before. I can only assume it had been there for many years.

I've since tried the same cigar at 1 to 2 years old, and it wasn't even close to that experience. I'd go as far as to say extremely disappointing, even bearing in mind the expectation I'd created. None of the "creaminess", very muted flavour. Many other Cubans I've tried aged and young have not had the same gulf in experience - yes there is clear improvement with age, but I've still enjoyed them without, and the core "character" of the particular cigar was still there.

Leads me to believe that, at least of the cigars I've tried and within my experience, age is more important to the Epi 2 than to much else.

[Cestis4]

I wish I didn’t quit for 25 years and still had my old sticks.

[Çnote]

Love Epis! They do need as much time as you can bare to give them. They start to pop for me at about 6-7 years.

[Montezüma]

Nice Post! Olde Cuban in Chinatown is a great spot but I prefer their downstairs compared to their newer space upstairs. The fact that they are open afternoon makes it a great spot for after-lunch. Not too many choices in Singapore, I counted three cigar spots so far.

[ha_banos]

Stock up and let it age away. Your young. Your lucky. There'll be good and dull in there. But hey, that's the Cuban roulette.

[BrightonCorgi]

18 hours ago, LaoFan said:

4) I probably shouldn't have had tzatziki before smoking this... now it's all moot?

Gawddamnit...

Should have had Laksa instead! 😄

[LaoFan]

On 10/26/2025 at 11:44 PM, BrightonCorgi said:

Should have had Laksa instead! 😄

🤯 I should have thought of this.

[Havanaaddict]

It is a Cigar that I love to hate 😂 I had always thought they were really woody and I tend to like a sweeter flavor cigar. But that being said many years ago, I picked up some 1980 Epi 2’s that were outstanding - rich, creamy, amazing. And I have been chasing that flavor, trying to replicate it again. Also, the fact that it is one of the 50 cab cigars - I’m always a sucker for a cigar out of a cab.

[gormag38]

I must say I too love this cigar. It's a great change of pace cigar for me and was the one that 'got me hooked'. 

I've got a 2019 cab that I haven't checked in on in years. It'll now be in line to get sampled from again soon!

[joeypots]

I never smoked a lot of them, the Epi 1 was an early favorite when I got into the Cuban thing. I've got a box that's hitting it's stride but they are 3rd or 4th on my list of robustos.

[Fugu]

l’m with @ha_banos there. “Conceptually” a great cigar. 😅 Young or aged. Stocked up on them with Cigarmageddon menacing, and got fabulous ones as well as ‘dull’ ones.

Another Robusto that has fallen victim to production inconsistencies (autocomplete suggesting ‘incompetence’ here 😄).

[bmac]

I sure enjoyed the 50 cabs when they were $9 a stick.Doubt I’ll purchase another.🥲 Construction issues seemed to plaque them just before and around 2020. The 25 SLB’s typically have 4-6 plugged.

[ha_banos]

11 hours ago, bmac said:

I sure enjoyed the 50 cabs when they were $9 a stick.Doubt I’ll purchase another.🥲 Construction issues seemed to plaque them just before and around 2020. The 25 SLB’s typically have 4-6 plugged.

Some say if you get less than 4 duds in a box you're doing well! And that's from a long time ago. Still holds I'll say.

[Redgoldband]

I’ve had one good one that had some cherry. The others have been air, sand, faint cardboard, and forgettable. I wonder where the redeeming qualities of this stick are, if any. I’ve relegated it to 'forgetaboutem' land.


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[FOHgetaboutit]

On 10/29/2025 at 7:06 AM, bmac said:

I sure enjoyed the 50 cabs when they were $9 a stick.Doubt I’ll purchase another.🥲 Construction issues seemed to plaque them just before and around 2020. The 25 SLB’s typically have 4-6 plugged.

$9 a stick, man it’s wild coming into this hobby and seeing what prices “used” to be just 5 years ago.

[MrBirdman]

On 10/25/2025 at 1:51 PM, LaoFan said:

Ten to fifteen years is where the true magic starts happening

I think this is cigar, palate and era dependent - for example, I don’t think any Montecristo improves significantly past 10 years, and many peak well before then. I also doubt some of the >50 rg cigars released in the last 20 years will meaningfully benefit from that much age either. But again, that depends on your palate.

Pre-2002 tobacco is a different beast though. It was before my time but the consensus is that it usually benefitted much more from aging, and the sticks I’ve smoked from that era bear that out. 

I really don’t care for the Epicure series outside the Especial, but I do think they improve significantly with extended aging.