Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure No 2 AUG 06

[Colt45]

You've hit on something I feel plays a large part in a cigar's aging potential. I have

no facts to back it up - it's just a personal theory.

I feel that a cigar which offers a sense of density to the smoke - mouthfeel - has

more potential to come around in time when initially it might not show much flavor.

On the other hand, I never feel good about the potential of a cigar with a thin, vapid

mouthfeel - and in my experience, they are usually flavorless, and remain that way.

[CelticBasque]

Some elements of coffee kicking in but it is no more than a bored stripper going through the motions.

This man really does personify his smokes, eh?!? :-D

[egross]

The review was quite interesting for me, since I got my last batch of epicures No2 a few months ago from you and was disappointed about their taste. This result came to me as a little shock since the Epicure No2 was my favorite light smoke to begin a day with or in the evenening between meals. The great memory of those days in Havanna where i regulary started with a nice drink and one of those babies was strongly anchored into my system.... and with these memories the esteem for this cigar.

Back to this spcial delivery... since it might possible we tried the same or a simular batch of cigars, I got suspicious if maybe there is something wrong with them. In the beginning I was thinking maybe the cigars froze during the transportaion to germany via plane and lost their taste with that. After a while in my big humidor there got somwhat of flavour back.... but nothing from wich I recall and loved.

I am going to get me some of those at my local retailer here im munich and have to compare. I´m curious to know if it was just a bad batch or the quality of HdM has gotten that bad in generell.

btw: Much worse where the deviant quality of the Romeo y Julieta Exhibition No 4 of the same order... initially I thought of the same reason (froze during air-transportation) and just discovered your recent horrible review of this. Now I am undecicive and are thinking that I have to do a comparison for these two.... otherwise I´m condemned to find alternatives.

For a matter of fact, those cigars stayed barely touched in my humidor, while other brands came and went to fulfill their destiny making my happy

[El Presidente]

Have had some ordinary Epi 2's recently and was keen to try again what was once one of my favourite Robusto's.

Great looking cigar. Well constructed with smell at cold of toasted tobacco and Walkers shortbread.

Cerrated the end. Clean tobacco taste on the lips with no other distinguishable flavours. Good draw.

Fired up the foot....medium bodied, slightly shallow mouthfeel. Gobfulls of smoke but no density. Flavours becoming clearer after the first 1/4 inch....toasted tobacco and cream/shortbread. To this point a good honest cigar....nothing earth shattering. Wanting a little more to develop, a little deeper charachter.

Nearing the halfway point and we have a balanced if two trick poney. Toasted Tobacco and shortbread. Medium -light in strength, still thin on the palate. Barest hints of white pepper through the nose. No elements of beans (coffee/vanilla) at this point. Will need to finish with some development of character to win me over.

Very straightforward delivery of core flavours already spelt out. No hints of bitterness or use outside of the lack flavour development. Not offensive in any way...just a tad boring. If I want a light cigar I demand complexity. Some elements of coffee kicking in but it is no more than a bored stripper going through the motions.

In summary a good to average cigar with some potential to develop its cream/shotbread and tobacco core. Needs something more which may develop in time but I would not back this horse to wow me in three years time. An improvement on previous 06 HDM Epi 2 tastings but not enough to have me putting a box away in my humidor. Too many other great 06 Robusto's out there.

86/100 3/5 Smokerings.