Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2

📌 Brand: Hoyo de Monterrey
📌 Line: Epicure
📌 Size: No. 2 (Robustos, 4 7/8" × 50)
📌 Weight: 12.3 g
📌 Age: 4 years
📌 Origin: Cuba

Tasting Notes

• Light Cedar – Soft, classic Cuban wood

• Cream – Gentle, rounded texture

• Dry Grass – Faint, grassy undertone

• Bitter Edge – Appears as structure fails

First Impressions

The Epicure No. 2 looks clean and well presented with a smooth wrapper, but firmness varies along the body. Pre-light aroma shows light cedar and cream. Cold draw is very tight, signaling airflow problems from the start.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Cream and light cedar try to emerge, but the tight draw restricts smoke and flavor development. Burn is acceptable early on.

• Second Third – Flavors remain muted and linear. Draw never opens properly, requiring slower pacing to avoid overheating.

• Final Third – Cracking begins near the head, introducing bitterness and heat. Structure deteriorates, and the profile loses balance toward the end.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Grappa Nonino ÙE Monovitigno® Ribolla Gialla - Clean grape sweetness and floral lift help refresh the palate and counteract bitterness from restricted airflow.

• Tea – Taiwan Oriental Beauty (Dong Fang Mei Ren) - Honeyed sweetness and soft fruit notes add dimension where the cigar struggles to open up.

Music Pairing

“Days to Come” – Bonobo
Calm, spacious rhythm helping slow the smoke and manage the tight draw.

Final Thoughts

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 aims for creamy, elegant Cuban subtlety, but this sample is held back by a very tight draw and cracking toward the end, which introduce bitterness and disrupt balance.

Final Score: 6/10
Why not a 10?
Persistent tight draw limited flavor development, and cracking in the final third compromised structure and enjoyment.

Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.