Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 1 Prelight
Hoyo de Monterrey is a Cuban marca founded in 1865 by Don José Gener y Batet. The brand is named after the “valley of Monterrey” in the Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba, where its tobacco is grown.
The Epicure No.1 is a Pre-1960 release and is one of the oldest blends in the modern Cuban portfolio. The vitola is a personal favorite of mine, the Corona Gorda, with dimensions of 5 5/8in. x 46 ring gauge.
The wrapper is smooth but shows signs of tooth and is significantly darker than the other Epicures I’ve seen. The aromas are of cedar, cinnamon, and some nutmeg. The draw is just a notch too tight for my preference, but it should be serviceable. Notes on the cold draw are more cedar and cinnamon.
Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 1 First Third
Starting off with some medium-plus smoke output. There are notes of oak, sugarcane, and some tea crackers on the palate. Light roast coffee, cream, nutmeg, and mace spice slightly sting the sinuses on the retrohale. The ash is somewhat flaky, and the draw is still tight, but the construction and burn seem fine otherwise. There is a soft finish of tea crackers and nutmeg. The overall profile is smooth and subtle; nothing is jumping out at me yet.
Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 1 Second Third
On the palate, I’m seeing graham crackers, sugarcane, oak, and vanilla. The retrohale shows light creamy coffee, cinnamon, dried flowers, and a tickle of nutmeg and mace. Besides the tight draw, the ash, burn, and construction have been great. The smoke output is medium plus. The soft finish is of graham crackers and nutmeg. The flavors are sweeter, and the baking spices are more prominent without as much mace on the retrohale.
Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 1 Final Third
The notes on the palate are graham crackers, sugarcane, and sandalwood. I’m getting dried flowers, light creamy coffee, and cinnamon on the retrohale. The ash is flaky, but the burn and construction are excellent. The draw opened up a touch in the final third. The smoke output is medium, and the finish is soft with notes of dried flowers and sandalwood. The profile is much more floral in the final third but is still as sweet and flavorful as the second.
Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 1 Conclusions
I nearly wrote off Epicure No. 1 in the first third, but it only improved from there. What started as a pleasant flavor profile for a coffee companion became a nuanced and complex experience. The second third’s sugarcane, nutmeg, and creamy coffee were exceptional. One example had a tight draw, but barring that, the construction was excellent. While I’d be more likely to recommend the Epicure Especial or the Epicure De Luxe, the Epicure No.1 takes up a more nuanced and mild niche in Hoyo De Monterrey’s portfolio. These can be had for $23-$25, so a 3-pack of tubos won’t break the bank. If you’re looking for a mild-medium Cuban cigar, I don’t think you could go wrong with the Epicure No. 1.
