Video review HERE.
(Description taken from Cigar-Coop.com website)
The Crux Epicure is Crux Cigar Company’s ninth regular production cigar to be released. It has been a much-anticipated release for almost a year and a half. Crux Epicure introduces the company’s first Connecticut Shade wrapper offering. The name Epicure refers to “a person who cultivates a refined taste, especially in food and wine”. The Crux Epicure not only brings the company’s first regular Connecticut Shade cigar to market, but it is an offering meant to cater to those who are called epicures.
The Crux Epicure was first showcased at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show. This was just prior to August 8, 2016 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Deeming Regulations have been put in play. While there was a small release into the market prior to the August 8th date, the actual widespread release was delayed. The cigar was showcased at the 2017 IPCPR Trade Show and has just begun to make its way to retailers. Crux Cigar Company Vice President Casey Haugen acknowledged some of the delays and was quoted as saying “We have always promised ourselves not to cut corners or compromise in our efforts to blend the best quality and consistent premium cigars. We understand people are anxious to smoke the Epicure, but there have been circumstances that have held up the release.”
Blend Profile
In addition to an Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut Shade wrapper, the Crux Epicure features all Nicaraguan tobaccos for the binder and filler. As with all Crux Cigars, the Epicure is made at the Plasencia factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Plasencia SA)
Vitolas Available
When it was first announced in 2016, the Crux Epicure was to be offered in three sizes. At the 2017 IPCPR Trade Show, Crux announced the widespread launch would contain a fourth size in the form of a Corona Gorda.
Corona Gorda: 5 3/4 x 46
Robusto: 5 x 50
Toro Extra: 6 1/4 x 52 REVIEWED TODAY
Robusto Extra: 5 3/4 x 54
The cigar is a golden brown. Definitely has the look of a Connecticut cigar. It has an average feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors were a nice, sweet orange citrus, brown sugar, and cinnamon with white chocolate and whipping cream notes. There was a black coffee base. The pepper was black and I rated it at a 7. The white chocolate and whipping cream give the cigar a fluffy sweetness. It's quite nice.
The first third (29 minutes) had the flavors changing a bit. They are now a sweet cedar, brown sugar, cinnamon, caramel, and a smaller amount of white chocolate. The black pepper remains good. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is one of cedar and caramel with a little lingering black pepper. I really liked the way the cigar started. The changes from the start to the first third caused me to set the first third score at 87. If it had stayed the way it started it would have been higher.
At the 2/3 point (47 minutes) you still have the cedar, brown sugar, light cinnamon, light white chocolate, and now there is an elevated earthy black coffee. The cigar is still medium bodied. The finish is about the same. With the elevated earthy black coffee notes the cigar has lost some of it's sweetness. It seems to be traveling downhill. The 2/3 point score is an 86.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 7 minutes. The sweetness continued to decrease somewhat. You still had cedar, brown sugar, faint cinnamon, faint white chocolate, and black coffee. The coffee lost it's earthy notes and became elevated. The black pepper also seemed to be elevated. The cigar ended at medium to full bodied. The finish was unchanged. The cigar was somewhat of a disappointment to me. It started so nice and went downhill from there. I am surprised because Crux has some great cigars but this one missed the mark with me. Since the sweeter notes decreased from the 2/3 point the final third score dropped to an 84.
Overall score: 85
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