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Time for my second review, then! 
As I have mentioned, I am far from experienced so please take my impression of the Epi Especial with the proverbial grain (rock, rather) of salt. In fact, this is a request for comments, inasmuch as it is a review, because my findings below are against the consensus on this cigar!
EDIT, because this is important: If, like me, you are a novice and looking for opinions on which to base a purchasing decision, then please note that my opinion is anything but authoritative. I certainly wish to avoid misleading or deterring someone from trying a cigar that everyone rates highly. My "review" is the impression of a beginner, inviting explanations for my disagreement with the consensus. Again, this is not an expert's review, this cigar could well be excellent.
Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial
Size: 50 x 5.6" (141mm) — Gorditos (Robusto Extra)
Smoke time: 40 minutes to middle - estimated 1 hour 20 mins.
Age: Unknown (bought as a single). Listed as a 2008 release at cubancigarwebsite.com
In my humidor for: One week, at 70% (Hygrometer is "Angelo", 75% during salt test).
Appearance: I cannot judge a wrapper yet, so here is a photo (click to enlarge):
Construction: No problems with cutting, although I did get a feeling that a Palio, or equivalent, would have been more reassuring with this cigar (perhaps this applies to larger ring sizes in general - I don't know yet). Burn was not as uniform as I had hoped for but there were no major problems. The ash was firmer and darker than the Epicure No. 1. The draw was good, even if not perfectly "linear". I did not have to relight but, on the other hand, I did not go past the middle (see below).
Flavour: An initial hit of dry wood with some pepper. The latter increased its claim in the mix as the burn progressed, while the wood never subsided. To me a rather uninspired combination but, thankfully, there are also minor hints of almond, dried fruit, "sea salt" (not sure how else to describe this last one). Alas, as much as I kept searching for it, I could not find what had led others to give the Especial a high mark. Admittedly, others are experts while I am a novice but I just did not see the complexity, or a reason to "admire" this cigar - in the way I had admired the No.1 (a few "flat" spots aside). This is, of course, a "heftier" cigar, with more nicotine than its easygoing cousin (very distant cousin). This fact, combined with inexperience, could have put me off. On the other hand, I felt no "nicotine buzz" or displeasure. Eventually, my feeling became that this is a "wannabe": a cigar outside the usual HdM character (assuming the No.1 is representative of that character) which falls flat on its face as it tries to pack a bit more "punch". I gave up on it after forty minutes, having reached just the middle.
Overall: I was hoping that this would prove a better, more complete, incarnation of the No.1 and I was disappointed. I am hoping that someone more knowledgeable can recognize in my description a common fault: e.g., needs significant aging, needs 67% instead of 70%, etc. For now, the Epicure Especial is crossed off my list.
As I have mentioned, I am far from experienced so please take my impression of the Epi Especial with the proverbial grain (rock, rather) of salt. In fact, this is a request for comments, inasmuch as it is a review, because my findings below are against the consensus on this cigar!
EDIT, because this is important: If, like me, you are a novice and looking for opinions on which to base a purchasing decision, then please note that my opinion is anything but authoritative. I certainly wish to avoid misleading or deterring someone from trying a cigar that everyone rates highly. My "review" is the impression of a beginner, inviting explanations for my disagreement with the consensus. Again, this is not an expert's review, this cigar could well be excellent.
Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial
Size: 50 x 5.6" (141mm) — Gorditos (Robusto Extra)
Smoke time: 40 minutes to middle - estimated 1 hour 20 mins.
Age: Unknown (bought as a single). Listed as a 2008 release at cubancigarwebsite.com
In my humidor for: One week, at 70% (Hygrometer is "Angelo", 75% during salt test).
Appearance: I cannot judge a wrapper yet, so here is a photo (click to enlarge):
Construction: No problems with cutting, although I did get a feeling that a Palio, or equivalent, would have been more reassuring with this cigar (perhaps this applies to larger ring sizes in general - I don't know yet). Burn was not as uniform as I had hoped for but there were no major problems. The ash was firmer and darker than the Epicure No. 1. The draw was good, even if not perfectly "linear". I did not have to relight but, on the other hand, I did not go past the middle (see below).
Flavour: An initial hit of dry wood with some pepper. The latter increased its claim in the mix as the burn progressed, while the wood never subsided. To me a rather uninspired combination but, thankfully, there are also minor hints of almond, dried fruit, "sea salt" (not sure how else to describe this last one). Alas, as much as I kept searching for it, I could not find what had led others to give the Especial a high mark. Admittedly, others are experts while I am a novice but I just did not see the complexity, or a reason to "admire" this cigar - in the way I had admired the No.1 (a few "flat" spots aside). This is, of course, a "heftier" cigar, with more nicotine than its easygoing cousin (very distant cousin). This fact, combined with inexperience, could have put me off. On the other hand, I felt no "nicotine buzz" or displeasure. Eventually, my feeling became that this is a "wannabe": a cigar outside the usual HdM character (assuming the No.1 is representative of that character) which falls flat on its face as it tries to pack a bit more "punch". I gave up on it after forty minutes, having reached just the middle.
Overall: I was hoping that this would prove a better, more complete, incarnation of the No.1 and I was disappointed. I am hoping that someone more knowledgeable can recognize in my description a common fault: e.g., needs significant aging, needs 67% instead of 70%, etc. For now, the Epicure Especial is crossed off my list.
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