About the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial
Hoyo de Monterrey has built its reputation on lightness, sweetness, and a delicate aromatic touch, and the Epicure Especial sits comfortably among the brand’s flagship expressions. Rolled in the larger Robusto Extra format at 141 millimetres, this vitola gives the famously gentle Hoyo blend more room to develop without sacrificing the house’s signature finesse. The tobacco is grown in the Vuelta Abajo region of Pinar del Rio, the heart of Cuba’s finest cigar leaf, and the Especial has become a favourite for smokers who prize refinement over raw power.
Flavor profile by thirds
The opening third is soft and creamy, leading with toasted cedar, a light grassy freshness, and that characteristic Hoyo sweetness on the lips. As the cigar moves into the second third the body fills out a touch, bringing forward gentle cocoa, roasted nuts, and a measured pepper spice that keeps the smoke lively rather than heavy. The final third stays composed and elegant, settling into mellow coffee, light earth, and a lingering creamy finish that explains why so many smokers return to this size again and again.
Pairings
- An aged Cuban rum or a lighter Spanish brandy to echo the cigar’s natural sweetness
- A milky cortado or a smooth flat white for a relaxed morning or midday smoke
- A crisp Champagne or a dry sparkling wine, whose acidity lifts the creamy cedar notes
Aging and storage
Like most Hoyo de Monterrey cigars, the Epicure Especial smokes beautifully young, yet it also rewards patience. Held in a seasoned humidor at roughly 65 to 70 percent relative humidity and around 18 degrees Celsius, the blend rounds out over a few years, with the cedar deepening and the spice softening into something rounder and sweeter. Rotate your boxes occasionally and keep the humidity steady, since the delicate nature of this tobacco makes it sensitive to swings in moisture.
Who it is for
This is an ideal cigar for the smoker who wants genuine Cuban character without an aggressive nicotine kick. Newcomers find it approachable thanks to its mild to medium body and forgiving construction, while seasoned aficionados appreciate the quiet complexity that unfolds across the smoke. If your taste runs toward elegant, creamy, daytime cigars rather than bold powerhouses, the Epicure Especial belongs in your rotation.
Frequently asked questions
How strong is the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial?
It is generally regarded as a mild to medium cigar. The body builds gently through the smoke but stays smooth and balanced, which makes it a comfortable choice for most of the day.
What size and vitola is the Epicure Especial?
It is a Robusto Extra measuring 5.5 inches (141 mm) in length with a 50 ring gauge, offering a generous yet manageable smoking experience of roughly 80 to 90 minutes.
What does the Epicure Especial taste like?
Expect creamy cedar and a soft natural sweetness up front, moving into cocoa, roasted nuts, and a touch of pepper spice, before finishing on mellow coffee and earth.
Explore more
Browse all Hoyo de Monterrey cigars, see our Hoyo de Monterrey price guide, or try the Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure No.2 and Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de Río Seco. Store yours in a seasoned humidor and see our guide on how long cigars last. Learn more from Wikipedia, the official Habanos S.A. site.
Janet Gray –
Great cigar! Hoyo de Monterrey Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial offers excellent quality and flavor. Notes of caramel and tobacco throughout, good burn, nice draw. Not quite perfect but very close. Will definitely order again!
Brenda Gibson –
Absolutely love this Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial! Hoyo de Monterrey continues to impress with their quality. Wonderful complexity with honey and nuts, smooth creamy smoke, and perfect construction. One of my all-time favorites!
George Collins –
Absolutely outstanding cigar! The Hoyo de Monterrey Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial delivers exceptional quality from start to finish. Rich, complex flavors with notes of vanilla and spice. Perfect construction and draw. This is what premium Cuban cigars are all about. Highly recommended!
Raymond Morgan –
A true masterpiece from Hoyo de Monterrey. This Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial is everything you want in a premium Cuban cigar. Exquisite flavors of mild spice and earth, flawless construction, razor-sharp burn. Been smoking these for years and they never disappoint!
Roy Torres –
Best cigar I’ve had in a long time! Hoyo de Monterrey really knocked it out of the park with the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial. Rich flavor profile featuring caramel and tobacco, perfect draw, and excellent burn. Can’t recommend this enough!
Donna Campbell –
Best cigar I’ve had in a long time! Hoyo de Monterrey really knocked it out of the park with the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial. Rich flavor profile featuring honey and nuts, perfect draw, and excellent burn. Can’t recommend this enough!