The Crux Epicure Cigar Review – Patience Grasshopper Patience

Hello to all you Crux Cigar fans out there. By now you should be starting to get your hands on the new Crux Epicure cigar and I can assure you it is a quite the smoking experience. I have personally enjoyed a handful of these delectable cigars and have shared some with friends of mine. I am still waiting to hear back on their experiences, so this article may well be updated with additional notes as I get their input. Until then let me break down the Crux Epicure for you  and proved you tasting notes from  myself and my StogiePress associate Anthony Pace.

Let’s begin with a the story of the epicure. It has been a long time coming for this young and growing cigar brand, The company has received numerous accolades for their cigars from the very start of their journey and of course partnering with names like Erik Espinosa and Plasencia only helped that along. The Crux Epicure is a cigar that has been in the works for quite some time. Fans of Crux Cigars caught a glimpse of it at the 2016 IPCPR  but it was not ready for production until this year. There will  be no cigar until its time!! That patience for perfection has been the fuel of the Crux Cigars engine from the start.

Crux Cigars Vice President Casey Haugen is quick to note:

“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.”

The Crux Epicure is the company’s first venture into using a Connecticut Shade wrapper and for those that want to know the why the word “Epicure”, it is a synonym for connoisseur – a person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink. To say the company has taken great pride in this cigar offering is an understatement. In fact the company itself describes the Crux Epicure as:

“The subtle harmony of tobaccos in just the right blend results in this desirable and approachable cigar. A sophisticated creamy experience awaits with refined notes of white chocolate, nougat, and creme brulee.”

We will  got more into the notes soon and as you will read there is even more to it than described by the company.

While the blend was originally kept secret, it has since leaked out and is described simply as:

• Wrapper – Ecuadorian Connecticut
• Binder – Nicaraguan
• Filler – Nicaraguan

The Crux Epicure is available in 4 vitolas and comes packaged in 10-count boxes:

• Corona Gorda – 5.375 x 46 (MSRP $9.25)
• Robusto – 5 x 50 (MSRP $10.00)
• Toro  – 6.25 x 52 (MSRP $10.75)
• Robusto Extra – 5.75 x 54  (MSRP $11.50)

For those that were at the 2016 IPCPR you heard they would release 3 vitolas, but since then, they added a fourth – the Corona Gorda

For this review,  Anthony and I sampled the Crux Epicure Robusto

The Crux Epicure

The Crux Epicure is one of those beautifully constructed cigars that all cigar lovers would like. It has a medium tan and glistening wrapper with no noticeable veins. There is a light marbling through the wrapper and it is finished with an expertly applied triple cap. the packing is tight and there are no soft spots along the barrel.

The band on this pops on the cigar with its bold ruby-red, gold and white motif. The Crux logo is centered vertically in the middle with lots of scrolls and the Crux cross on the side.The word “Epicure” is printed below in bright gold on white background. You wont miss this cigar on the shelf in a crowded humidor.

Running the shaft along the nose we picked up a natural tobacco sweetness and the foot exuded notes of fruit (raisin and plum).

Once the cap is removed the cold draw was perfectly restricted. Anthony noted a delightful sweetness while I picked up notes of sweetness, raisin, and earth.

As much as I wanted to just continue cold puffing on this, it was time to put the light to it and get it fired up.

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Cigar Review Notes

• First puffs offered a little black pepper burst warming the tongue and Anthony got mint 
• Touch of oak enters quickly into the burn
• The oak was followed with a toasty note and Anthony picked up sugary nut almost like a beer nut
• Smoke is thick and creamy, filling the palate
• Perfect burn with a light grey ash and a  medium char line
• Very smooth smoke – Anthony described as silky and clean on the palate
• Anthony gets some fig after an inch
• I also get fruit note
• Sweet brown sugar follows
• Anthony picked up a sweet tea sensation
• Ash fell after first third with a well centered pointed cone
• Spicy fruit aroma
• The smoke is absolutely ingestible
• Spice notes enter in the second third
• Fruity cream and toasty sugary notes fill the core
• Ash picked up and held tight on mine down to the nub
• Black pepper entered end of second third
• Earth and strength picks up along with the spice
• Cherry notes move in as it enters the final third
• Licorice “anise” enters at the end
• Medium Strength
• Total Smoking Time was a solid one hour plus

Overall, the Crux Epicure was an amazing cigar experience with a complex flavor profile of balanced sweetness, fruit, spice and earth.  The burn was pristine throughout and offered no issues. As the company notes, this is certainly a cigar to enjoy with a late night cordial. The Crux Epicure shows that patience is a virtue when it comes to the cigar business and I am glad they took their time with this.