News: Epicurean Cigars to Launch Two New Lines

Steve Ysidron, formerly of Savenelli, is preparing his two new lines, Armando Gutierrez and Gonzo, in 2012. The pair will be the first two releases of Ysidrons Epicurean Cigars, which was formally known as Del Fuego S.A. Both cigars will be made in Estel, Nicaragua at Plasencia Cigars S.A.

The first of the two lines is Armando Gutierrez, named after Ysidrons great grandfather, who was a roller himself. Armando Gutierrez features a Jalapa-grown Habano Colorado wrapper over a Honduran and Jalapa dual binder and Nicaraguan fillers. Ysidron described this as a different fermentation than the Plasencias have done in the past. The line will be packaged in boxes of 20, each cigar wrapped in a cedar sleeve.

Ysidrons other new line is Gonzo. The limited edition line will be limited to 500 boxes of 20 for each of the five sizes. It again uses a double binder, this time San Andrs (Mexico) and Jalapa with a four year-old Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper on top. Both lines will come in the same five sizes, however Gonzo will be box-pressed: Lancero (6 1/2 x 38) Petit Corona (5 1/2 x 48) Pyramid Toro (6 x 52) Trabajador (5 x 56)

Ysidron said pricing should be between $8.00 and $9.75, with the Gonzo sizes being about $.20 more due to the difference in tobacco. Both lines are expected to launch in early March. In addition, Ysidron said that he is working on projects with other projects which should come to light in the next month or so.

Epicurean Cigars Gonzo Toro Cigar Review

Posted on Monday, April 9, 2012 in Cigar Reviews

Epicurean Cigars Gonzo Toro Cigar Review

This 652 box pressed broadleaf wrapped cigar features a dark brown slightly red wrapper with an oily fine sandpaper tooth, tight invisible seams, minimal veins, very firm even pack, double cap and pungent manure aroma. First light reveals a snug draw putting off a good amount of medium bodied smoke, with flavors of a smooth slick tobacco with a bit of pepper zing through the long finish. The first third needs double puffs to burn well but it does so with medium-full flavor of a slightly sweet and peppery chocolate, with quite a bit of pepper and spice adding to the long finish. The draw opens up to the slightly loose side still putting off a very good amount of smoke. By the end of the 1st third flavors had ramped up a bit in complexity adding a very smooth tobacco and the sweetness taking on a candy like taste. The smoke itself builds to a bit thicker experience, holding in the mouth longer. Thats what she said. 40 minutes in at the 1/2 way point, I gave it a minor touchup to catch up one side, with flavors morphing just a bit dropping the chocolate, staying with the slightly sweet creamy tobacco core with the same pepper and spice. 55 minutes in just starting the last third, flavors shift again slightly dropping the sweetness replacing it with a deep earthy tobacco taking over the draw flavors. Ending at 1:15 where it got too warm for my taste, the last bit showed no further flavor changes, just building up the strength to medium-full to match the body. Thank you very much to Epicurean Cigars for providing this for review!