Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Crux Epicure Gordo is medium tan and has a few slightly raised veins. The seams are easily visible as they are a bit raised, while the head is finished off with a well applied set of caps. The band is the new design across the brands and this line carries a red, white and gold color combination. The aroma from the wrapper is dry, sweet hay while the foot brings wood, sweet hay and light pepper. The pre-light draw gives this nice powdery sweetness, almost like if you licked a stick of the bubble gum from inside of baseball cards along with dry cedar and a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with cedar, creaminess and baking spice. At a half inch in, the baking spice has morphed into a mellow black pepper. The retrohale begins with a black pepper zing and then relents to some creamy cedar. At an inch in, a light hay joins the profile. As the third comes to a close, the cedar and hay are up front and a bit drying as the creaminess and black pepper are light in the background. The strength in this third is slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the cedar gains a toasted note and the hay departs. At a half inch in, the creaminess has morphed to mustiness and the overall profile is fairly dry now. The retrohale is now musty cedar with light black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, a light earthiness joins the profile. As the third comes to a close, the profile maintains the toasted cedar, mustiness and earth with very light black pepper. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the musty and toasted cedar is up front with the earth right behind while the black pepper has left the profile. At a half inch in, the toasted note transitions to char. The retrohale is toasted and musty cedar. At an inch and a quarter, the charred cedar is really sitting on my tongue. The cigar wraps up with the charred cedar and mustiness up front and the earthiness right behind. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Burn

The burn line was straight the entire way and the ash held on through each third.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The Crux Epicure Gordo had a nice start with a good combination of flavors. From the second third on, the enjoyment level dropped down a notch as there were some transitions and the profile became a bit dry. Construction was perfect, which allowed me to just focus on flavor. This vitola smoked pretty similarly to the other vitolas I’ve tried in the line. I would come back to this from time to time, but I would do it in a smaller ring gauge as it’s just my preference in regards to mouth feel. If you’re a Connecticut shade fan and like the bigger ring gauges, then this would be a cigar to try.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$2.05

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Crux Epicure Gordo