Pre-light Experience

The unique shape of the Crux Epicure Short Salomone is wrapped in a light brown wrapper that has a couple of slightly raised veins. The seams are smooth but easily visible due to the light color of the wrapper. The pointed head is finished off well. The band carries the older style design with the company name in gold with a burgundy background above a white strip which carries the line name. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of hay and wood and the small foot opening doesn’t present anything different from the wrapper. The pre-light draw brings a slightly sweet cereal note along with some hay and a medium level spiciness to my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Crux Epicure Short Salomone has a golden brown Colorado Claro wrapper shade. Construction looks and feels great as veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll even and tapered head with a deep triple cap. Wrapper aromas tell fresh cracked black pepper, cedar and a hint of barnyard. Aromas from the foot tell cedar and fairly aggressive white pepper. Cold draw gives hay and cedar.

First Third

The cigar begins with some heavily toasted wood and a mix of baking spice and black pepper. At a half inch in, the toast level has mellowed as well as the acuteness of the baking spice and black pepper. The retrohale has a zing from the spice and pepper up front and then finishes with the toasted wood. At an inch and a quarter, a slight nuttiness joins the profile. At an inch and a half, the toasted note has morphed into char. As the third comes to a close, some toast comes back to the profile along with the char and the baking spice is just behind while the black pepper is fairly mellow. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

The first third’s flavor profile starts off with a zippy red pepper spice especially prevalent on the tip of the tongue, and buttered toast. Once the burn line gets to the biggest diameter, a well melded baking spice adds to the profile. Retrohaling gives deeper notes of the red pepper and toast. The finish consists of buttered toast and cedar. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

The second third begins with lightly charred wood which is now more defined as oak while the baking spice and black pepper are lighter and in the background. At a half inch in, some mustiness joins the profile as the baking spice has dropped out and the black pepper has a dull profile and is in the background with a long finish. The retrohale is primarily charred oak with some mustiness right behind. As the third comes to a close, the char begins to pick up. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Second Third

The second third’s flavor profile smooths out a bit, making the profile focus more on the buttered toast as compared to the spice notes. There’s also a pick up of naturally sweet nuttiness and the profile becomes slightly dry. Strength and body remains medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the heavily charred oak is up front with mustiness right behind. There is a slight bitterness present now and just a faint black pepper in the background. The retrohale maintains the charred oak and mustiness. At an inch in, the char starts to lessen, letting the oak shine a bit more. The cigar wraps up with slightly charred oak while the mustiness is at an equal level. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

Last third’s focus brings the dry profile up a bit more, drowning out some of the other flavors (buttered toast, baking spices, cedar, red pepper spice). Strength and body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn was straight through the first half and then became slightly wavy in the second half. This is fairly impressive due to the unique vitola. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Burn

Perfect burn performance. Tight ashes, near 2 inch ash retention, straight burn and cool burning temperature.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar started off with a punch right away and had a nice combination of toasted wood, baking spice and black pepper. As it progressed, the toast transitioned to char and the wood became more defined as oak. The baking spice went away and the black pepper maintained itself and this held true for the remainder of the cigar. The strength was a bit over medium the whole way. The Crux Epicure Short Salomone is a fuller strength Connecticut shade offering, so for those looking for a more traditional Connecticut, that isn’t the path this cigar follows. This is a fun vitola for the line and I’d have no problem smoking more of these when I’m in the mood for a little more oomph.

Draw

The draw was also perfect, striking the ideal air flow.

Overall

An enjoyable Epicure just like its Robusto brother enjoyed from the previous year. The Short Salomone had more character and transitions as compared to the Robusto (which was more linear in flavor delivery). The interplay of red pepper spice, nuts, buttered toast and baking spices at various parts of the cigar was enjoyed quite a bit. However, the dryness that took over within the final third was the only miss. Even saying this, I prefer the Crux Epicure Short Salomone over the Robusto because the build ups and transitions are worth it over the dryness.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.00

Cost/Point

$2.16

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.82

Cost/Point

$1.91

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Crux Epicure Short Salomone