*Note: This is not a blind review, this is just to give a quick take on a cigar that was provided to us by the manufacturer.
The Bugatti Habano Epicure measures out at 6×54.
Initial Impressions
The wrapper is a dull medium brown with some fairly large veins. The seams are easily visible and slightly raised, as is the cap. There is a faint barnyard aroma from the wrapper while the foot has a very nice aroma of cocoa.
The Smoke
The pre-light draw brings some raisin sweetness. After initial light, I tasted a light wood along with some cinnamon spice. The retrohale is creamy with some of the cinnamon. At about a half inch in, the cinnamon has gone away and is replaced by some white pepper. The peppery wood is continuing while the cigar produces a very white ash. Towards the end of the third, the pepper reduces in strength and a bit of coffee joins in with the wood and light pepper. The ash has held on for the entire third. I would put the body at light to medium and the strength at medium.
As the second third starts, a light cinnamon has come back in and mixes well with the pepper. The cinnamon faded away quickly again and the primary flavors of wood and pepper remain. The retrohale continues with a creamy pepper. Towards the end of the third, the pepper has faded away. An earthiness has appeared to go along with the woodiness that also has a bit of char to it. The ash has held on for the entire third again. The body is now medium and the strength continues at medium.
The final third continues with the charred wood and a creamy retrohale absent of any pepper. Towards the end of the third, a slight mintiness came in and mixed with the charred wood. This continued for the remainder of the cigar. The cigar finished at medium body and strength.
Overall Impressions
The draw was a bit firm, but nothing over the top. The burn was very good. There was slight waviness at times, but otherwise stayed very straight. The cigar is firm with a few soft spots near where the transition between the first and second third will be. The cigar feels heavy for its size.
The cigar was very good overall. Slight transitions during the smoke, which kept it interesting enough. The flavors were good and present enough that you didn’t need to search for them. I think this cigar would pair very well with coffee, so maybe a morning or early afternoon smoke. The performance was very good. I could see myself smoking another one of these.
The cigar lasted 2 hours and 55 minutes for me.
I would give the Bugatti Habano Epicure a personal score of 88.