Epic Cigars debuted in 2014 with both a Corojo and Maduro line. Last year Epic Cigars announced the addition of a new Connecticut line that will debut in two different vitolas. The name of the line will be La Rubia, which translates to the blonde from Spanish.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
The EpicLa Rubia features an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper covering a Mexican San Andrés binder as well as filler tobaccos from both the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. As with the rest of the cigars in Epic's portfolio, the new line is being produced at the Charles Fairmorn Factory in the Dominican Republic. The Epic Connecticut blend debuted in two different vitolas at launch: Robusto (5 1/2 x 52) — $7.66 (Boxes of 20, $153.20), Short Gordo (4 x 60) — $7.80 (Boxes of 20, $156). Later, the company added both a 7 x 50 churchill and a 6 x 60 gordo to the line at the 2016 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Churchill
Length: 7″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut Ecuador
Binder: San Andres
Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic
Factory: Charles Fairmon Factory
Blender: Dean Parsons
Number of reviewers: 5 – Ryan H. (Ryan H.) John I. (John I.) Dave W. (mdwest) Eric (smalls29) Matthew T.(A Huge Nerd)
Price: $8.60
Age: 4 Months
Release Date: July 2016
Contributed by: Epic
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 90
“A big Churchill sized stick with minimal tooth, only a few visible veins, and a pretty light colored wrapper. A very clean looking cigar.” –Dave W. (mdwest)
Aroma: 89
“Very mild aroma of barnyard and new mown grass.” –John I. (John I.)
“Draw is effortless almost too much so. Hopeing it will develop more just a spicy burning green grass as of now. It is less abrasive than many connies i have smoked. About a half inch in it makes a transition for the better, to a light cream and woodiness with a minimal sweetness on the retro and in the mouth that is short lived but present on every draw. All the abrasivness has left leaving way for an enjoyable smoke. Burn is pretty ugly but hasnt needed corrected. Very mild spice has picked up in the last of the first third” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“Starts out pretty nice. Some light peppery notes that really open up on the finish and through the nose. After 15 minutes things have warmed up, and there's really not much going on. Pretty mild smoke. There is some creaminess, and caramel notes. Draw is off a bit as well. Takes a little work to pull smoke through it. ” –John I. (John I.)
Second Third
Flavor: 86
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Spice has picked up to a cayanne level leaving the sweetness and wood in the past. The spice doesnt stay with you very long. It almost seems like it is making the same transition from sweet woody back to spicy earth. Burn did correct its self” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“This middle third has a little bit more going on. The toast and peanuts notes are still there, joined by some leather and cedar aromas. I have to relight the cigar at about the halfway point.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
Final Third
Flavor: 86
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The last third lightens up even further still some spicy but has lightend to a black pepper and earth.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“The final third is identical to the second third with the flavor profile being floral for the most part and the smoke remaining very cool and smooth.” –Dave W. (mdwest)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 92
“The cigar provides a very nice, consistent draw with just enough resistance.” –Dave W. (mdwest)
Burn: 88
“The burn was strong but uneven. The ash did fall away about one fourth through.” –Eric (smalls29)
Construction: 87
“A very well constructed cigar” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 89
“I dont smoke many connies but would def put in for a 5fer. Wouldnt mind smoking this cigar again” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“If it weren't for the draw and construction problems, this might have been a decent choice for mild cigar smokers. Core flavors of caramel creaminess were hinted at, and would probably have been nice enough if only it would have been put together better.” –John I. (John I.)
“A very enjoyable smoke with more flavor than was expected and excellent performance. I'm not normally a fan of long smokes, but I would recommend this one for sure and would love to give it a try in a smaller vitola sometime down the road.” –Dave W. (mdwest)
“I am sad with the results of this one. Such a promising start. I enjoyed the nice balance of black licorice, chocolate and coffee. They complimented each other well. HOwever, this lasted only for the first third. As it progressed into the second third, the black licorice took over. Not a bad thing but that quickly progressed into a sour, bitter, yucky taste. I will conclude with my observation that it may have looked like a Connecticut, but it did not taste like a Connecticut.” –Eric (smalls29)
“While there were a few good flavor notes early on, they were generally overshadowed by some sour and bitter flavors, and having to babysit the burn. It may have been age, environment, or just a dud from the batch, but this one really did nothing for me.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
"A very enjoyable smoke with more flavor than was expected and excellent performance. I'm not normally a fan of long smokes, but I would recommend this one for sure and would love to give it a try in a smaller vitola sometime down the road." -Dave W. (mdwest)
