Excalibur Epicure Natural

The Excalibur Epicure Natural contains only the top ten percent of the premium long leaf tobacco leaves grown in Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic topped off with a beautiful light brown Connecticut shade wrapper. Natural means that the wrapper is lighter in color and has undergone minimal fermentation. Clip the end and you’ll note a sharp contrast with the dark blend of long-filler tobaccos. The roll is solid from head to toe and, once lit, the draw is perfect. Not surprisingly, the initial flavors are spicy. As the white ash grows— about a quarter of the way through—a warm, smoky flavor develops and the finish gets drier. Near the halfway point, look for hints of coffee and caramel and the spicy notes to fade in and out. This medium-bodied stick burns evenly and slowly. Although not a stogie for the meek, this is another one you can smoke down to the nub without getting the least bit of heat or bitterness. In addition to a sterling ’92’ point rating, Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur made Cigar Aficionado’s top 25 cigars of the year when it debuted in 2007. A smoky single malt such as Oban or Lagavulin would complement this stogie beautifully.