Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Crux Epicure Robusto. This is a cigar line we previously assessed back in November 2017.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Plasencia S.A.
Robusto: 5 x 50

The Crux Epicure is Crux Cigars’ Connecticut Shade wrapped offering, and ninth regular production line overall. Word of the Crux Epicure first surfaced in July of 2016 at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show. With an August 8th, 2016 deadline looming that required new blends to undergo U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) pre-market approval, the company opted to put a small release into the market, then work to refine things before the widespread launch. It took a while, but sixteen months later, the Crux Epicure finally made its debut. Now 11 months after its release, we take another look at the Crux Epicure in the Robusto size. The cigar used for this assessment has approximately three months of age on it

The Crux Epicure’s Connecticut Shade wrapper is grown in Ecuador. The remainder of the blend consists of all-Nicaraguan tobaccos. As with all Crux Cigars, production is handled out of the Plasencia factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Robusto is a classic 5 x 50. The cigars are packaged in ten-count boxes.

The Crux Epicure Robusto started out with a mix of sweet cream, cedar, and bread. Early on a fusion developed between the cedar and the cream with the fusion taking on hints of creme brûlée and honey nut. During the second third, the fusion between the cream and cedar broke apart while the cedar, and bread notes held primary and the sweetness and cream started to recede slightly. At the same time, some baker’s spice and black pepper emerged in the background. By the last third, the bread and cedar remained primary. The pepper and baker’s spice remained in the background. As for the sweetness it morphed into more of a citric note. The citrus and the cream were more distant flavors in the background.

In terms of strength and body, the Crux Epicure Robusto started out mild to medium before progressing to medium in the second half. Both the strength and balance countered each other nicely with neither attribute overshadowing the other.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

Back when the Crux Epicure Robusto was released, it had all of the factors of a “wow” cigar. Now 11 months after its initial release, this cigar maintains this high level of excellence. It’s one of the best Connecticut Shade cigars to come out in the past few years. The Robusto format seems to capture what this blend offers the best. This is certainly a cigar that can be smoked by either a novice or experienced cigar enthusiast. As for myself, this is a cigar I would smoke again and buy a box of. It’s one that has kept its Chuck Norris rating with no problem,

Summary

Key Flavors: Cream, Bread, Cedar, Creme Brûlée, Honey Nut, Pepper, Baker’s Spice, Citrus
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium to High
Strength: Mild to Medium (1st Half), Medium (2nd Half)
Body: Mild to Medium (1st Half), Medium (2nd Half)
Finish: Excellent