Epernay Le Ferme
My hesitation in rating this cigar is selfish at best because of such limited availibility. I made sure to secure myself a box of these ahead of this review.
PreLight
Between a corona and robusto size 48 x 5.25 with a reddish brown Cafe Rosado wrapper. Binder and filler of a combination of Criollo and Corojo tobaccos. A Prelight sweetness with a tea and earth note.
Cut with a Cuban Crafter guillotine straight cut. Toasted and lit with Xikar Axia.
First third
A light peppery note, almost bubbly tickle in the nose like champagne. Floral notes of hibiscus with a
cedar and leather back note. A mouth feel of buttery toast with a malted sweetness in the back of the throat. Burn of a flaky silver grey ash with a razor sharp line.
Second third
Pepper fades into background and becomes so smooth you can retrohale 100%. A Cuban coffee back note on the follow through with a bit of cinnamon on the finish. Holding on to leather and cedar on the retrohale. Also noting anise on the tongue with a cherry note in the back of the throat.
Final third
Cherry note has moved to the retrohale and the cigar leaves me with a light feel on tongue.
My palate does not feel overworked leaving me wanting more. Cedar and leather hanging on and never overwhelms or disappates. Every note playing off each other with a complexity not found in many cigars. This is a strong medium and does not change through out the stick. Flavors of leather, cedar, cherry, tea sweetness, creamy butter remain and add to the complexity and longevity of the flavors.
Final thoughts:
This is a ROTT cigar without question. It doesn't need more time as the time for this cigar is now.
Seldom does a cigar capture so perfectly everything you would want in a cigar. This a cigar I would want if stranded on a island and could only hope I had enough to last during my stay. I finally see what many have predicted would happen one day where a non Cuban cigar would beat a Cuban cigar.
