Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 1 – Seppeltsfield Savoury Allsorts Gin -Navazos PX Gran Solera

I really am living in the wrong era. If the equivalent to Mr Jordan for arrivals, not departures, could check his records and shift me to the appropriate century, I'd be grateful. Or even decade. 

Technology. Isn't it supposed to make one’s life easier? I think it is simply compelling evidence the divinities have a sense of humour. 

I decide to head down to the family beach shack in northern NSW. Need to get my nephew to do the permit as otherwise, the pumpkin that runs our State will not let me back across the border – 30,000 jammed together to protest is fine but a bloke, solo, in his car going from one place to the other without bothering anyone or even talking to anyone, and I need paperwork. George Orwell, come on down. 

Anyway, plan on being here for a week. Supposed to do a zoom review with Rob day one, which is fine. Except that needless to say, the internet is not working. Now, the only thing that has happened to my computer since I was last here is that Rob has attached or linked or whatever, some magic white box designed to improve the zoom. Nothing else. Ergo, it is his fault. Both Rob and Ben tried to rectify this, while accepting no responsibility at all (although I reckon mini-Rob was just a bit embarrassed at having to cover up for his father). So, no internet. And I can’t even get some of my document files up because they are linked to a dropbox or a onedrop or lord knows what and I need the internet for that. So, I’ll be coming home early. And grumpy. 

Anyway, I gave up in the end and retreated to my fave place on the planet for a cigar, out front of the shack, ocean just beyond a few trees, heaven. 

I know I am not alone in my bemusement as to why we need all these items which do not make your life easier, despite what the manufacturers might claim. I will say that travelling Europe with a GPS has assisted at times, but this morning, one of my mates was bemoaning the great days when you had your guidebooks and maps. Much more fun. 

I can remember one trip with a wine-loving mate, where we had an appointment at Chateau Rayas (not easy to get and we did not want to be late, although the nephew had just taken over after his famous uncle passed and he was an hour late and utterly bemused himself, as to why two Aussies might want to visit). We were hopelessly lost. We knew we were close, but this place has a well-earned reputation for trying to deter visitors as much as possible – there is a wonderful story of Jancis Robinson, perhaps the most famous wine critic on the planet, trying to visit but not being able to raise anyone at the estate. On driving out, she looked in the rear vision mirror to see the owner, brushing off the leaves he had hidden under in a drain, to avoid the appointment. And that evening, my friend and I were talking to a local sommelier who would not believe that we had actually been there. “But when I went there, they actually got out a shotgun and fired at me. I had to run for my life”. 

Strange place, and I have digressed. I was going to say that to find it we had to ring the Aussie importer, back in Adelaide (middle of the night), who had to ring the estate back in France for final directions and then ring us back. We were only 100 yards from it, but it was not signposted and almost invisible. Those were better, simpler, more fun days. 

The cigar? A Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 1. Left by Rob for the purposes. He clearly forgot that he left me the same cigar about two weeks ago. Still, I can only work with what I have (was sorely tempted to use the video cigar, seeing as it is his fault I have no internet). 

I did mention that although the Epi 1 I smoked back then was terrific, I was not convinced as to their consistency, so I guess it was worth a look. And sure enough, another good cigar but not quite as good (knowing Rob, he probably forgot that they even came from the same box). 46 ring gauge (again, cue a crescendo of applause) and 143 mm in length, coming in slide lid boxes of 25. 

My example was again of superior construction, firm and yet with a good draw, though it was firmer than the previous one. Pale colouring. Opening with some nice toasty notes, but this time was more nuts and caramel touches. There were some bitter almond notes on the finish, but this settled. Early, it was well over medium-bodied, but this dropped back to around medium for most of it. Complex and mellow, lots of nuts and a real peanut butter character (I'm not a fan of peanut butter so that doesn’t thrill me, but it worked here). It got quite hot towards the end, which put a little dampener on things. For me, overall a pleasant cigar. 89. It did not exhibit the rich chocolate and toastiness the earlier one had. But still, a pleasant afternoon cigar. 

As a match, the caramel notes were a stellar match for the PX. Perhaps less so for the Gin, but the afternoon setting by the ocean screamed out Gin-time! 

The Seppeltsfield Savoury Allsorts Gin was a delicious surprise. It is exactly like an alcoholic licorice allsort. Great fun. They claim it incorporates botanicals such as star anise, thyme, marjoram, borage and gentium (by the time we get to those last couple, I think they are just making up words – no idea what they taste like or what they contribute). Long flavours, balanced. A carnival gin. 

The Navazos PX Gran Solera was a cracking PX, as one would expect from these guys. And a perfect match for the cigar (for many cigars, I'd suggest), but I'm not sure it is an afternoon style of drink. But may I point out that it was made after many years in a barrel and technology had bugger all to do with it. 

Next week, no doubt Rob will be providing me with yet another Epi 1. We live in hope. 

KBG