Length: 4 7/8"
Ring Gauge: 54
Strength: Light
Packaging: 1 Single
Vitola: Petit Belicoso
Smoking Time: 45 Minutes
HOYO DE MONETERREY
Hoyo de Monterrey owes its origin to the town of San Juan y Martinez, which lies at the heart of the Vuelta Abajo zone. Here the Hoyo de Monterrey plantation, one of the great Vegas de Primera, can be reached through a gate on the town's main square inscribed "Hoyo de Monterrey. Jose Gener. 1960."
"Hoyo" literally means "hole" and in this case describes the low-lying position of the plantation on the fertile banks of San Juan y Martinez river. Jose Gener, a Spaniard from Tarragona, first used the name of his vega on a brand of Habanos in 1865.
The flavour of Hoyo de Monterrey's blend makes it an attractive choice for those who seek a delicate yet aromatic Habano that is lighter to the taste but with great elegance and complexity.
The brand is renowned for its Double Corona and for the prestigious Epicure series, the No.1 and No.2, to which the longer Epicure Especial was added in 2008. There is also a range of vitolas known as the Le Hoyo Series. These are generally accepted to be slightly stronger and spicier than the brand’s classic range.
All sizes are ‘tripalarga, totalmente a mano’ – long filler, totally handmade using filler and binder leaves from the Vuelta Abajo tobacco zone.
EPICURE NO. 3
The word ‘Epicure’ derives from the ancient Greek philosopher, Epicurus who was born in 341 BC. One of his guiding principles was that the all good and bad derive from the sensations of pleasure and pain and that the ultimate moral good is happiness. This has led to a modern definition of an ‘Epicurean’ as ‘one who takes care to enjoy the finer things in life’. Therefore the ‘Epicure’ cigar, it can reasonably be argued, is a cigar to be enjoyed for the sheer pleasure of the moment.
The Epicure No.3 is the first figurado in the classic Hoyo de Monterrey portfolio in modern times, and the first new addition since 2008. It also joins the Epicure No.1, No.2 and Epicure Especial as a category within the brand.
The ring gauge of the Epicure No.3 allows the full potential of the blend to come to the fore - a supreme example of the Hoyo profile and taste. The tapered head once cut also produces a concentrated smoke that is delivered to the palate with voluminous flavours and intensity.
The classic Hoyo de Monterrey line is typified by a delicate, cedar taste that remains light enough for inexperienced smokers, while offering enough elegance and layering of flavours to keep aficionados satisfied.
Like the rest of the Epicure range, the No.3 is hand rolled using tobaccos harvested from Vuelta Abajo in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba which is widely regarded as the finest tobacco growing region in the world.
89 / 100
"A short, attractive torpedo that burns slow and cool, though the draw is inconsistent. First puffs are salty and floral followed by notes of graham cracker, earth and flint. A raw woodines dominates the finish..."