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The Hoyo De Monterey marca is said to have more than 150 years of history. Translated from Spanish, the name literally means "Hole of Monterey", which some believe to be a reference to the type of terrain favored by tobacco growers in the early 1800's. It was named so by its founder Don José Gener y Batet. Don José was succeeded by his daughter; Lutgarda, after his death in 1900. She then sold the business some 30 years later to focus on their sugarcane properties. Under the buyers Fernández and Palicio y Cía, the Le Hoyo line became the base blend for the Davidoff series produced for Swiss distributor A. Dürr Co. Today the brand officially exists as a Honduran based interest of Swedish Match, but Habanos S.A. has continued to market the cigars under the HdM marquee uninterrupted since the 1959 revolution. I was once an enthusiast of the Honduran Excalibur line, although I rarely see them in the B&M outlets any more. But today a Hoyo Epicure #1 from a box tattooed with the birth mark of LUS MAR 09 called out to me. The distinctive double band bearing the HdM crowned marquee and the name of the vitola enhance the appeal, standing out in contrast to the near maduro leathery wrapper they hug. Small veins trace through the wrapper, none of which are noteworthy. My double blade cutter easily sliced through the top removing the cap and little else. Cold taste leaves a slight tingle on the tongue and reveals a near perfect draw with minimal resistance. I washed down what little bits of tobacco clinged to my tongue with natural lemon flavored, unsweetened, Zephyrhills sparkling water. Flames from my jet lighter quickly formed an even cherry on the foot and the fun ensued. Toasted tobacco aroma hit my senses as the first plumes of rich smoke filled the air. The mild-medium bodied flavor suggested sourdough and sweet spices, as a tinge of barnyard aroma wafted from the smoke trail. I could sense a slightly flowery sweet essence as the first inch and a half of ash fell. Burn was a little uneven, requiring a little touchup now and then. However, as I smoked towards the middle the flavor became increasingly smooth and creamy. Unfortunately, the cigar extinguished shortly past the half-way point, so I relit and purged. The second half was similar to the first in flavor, but body grew a little bolder, advancing from mild-medium to a solid medium. The slight flowery sweetness also intensified somewhat, enriching the sourdough flavor. The barnyard aroma gave way to a distinct cedary tone, and together the flavor and aroma provided a very pleasant balanced experience. As the end approached, the flavor remained consistent, and the burn also continued to waver slightly before I corrected it, but the cigar stayed relatively cool. At no point throughout the cigar was there any harshness or bitterness. This very pleasant corona gorda provided a really nice evening distraction for over ninety minutes. It's not a cigar that stands out as exceptionally memorable, but one I would turn to again without hesitation. Overall, I would rate this cigar an 8 out of 10. A fine cigar.