Hoyo de Monterrey Des Dieux

[almudawi]

Vitola: Corona Grande

Size: 6" x 42

Box code: RSE ABR 03 (Cabinet of 50)

Smoking time: 1 hr and 1/2

Before I jump straight into things, allow me to give a bit of an introduction to the cigar I am reviewing. The Hoyo de Monterrey Des Dieux is one of the oldest vitolas of the brand. These cigars used to come unbanded until 2005 and only come in boxes of 25 since 2006. I did not rate HdM as a Marca at all, I found most cigars bearing the name one dimensional and boring before smoking my 1st Des Dieux.

This stick was an excellent example of a cigar, light brown wrapper with a bit of oil. The construction was excellent, it was firm with a slight give to pressure. The aroma at cold in itself set the expectations to high. The aromas in concern were those of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Like the aroma at cold, the 1st third started of with a wonderful bouquet of flavors. Cinnamon, vanilla with underlying tones of cedar were the predominant flavors while a nutty profile (what I could describe as cashew nuts) was evident on the retro hail.

Right at the end of the third the Nuttiness and spiciness combined nicely giving flavors resembling those of unsweetened cooking cocoa.

The unsweetened cocoa continueed to the 2nd third. Halfway through the 2nd third, the cocoa was gone and was replaced with flavors similar to those initially sampled in the first third. however, some tea leaf flavors took center stage and were accompanied with some underlying sweetness that I could not put my finger on. The cigar picked up a notch in strength, and white pepper was what I got on the retro hail.

In the final third, things got really interesting, the cigar was medium bodied which was reflected on the flavors being dark and sweet. I could only relate those flavors to dried fruit (dried figs to be precise) accompanied by what I'd describe as canned cherries on the retro hail. The cigar never got harsh and I enjoyed it all the way to the nub..

Final notes:

- This cigar has a ton of flavor and excelled in sticking to the medium side without turning harsh.

- This cigar was one of the most complex cigars I have had. Not only did it have an abundance of flavors.. Each one of the thirds had flavors different than the other. This is a cigar that truly typifies what the word complexity stands for

- This is a well balanced smoke. Every single flavor had its on spot, each flavor flowed with the other in great harmony.

- This cigar is truly worthy of its name. Des Dieux, meaning Gods in French is truly one of the gods of cigars.

Final score: 94

[El Presidente]

Beautiful Review of a cigar which is one of my all time favourites.

One of those that should be in everyone's humidor. Few cigars age as well and are so distinctive and complex.

Thank you

[Smallclub]

Vitola: Gran Corona

It's a Corona Grande. The Gran Corona is 47x235 (Monte A, SP Sanchos)

[CM125]

Great review, I love this Cigar have two boxes ageing.

Curtis

[FrankBlack87]

awesome review brother!

[investandprosper]

Great review! I have a cab on the way, can't wait to see the box date.

[frenchkiwi]

nice review! sounds like a great box. in my dreams i'd have a box of aged des dieux lying around but the '98 boxes i once had ran out a couple years ago. just wonderful cigars.

[Ken Gargett]

One of those that should be in everyone's humidor.

there would be if you could ever find the box i bought about last century!!

[headstand]

Love that cigar! One to be enjoyed with serious cigar fans, smoked in quiet contemplation with nothing but appreciative grunts. Thanks for the review.

[IcedCanuck]

Very nice review. I always have some des Dieux in my humi.

[Michel1968]

Top review :thumbsup:

[almudawi]

Wow guys.. Glad you liked the review, especially with it being my first ever.

I picked this cabinet a month ago while on business in Berlin. Never smoked a Des Dieux prior to that and never rated Hoyo; I believe it was a member on FoH who recommended them a while back, can't remember who though.... I owe him a huge thank you for pointing those babies out.

Beautiful Review of a cigar which is one of my all time favourites.

One of those that should be in everyone's humidor. Few cigars age as well and are so distinctive and complex.

Thank you

Cheers Rob. Thans for the encouragement. I have developed quite an obsession with these now! And what makes this obsession worse, is that for some reason my local LCDH and resellers do not stock them here in Bahrain. At the rate I am currently smoking these, I might need to pick another cabinet of 50 soon any chance of finding a PsP or HQ with some age

[laficion]

Great review on a great tasting Hoyo des Dieux, well done !!!

[Plato]

Vitola: Corona Grande

Size: 6" x 42

Box code: RSE ABR 03 (Cabinet of 50)

Smoking time: 1 hr and 1/2

Before I jump straight into things, allow me to give a bit of an introduction to the cigar I am reviewing. The Hoyo de Monterrey Des Dieux is one of the oldest vitolas of the brand. These cigars used to come unbanded until 2005 and only come in boxes of 25 since 2006. I did not rate HdM as a Marca at all, I found most cigars bearing the name one dimensional and boring before smoking my 1st Des Dieux.

This stick was an excellent example of a cigar, light brown wrapper with a bit of oil. The construction was excellent, it was firm with a slight give to pressure. The aroma at cold in itself set the expectations to high. The aromas in concern were those of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Like the aroma at cold, the 1st third started of with a wonderful bouquet of flavors. Cinnamon, vanilla with underlying tones of cedar were the predominant flavors while a nutty profile (what I could describe as cashew nuts) was evident on the retro hail.

Right at the end of the third the Nuttiness and spiciness combined nicely giving flavors resembling those of unsweetened cooking cocoa.

The unsweetened cocoa continueed to the 2nd third. Halfway through the 2nd third, the cocoa was gone and was replaced with flavors similar to those initially sampled in the first third. however, some tea leaf flavors took center stage and were accompanied with some underlying sweetness that I could not put my finger on. The cigar picked up a notch in strength, and white pepper was what I got on the retro hail.

In the final third, things got really interesting, the cigar was medium bodied which was reflected on the flavors being dark and sweet. I could only relate those flavors to dried fruit (dried figs to be precise) accompanied by what I'd describe as canned cherries on the retro hail. The cigar never got harsh and I enjoyed it all the way to the nub..

Final notes:

- This cigar has a ton of flavor and excelled in sticking to the medium side without turning harsh.

- This cigar was one of the most complex cigars I have had. Not only did it have an abundance of flavors.. Each one of the thirds had flavors different than the other. This is a cigar that truly typifies what the word complexity stands for

- This is a well balanced smoke. Every single flavor had its on spot, each flavor flowed with the other in great harmony.

- This cigar is truly worthy of its name. Des Dieux, meaning Gods in French is truly one of the gods of cigars.

Final score: 94

Excellent review and photos! Bravo!

I'm glad I picked up a box from the Czar from 2010. I smoked one right off the truck and it was ok. Let them rest a few months and had another one last week and it was excellent. I am not going to taste them again for at least a year. I am excited for what these cigars will become!

[Plato]

**

Even from my limited experience its a must try for someone who loves medium bodied smokes.

(Side note: When I first got my box, I regretted my purchase. I don't regret it now! Thanks to Lisa for picking me out a beautiful box. Even from purely cosmetic standpoint, they are arguably some of the finest looking sticks in my humidor.)

Happy Holidays,

Mike

PS: Thanksgiving Dinner was not complete without a Sir Winston and a Cohiba Robusto enjoyed by a fire with hefty glasses of spirits and wine. A fabulous 750ml bottle of German Eiswein from 1981 which showed so much life still. I have two more bottles. They can age another 20-30 years easily. Also, a bottle of my absolute favorite NV Champagne: Serveaux Fils Brut Blanc de Blancs which has been resting in my cellar for at least 3 years. This is hands down my favorite boutique Champagne house, and my second favorite NV Champagne. It's right behind Krug NV for me. And glasses of Appleton Estate 12 year rum, which isn't my favorite style of rum but was very enjoyable nonetheless.

[Nino]

Excellent review – thank you for sharing !

Being a Hoyo des Dieux fan you should then look out for the H SA line of “Añejados” cigars that were introduced last week at the Partagas Encuentro.

The cigar handed out to us was a 5 yr old Hoyo des Dieux …. haven’t smoked it yet, but look forward now after your review.

Nino

[almudawi]

Excellent review – thank you for sharing !

Being a Hoyo des Dieux fan you should then look out for the H SA line of “Añejados” cigars that were introduced last week at the Partagas Encuentro.

Nino

I have to admit that I have not heard of those before.. Are they going to be a Limited production or just a festival give away? Any info would be appreciated..

[Lotusguy]

I have to admit that I have not heard of those before.. Are they going to be a Limited production or just a festival give away? Any info would be appreciated..

+1

Please tell us more about this new line!

[CptKloss]

From HSA website

seems to me like the scheme is to take some old stock, reband it and sell at a premium.

[Nino]

From HSA website

seems to me like the scheme is to take some old stock, reband it and sell at a premium.

Yes, I suspect that is the plan.

Funny thing is that some vintage stuff was available at the LCDH's and I was able to put my hands on '97 Charlottes and older Partagas Lonsdales ... and they were not "Revisado" boxes.

[Lotusguy]

Thanks for the information. I prefer that over the whole LE/RE that is going on at HSA. A lot of retailers charge more for aged stock, so why shouldn't HSA? Too bad that it's for the domestic market only.

[CptKloss]

Nothing wrong with charging more for "aged" product. alcohol business been doing that for ages. I'm actually surprised cigar industry wasn't. (as in storing a finished product vs. using aged tobacco to make cigars)

My iffyness comes from the fact that they're doing it retroactively. I'm just a tad sceptical about process these "quality control experts" use to determine which old box is "worthy".

I'd love if they were doing it the "standard" way, as a planned procedure: roll a cigar, put them in a box, age them for 5 or 10 or whatever years and only then release them to the retailers at a premium.

[Van55]

Nice review of one of my favorites.

That said, in my opinion "retrohale" is a coinage that should never have been coined and should never be repeated. What is it about cigar smokers that seems to have us inventing the silliest of terms when ordinary Englishbis perfectly adequate?

[jedipastor]

Great review! These are in my Top 10 for sure. Great sticks. You nailed it with the Cherries ... I often get that in aged HdMs.

[almudawi]

Nice review of one of my favorites.

That said, in my opinion "retrohale" is a coinage that should never have been coined and should never be repeated. What is it about cigar smokers that seems to have us inventing the silliest of terms when ordinary Englishbis perfectly adequate?

I promise you on my next review I'll just use "through the nose"

@ jedipastor

Thanks bro.. Des Dieuxs are the only cigars I seem to get them in as clearly