Hoyo des dieux 2003 pateca (HDMCRW)

[dominattorney]

One of the oldest cigars I have in my collection, I snapped these bad boys up from a popular online vendor for 250 for a 25 count of patecas. I smoked 5 of them in the first year and found them to be underwhelming and cardboard tasting, so I let the rest sit for a while in some cedar boxes and forgot about them until I realized I dont have any other hdm cigars for this weekend review.

Cold draw is aged tobacco, mild cream and faint vanilla which essentially duplicates the flavors of the first third. Boy is this thing creamy. The age let's the more subtle flavors through as there is no bite of tobacco at all from this thing. Baking spices weave in and out of the foreground but the predominant note is over milked coffee. A real pleasant smoke. Construction leaves a bit to be desired, and I think another 6 months down in the cedar boxes will do these puppies some good. I fear living in cardboard for 14 years is not the best thing for a cigar. 

second third is much the same as the first but vanilla and clove notes dominate on the retro hale. The burn has to be corrected a few times as the cigar begins to spoon. It's a mild day on the links wind wise and I have had this problem with all of the other examples from the shipment, though this is hy far the least severe. 

I was playing with this guy who has a knack for stepping on my cigar around the greens and he stomped this one after this picture was taken. Not sure I'd it was bc I made eagle or because he generally doesnt pay attention. Not sure come to think of it of he knew i made eagle either. In any event, a very enjoyable cigar and one I wish I had more of. Right up there w the sir Winston in my mind. 

[99call]

Great review.   Strange thing with these.  Smoked through 3 packs the of 5 in 2014 (of the 2003).   Out of the 15 cigars. 12 were boring and cardboard like. 3 were laugh out loud, some of the best cigars I've ever had. 

[dominattorney]

I think you just need to let them sit for over a year outside the cardboard to wake them up. I have about 18 more so I will let you k ow in another 6 months if they are still progressing. 

[Chucko8]

Nice review and pictures. I have taken the small amount of sticks that I have in card boxes and placed them into cedar a few months back. Had similar concerns of the lack of aging ability/taste.