Hoyo de Monterrey Short Hoyo Piramides EL 2011 (XYNRC)

[IanMcLean68]

Hoyo de Monterrey Short Hoyo Piramides EL 2011

I decided on this cigar to see the New Year in. Thank you to @chr0nic (Ryan) for this kind gift. It was good to see you again at Jase's BBQ on the 29th!

Here's a couple of pictures from the BBQ. The one on the right is Ryan with a 2L bottle of sake (great sake, btw!) with Will's head in the background for size comparison.
The one on the left shows @Fuzz, aka "The Tong Master". Some will spot Mus (@LordAnubis) in the background, over for a visit. Great to meet you Mus!

Its awesome being able to swap, gift, and be gifted cigars with the Sydney boys, its a common thing amongst our group, and they are such a generous lot!
Its a great way of trying cigars you haven't and otherwise would not be able to try out, whilst catching up with the crew for a great day out.

I already had all my parties by the 30th, so I didn't go out for New Years Eve. Just me, my boys, and my computer for company tonight.
This is them, lounging and lording it about during the afternoon heat ..

An unusual vitola with a factory name of "Forum", it is a skinnier shorter piramide at 46 guage and feels very elegant in the hand. Being a gift, I don't
have a box code, as it was exchanged during an afternoon of eating, drinking, smoking and good times when such things are furthest from the mind!

Wrapper has a nice shade of colorado, darkish but not to the extent of colorado-maduro. A nice cold aroma of barnyard, cedar and spice.
Starts beautifully, a bit like the love child of an Epi #1 and a Des Dieux. Its a vanilla bomb, with lots of cedary woodiness, and it is very creamy.
Its always good to try another EL that is actually true to its marcas DNA.

As the cigar progresses, sweet baking spices and a creamy buttery brioche note. Hints of tea and flowers on a few draws, and all over a spine of wood and vanilla.
Perfect draw and the burn is great with a nicely stacked ash. A little under medium, flavourful and delicious.

A little saltiness develops into the second third and the woodiness intensifies. Have Epi #1 and Des Dieux been having a tryst with Sancho Panza here?
Started under medium but is now right on medium bodied.

Coming into the final third, I notice some tar build up on the head of the cigar. A little bitterness comes in as well. After taking off the bands I find that it is quite
underfilled underneath.

If I was to rank this on the first two thirds, it would be a 94+, and a glorious cigar.
However it did lose it in the final third, disappointingly, which drops it down to a 91. It shouldn't fall off like this with 9 years under its belt, especially being an EL.
Lots of promise and definite likeness to the Des Dieux blend, without the same depth or class. Loses it in the final third, I have to put it down at about 1 inch remaining,
as the underfill is now making the cigar hot.

I have mentioned to the Sydney boys before that I didn't think there was another cigar anything close to the Des Dieux blend. This doesn't quite make it, as it doesn't have the same complexity, but it is probably the nearest thing I have tried to date. Thanks again Ryan for the sampler!

[Phillys]

Great review!

I haven't had much luck with this cigar, mine were terrible. Glad to hear your's was good. 

[westg]

Great pics , thanks for the review . I was initially a fan of these, I must revisit.