Hoyo de Monterrey du Maire 00 (ARW)

[FatPete]

Hoyo de Monterrey du Maire 00 (ARW)

(Smoked from humidor at 62RH)

I got a few of these from a friend who bought them back from Barcelona. He's not one for box codes but knew they were 00s, so they were from a time before bands were used. I think they look better this way as the bands on the current ones just look too big. Excited to try it as it would be the oldest, and smallest, cigar that I have tried. 

Construction: lovely slightly crackly wrapper, slight sweet mustiness to the dry draw which was just right with my punch cut, though it's diameter was only a couple of mm smaller than the cigar!

First half:

Rich sweet woods from the first puff.

Full flavoured and under medium body. Later on a milk coffee joins the woods-wonderful!

This is a cigar I'm very happy to sit and sip-burns beautifully. 

Second half:

The milky coffee becomes black coffee, and blends equally with the sweet woods. 

Towards the end a tiny hint of pepper and new flavour appears too, a light caramel, with the coffee fading. 

Amazing ash hold, I particularly like the way you can see the burnt vein on top of the ash. 

The finale was a burst of woodsy chilli pepper when it could be smoked down no longer.

45 minutes of happiness.

I have tried 2018 versions of this cigar, and they are not nearly as smooth & rich. No sign of this 20 year old fading yet. I'd love to source a box or 2 of these, fingers crossed for Bond Roberts. 

9/10