Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto

[Ken Gargett]

This was the first cigar of the evening at the Canadian evening during the recent ‘05 Habanos Festival and was probably the low light of an otherwise fabulous evening (the sealbashers have set a very high standard for any other country that follows - it is a tradition for one country to host an evening each Festival. Next year is the turn of the Italians and we are possibles for ‘07). You have probably gathered that I would rather talk about anything else other than this cigar. I found it really unbalanced. Started as a basic smoke but quickly apparent that there was no length of flavour, just an initial burst then gone. Has deceptive power, which really kicked in at the finish. I would have expected more aromatics and sweet flavours. Disappointing. 84.

Rob: This is a cigar that will benefit from some age. I don't mind them at all but do find the flavours at this time a little muted. It certainly is not a shorter form of the HDM Epicure No 2. This is one to review again in six months to see how it is developing. I would love to see a Ramon Allones Petite Robusto 87

[Mel]

I like this little monster. Maybe it is the power that gets to me. It may not be complex but it'll get you there in a hurry.

If this cigar was a double corona size it would kill to many people with its kick. Kind of like a distilled double expresso.

I gave one to my daughters boyfriend, a cigarette smoker only, and after inhaling it a few times choked a response that it was goooood. I think it made him a little sick but he took it like a man. Has'nt asked for another smoke yet. Poor boy.

No more bubble gum cigars for me.

[Ken Gargett]

hi mel,

i'm always prepared to change my mind if i find a good one but nice to know, in the meantime, that someone found a use for them - i might try them on some of my mates to see if they'll stop bumming cigars.

[rspdiver]

I like these little smokes, too! For me, they are a great size cigar for a relatively quick smoke (we have a newborn in the house), while having the ring gauge for some complexity. They do kick in toward the end, for sure. I get the feeling that these cigars will age nicely, and take 2-4 years to really come in to their own, like say a Hoyo du Depute or even an Upmann Conn #1.

[Ken Gargett]

i have been going thru some old notes on cigars previously smoked to see if there are any discrepancies between thoughts on them and on the ones we smoked in cuba. big differences in some, notably the partagas shorts, r and j churchills and the punch punch, and i suspect that this has to do with the ones we smoked in Cuba, which compared very poorly with my notes from previous experiences, being so young. i suspect that this might also be the case here, tho i have not found any notes on this specific cigar. but even those differences have not been consistent throughout.

[froghair]

these are a great "quick" smoke. but what ive also found is its best to smoke these slow and not suck them down like a working girl for the best tasting

[Mel]

» smoke these slow and not suck them down like a working girl

I have never sucked like a working girl but I do get the point. I agree.

I will buy a whole box of these deviants when my first one is almost gone.

[El Presidente]

suck them down like a working girl

[cgrsmkr]

I really like these too - working my way through some from a group buy, but I already have two boxes of them waiting in the wings - yum

[thschrminm]

These cigars for me definitely have to be smoked slowly almost at the rate of a Cohiba Exquisito otherwise the flavors become too strong and tanic...

If smoked slowly they are very nice indeed...

[stevejb]

Had another one last night and like all the others I've previously smoked it sucked ass. Flavors go in and out from slightly peppery to paper. Not a big fan of the Hoyo line as a whole to begin with so no big loss. Different strokes I guess.