Hoyo De Monterrey \"Depute\" OEB JUN 06

[marco polo]

Thanks for the review Prez. Your pics are excellent!

[smokum]

Interesting notes Prez...do you find the power has kicked up a notch in the newer production cigars across the board ? I am finding that I really like the 06 production very much. And I like them young...a little brash at times but damn good right out of the gate. If time is going to make them better I think I am in for a great treat if I can actually let them sit.

[El Presidente]

» Interesting notes Prez...do you find the power has kicked up a notch in the

» newer production cigars across the board ?

As a generalization....absolutely. My opinion is that 06 production was the "fullest bodied tobacco" since 96

[habanohal]

Little powerhouse cigars and I love em!!

[shrink]

Breakfast cigar? I am seldom disappointed to discover that a smoke has more balls than expected. I usually just sweat 'em out and enjoy 'em. Afterward, I think, "Damn, that was (choke) goood!"

I had an '04 Petit Corona del Punch like that a few weeks ago. What a bomb!

Nice review as always, Prez.

[Miami101]

Another great cigar that I love thanks to Lisa!

I pick up the box after she recommended it to me, and pick another box the next month....

Very nice...

[Wiley]

Haha! Awesome!

[El Presidente]

I like my breakfast cigars. Hard to beat a Monte 5, San Cristobal Principe or great Partagas Short (been a while since I have had a great Short).

It is not easy being a Breakfast cigar. You need to have flavour but be a little restrained in body and tannins. While tapping away on the keyboard, reading e-mails or flicking through my favourite sites I need a cigar which is like a loyal dog sitting at our side (as Cohiba is now).....I don't need a cigar which through sheer aggression and power is distracting me or making my head and stomach feel whoozy.

Which brings me to the HDM Le Hoyo Du Depute (110 mm x 38). I have had excellent Depute's and I have had some flavourless hot burning crappy Depute's. Time to revisit this JUN 06 Model.

Excellent construction. Good wrapper without being outstanding. Smell at cold of a carpentry shop.

Clipped the cap. Excellent draw. Taste on lips of clean tobacco, cream and lavender.

Lit the foot. Good combustion. Much fuller body and flavour than I had expected. Full side of medium, strong toasted tobacco note but an underlying sweet cream note which is a Le Hoyo series trait. Woody/cedar core.

Creamy notes being overpowered by clean tobacco and cedar but remain everpresent. Sronger than I like for a breakfast cigar but consistent with many 06 offerings which saw an increase in horsepower across many lines of cigars. Sipping on a straight black Merlo coffee.....perfect match.

The cigar is getting stronger. Now definitively full bodied. Chewy licorice note developing as the cream disappears entirely. Very enjoyable cigar but it is demanding some serious attention. Nicotine level high. Need to take a small break and search for a glass of water.

Could not finish past the band as it was simply a little too full and rumbunctious for 9am in the morning. Very full bodied with big licks of nicotine, dark notes of licorice and espresso remnants you find going cold in the bottom of a plunger. Very good cigar but these 06 offerings are no longer a breakfast cigar.....more pre-lunch with a hearty Champagne (Tattinger?).

89/100 4.5/6 smokerings.