Hoyo de Monterrey Piramide EL 2003

[shrink]

I lit up a DIC03 example while enjoying the U.S. Open today. I'm a fan of Davis Love III, and it's great to see him playing well.

The Hoyomide is definitely on it's way back, but I can't say it's there yet. The opening was simply astonishing, like Tiger Wood on a good day. Everything that makes a cigar great was there: aromatic, medium to full bodied, nice and spicy, with distinct tastes of cocoa and nuts. The finish was really schweet, and lingered long enough to make me hesitate and savor between draws. The impression was one of a spicy chocolate chip cookie. The Hoyo was really showing its' pedigree here, so I'd give this hole an Eagle.

Unfortunately, by the end of the front nine, it had lost it's way, and had resolved into a soft profile of cocoa and wood. Only mildly sweet. It pretty much stayed in this mode until the last quarter, where it picked up some strength, and some more sweetness. Only a Par here.

The Piramide finished with a one-dimensional profile, lacking the complex spice it had shown early on. If this were an aged des Dieux, I would have been satisfied. But remembering what the Hoyomide was like in its early days, and having been teased by its' magnificent opening round, I have to say that it ended the tournament with a Bogey.

[bassman]

I totally agree with you. The important thing, though, is they have certainly improved from total blandness 6 months ago. Back when these came out, ELs were not overly expensive & I wound up with 3 boxes of these & smoked one box withiin a year. Those were some spectacular cigars.

[greenpimp]

I think mine are from December as well. I had one a few months ago, and it was excellent. The best so far. However, my box was a disappointment early on. Far, far too strong. Now the dark chocolate notes are really coming on well and the edges smoothing. I expect great things, from my box at least. A come from behind victory, if you will. Good long game. :-P

[Ken Gargett]

shrink, loving this golf. woods just eagled the 13th - that must be one of the most amazing holes ever played. shocker tee shot off into the crap. drives out of that with a brilliant shot that, on a par 5, carries the hole, and then putts in from off the green about 80 foot downhill. the guy is a genius.

this was one of my very favourite cigars. got a few boxes and knocked all but one off in the early days (bassman is right when he says they were not expensive - i think i paid us$130 a box in havana at the time of release). i have one box left untouched and with all the negativity about them lately, i have been half tempted to pull the out and check and the other half says leave them. tha half just won - they are staying away.

[cohiba]

Great review Shrink

I had one a couple weeks ago. I thought it to be fantastic. Definatley on the rebound. The flavors and aroma held in there slightly longer than you explained, but droped in the end. I have 3/4 box left and wont touch them for another year. Wish i didnt sell off the second box. Looking forward to future enjoyment.

[habanohal]

I have been smokeing 1 or 2 a week right now. They have gotten tasty and dont want to wait for another change, for it may be bad

[froglicker77]

I wish I still had some of these laying around smoked the last 2 from a fiver I picked up. Damn tasty smokes!!!

[lastzap]

I am always looking for any boxes of these. I got two boxes of them back in 04 and smoked through them before I knew it......awesome yummy smokes......:-)

[Mr.T]

Thanks for the great review Shrink!

I have a box of these sitting in the humi. I think they are from DIC 03. They have the newer hoyo bands on them. They look and smell incredible. I've read that the ones with the newer bands seem to be showing a little more flavor , strength and profile than the earlier editions. I have no idea if this is the case. Maybe those of you who have had some from both can give their thoughts. Or maybe there is no real difference at all?

I've been holding out on smoking them with some of the bad reviews lately, but I am glad to hear that these may be on the rebound and that people have been enjoying them as of late. I guess it is time to find out!!

Thanks again!

[wp2]

I was ready to pull the string on these & when I did, they were out of stock! Bad move waiting on my part.

[El Presidente]

Great review Shrink.

And to think I traded mine away last year. I loved these when they came out and was so disappointed they had lost all that I had enjoyed about them when I re sampled. It never even crossed my mind that they would come good again as nothing in the smoking experience gave me grounds to believe the intensity and complexity of flavour would return.

Great to know Ken still has a box i can share :-D