Hoyo De Monterrey Double Corona OIK JUN 03

[winelover]

Great review and pics.

I wonder whether the deterioration in flavours of your cigar had anything to do with your change from wine to beer?

I sometimes wonder how much of a difference the accompanying drink does to the sensitiveness of the palette.

Otherwise, I've never had a hoyo DC, so can't comment.

[Colt45]

» What do you experts think? Did this stick age past its prime or was it

» washed out and boring to begin with?

I tend to doubt the cigar was past prime. It is possible it was a "dud", but you'll get a better feel for

that after you smoke the next couple.

You mentioned it was very muggy out - high humidity can certainly muddle the flavors of a cigar.

And while it may have had nothing to do with it in this case, perhaps wait until the weather is

cooler and dryer before you try the next.

Thanks for the review.

[Rogers72]

all excellent points. I did wonder if it had anything to do with the wine to beer switch as it did seem to happen close to the same time. Definitely something to think about. Maybe I will wait until the fall air moves in and try one with a beer and one with a wine. It is too damned hot for red wine right now!

[El Presidente]

Thanks for the review!

Have you ever left a newspaper out on a very humid night? It doesn't take long for the paper to gain that moist feel.

Cigars are not really much different in construction to rolled up newspapers. The higher the moisture the less the flavour.

I am not a fan of beer and cigars unless it is a stout. The cream and coal just brings out the best in a cigar.

[Rogers72]

» Thanks for the review!

»

» Have you ever left a newspaper out on a very humid night? It doesn't take

» long for the paper to gain that moist feel.

»

» Cigars are not really much different in construction to rolled up

» newspapers. The higher the moisture the less the flavour.

»

» I am not a fan of beer and cigars unless it is a stout. The cream and coal

» just brings out the best in a cigar.

Quite true, and with a two hour smoke, it is very conceivable that it could have been soggy after that first hour. It was about the muggiest night imaginable.

[havanaclub7]

Rogers,

There is definitely a point when the flavors switch in a Hoyo DC -- a point when the woody, nutty flavors subside and rich coffee and cream flavors develop. I agree with the previous comments that it may have been too humid outside to be able to enjoy the later flavors. I also don't think I'd switch from a robust red wine like Shotfire Ridge Shiraz to Busch Light. I think Prez is on the right track suggesting a darker beer. If a stout is too heavy for you, I think an ale or a richer lager, like Anchor Steam, would be great with a cigar.

[Mr.T]

Roger thanks for the review...I too purchased some three (5) packs. I don't remember the specific box code, but they are from 05. Not sure what the shelf life is on these guys. Some say they are best smoked within 1-2 years. The DC guys on the forum would know best. And I agree that the humidity may have had something to do with it. I live in Minneapolis, and our summers are very humid too and I feel the cigar isn't the same. Havana...you gave me a great idea...I will plan on drinking a Anchor Steam when I try out the Hoyo DC in a couple weeks. Thanks again for the review.

[havanaclub7]

Mr. T,

I didn't know you were in Mpls. I'm in southern Minnesota about an hour south of the Twin Cities. Would be fun to have a Minnesota herf sometime.

[The Wise Old owl]

I offer my most heartfelt condolences for your sweat-laden fan waving Iced tea inducing evening with a fine Havana cigar. As a "southern gentleman" myself (and I use the term loosely) I am all too familiar with the aviance that only mosquitos and alligators coupled with the proper amount of humidity can provide. I have often wondered how the poor folks in Havana can smoke a cigar at all.

I've been riding a PL robusto around in a cigar case for two days waiting for the perfect time of day to ignite it, for the past three days in a row here we've had horrific thunderstorms reminiscent of my Army days at Ft. Stewart, GA, full of Gators and sweat and Dirty language. If only the rain would stop here, I might could struggle through a robusto, and think back to those good old southern days... :-D

[dmuchow]

» Mr. T,

»

» I didn't know you were in Mpls. I'm in southern Minnesota about an hour

» south of the Twin Cities. Would be fun to have a Minnesota herf sometime.

south-western MN, 1 hr from TC here. Let me know if theres a herf.

[Rogers72]

This is, by far, the oldest Habano that I have smoked in my very limited experience. I have several of them from a 3-pack that arrived from Brisbane about 8 months ago. They are all beautifully constructed with a nice medium oily wrapper and seem perfectly filled. This one has a very small crack on the foot so I sacrificed it first. I am really not sure what to expect from this cigar as I have heard that they really haven't been what they used to be in the early to mid 90's but may be making a comeback with the 06 and 07 examples.

I decided to crack open a bottle of Thorne-Clarke that several on this site were raving about a while back. It did not disappoint.

The prelight draw was perfect and loads of smoke poured out as it took to flame. My initial impression was slightly on the mild side of medium but very rich in flavor with a nice, crisp teaky woodiness to it. I was REALLY enjoying it. I even thought to myself at one point that I would start laying all my cigars down for this long. It was a very muggy, hot South Carolina night and the red wine was a little too much and I needed to switch to something a little cooler so I ran and grabbed a couple of beers. That's the ticket.

A tale of two cigars; something bad happened around the halfway point of this one. I really didn't even notice it as it was a very gradual decline I guess but all of the flavor of this stick just disappeared. The core strength of it picked up but it just had absolutely no flavor. I tried to fight through it but I just couldn't. The burn remained great throughout but there was nothing behind it. I really don't know how to score this cigar. The first half, I think I would have gone mid 90's, the last half around 80. I'll stick with 83 if I have to.

What do you experts think? Did this stick age past its prime or was it washed out and boring to begin with? I guess I will go ahead and enjoy the first half of the rest of them...