Hoyo de Monterrey La Hoyo du Gourmet
Size: 170 x 33 ? Palmas
Smoke time: 1 hour 12 mins.
Date: NOV 06 Source: www.mysmokingshop.co.uk
Appearance: Nicely rolled and perfectly cylindrical with a smooth textured, milk chocolate coloured wrapper with some light veins. The cigar carried a HdM Standard band ?D? (Un-banded prior 2005).
Construction: The cigar felt nicely balanced in the hand, though a little light and ?spongy? to the pinch. The pre-draw was fine. The smoking draw was relaxed and effortless. The burn started straight and never wavered. The ash if anything was loose and liable to falling off and two hits on the conservatory rug are the testament. On reflection, I think the light packing of the cigar, born out by the loose ash is deliberate and a character of the vitola, though I?ve no way of proving this, because as far as I?m aware the du Gourmet is the only Palmas in current production. The resting burn was I thought quite quick, again I believe a result of the loosely rolled nature of the cigar. The smoke time itself was very good and achieved by keeping religiously to one minute between gentle ?sips? rather than taking vigorous ?draws?. No relights, no corrections.
Flavour: The pre-draw aroma was fresh hay/earth. The smoke started exceptionally well, on a sweet and creamy almost ?creme anglaise? note with a light, acidic lemon ?twang? as background. Light wood and clean tasting tobacco were also apparent while the characteristic Cuban citrus increased to a sherbetlike sweetness. Into the second third and the vanilla/creamlike flavours shifted to something more coffeelike whilst a slightly more muted version of the citric sweetness remained deliciously in the background. Moving towards the final third and the flavour became slightly more rounded as the wood flavours intensified and the tobacco took on a slightly more toasted edge. The final third was earthy chocolate accompanied by some vestage citric sweetness, a taste which I found totally adult and totally delicious. In all I would describe this cigar as being medium bodied flavourwise and light in strength with very little nicotine evident.
Overall: A smooth and satisfying smoke. Good flavour, and most certainly a smoke I would like to return to, though preferably fully outdoors when the weather is bit warmer. If the cigar does have a downside it?s in the level of concentration that has to be given to smoke it correctly, to fast will overheat and marr the flavours delivery, so if you?re of a slightly inpatient disposition this cigar really isn?t for you. Newbees, no worries, this smoke won?t knock you of your legs!
Size: 170 x 33 ? Palmas
Smoke time: 1 hour 12 mins.
Date: NOV 06 Source: www.mysmokingshop.co.uk
Appearance: Nicely rolled and perfectly cylindrical with a smooth textured, milk chocolate coloured wrapper with some light veins. The cigar carried a HdM Standard band ?D? (Un-banded prior 2005).
Construction: The cigar felt nicely balanced in the hand, though a little light and ?spongy? to the pinch. The pre-draw was fine. The smoking draw was relaxed and effortless. The burn started straight and never wavered. The ash if anything was loose and liable to falling off and two hits on the conservatory rug are the testament. On reflection, I think the light packing of the cigar, born out by the loose ash is deliberate and a character of the vitola, though I?ve no way of proving this, because as far as I?m aware the du Gourmet is the only Palmas in current production. The resting burn was I thought quite quick, again I believe a result of the loosely rolled nature of the cigar. The smoke time itself was very good and achieved by keeping religiously to one minute between gentle ?sips? rather than taking vigorous ?draws?. No relights, no corrections.
Flavour: The pre-draw aroma was fresh hay/earth. The smoke started exceptionally well, on a sweet and creamy almost ?creme anglaise? note with a light, acidic lemon ?twang? as background. Light wood and clean tasting tobacco were also apparent while the characteristic Cuban citrus increased to a sherbetlike sweetness. Into the second third and the vanilla/creamlike flavours shifted to something more coffeelike whilst a slightly more muted version of the citric sweetness remained deliciously in the background. Moving towards the final third and the flavour became slightly more rounded as the wood flavours intensified and the tobacco took on a slightly more toasted edge. The final third was earthy chocolate accompanied by some vestage citric sweetness, a taste which I found totally adult and totally delicious. In all I would describe this cigar as being medium bodied flavourwise and light in strength with very little nicotine evident.
Overall: A smooth and satisfying smoke. Good flavour, and most certainly a smoke I would like to return to, though preferably fully outdoors when the weather is bit warmer. If the cigar does have a downside it?s in the level of concentration that has to be given to smoke it correctly, to fast will overheat and marr the flavours delivery, so if you?re of a slightly inpatient disposition this cigar really isn?t for you. Newbees, no worries, this smoke won?t knock you of your legs!
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