Simon B's Encyclopedia of Cuban Cigars: Hoyo du Monterrey

[Simon Bolivar]

So one to one of my fav Marca's, the house of Monterrey, founded in 1865, one of the oldest Cuban brands, Described as Light to Medium strength, these are good morning or afternoon smokes. The best thing i can say about them, is the aroma is such I have never had a complaint smoking one, in fact the only only positive comments i have had from women have been when I have been smoking an Epi No2!

Biggest tip, if you can find aged stock or can age yourself, all Hoyo's benefit from aging, 3yrs ok, 5yrs great. Will still be great in 20yrs, if stored well. If you have only smoked straight from the shop with less than a years age, & dismissed them, do try an older one, chalk & cheese IMHO.

Having to save this now but will continue to add.

The most popular is probably the Epicure No2, these days the Petit Robusto must be a high seller too.

Churchill Julieta No2 47 x 7" Pre Rev Cigar.
Dress box x 25, discontinued 2012.
The lightest Churchill & I only smoked a couple, never seen many, even back in the day. The DC being far more popular. Personal score 83.

Corona 42 x 5 5/8" Pre Rev Cigar
Dress box x25 Discontinued 2006, Glass jar x 50 Discontinued 1980's.
A light/Med smoke, enjoy these Personal score 85.

Hoyo.Corona.2014.02.18.SAM_4260.jpg
Hoyo.Corona.2014.02.18.SAM_4262.jpg
Coronations (Tubos - Silver until 2011, then white) Petit Corona 42 x5"
Dress box x 25, Display box of 5 packs of 3 tubes, discontinued 2019 Personal Score 75


Des Dieux Coronas Grandes 42 x 6 Pre Rev Release
SLB no bands until 2005. x 25, SLB x50 discontinued 2006, Cajon x 100 discontinued Pre Rev.
Deleted later than others, 2014. Still can be found & worth trying, personal score 87
Hoyo.Dieux.2006.11.25.Wake.11.06_0516.jpg
Holding a wake for my father, with a Des Dieux.


Double Coronas Prominentes 49 x 7 5/8" Pre Rev Cigar
Dress Box 25 & SLB 50 discontinued 2006, Cajon x 100 discontinued Pre Rev
Pack x 3 discontinued 2006.
Shame the pack of 3 was discontinued & not many will invest or get through 25. A light DC but I have smoked some from the 80's. THe wrappers were balck ^ the flav amazing. Personal score 84. But the 80's scored 94!


Hoyo.DC.2015.06.18.80s.SAM_7265.jpg
The above are 1980's sticks x3, best DC's I ever smoked.
Du Dauphin 38 x 6" Laguito No2 Released 1969
SLB x 25 & x 50, sadly discontinued 2003
Love this format, sits very easily in the hand & gives a good delivery of med flav. Personal Score 84
Hoyo.Dauphin.2013.01.07.SAM_0206.jpg
Hoyo.Dauphin.2018.04.25.IMG_6526.jpg
Du Depute Trabucos 38 x 4 3/8 "

Hoyo.Depute.2012.03.24.IMG_1652.jpg

Du Gourmet Palmas 33 x 6 7'8" released 1974?
SLB x 25 discontinued 2013, SLB x 50 discontinued 2006. Cajon x 100 discontinued 1960's,
No bands until 2005.

One of my very fav Hoyo's, still have half a cab left but won't be replacing at the recent Auction prices. A very wonderful morning smoke, matches with a coffee perfectly.
Hoyo.Gourmet.2013.04.14.SAM_0390.jpg
Leuven, Belgie.
Hoyo.Gourmet.2017.12.14_121012.jpg
Hoyo.Gourmet.2009.08.25.089.jpg
LCDH Hamburg

Hoyo.Gourmet.2018.04.11_144547.jpg
Twin Peaks, Antwerp.

du Maire 30 x 4" Entreactos Pre Rev release
SLB x 25, SLB x 50 & pack x 5 both discontinued 2005.
Personally I have found a lot of very tight sticks & more so than any other of this vitola, hence personal score a basement 55.
Hoyo.Marie.2008.09.17_1010.jpg
Du Prince Almuerzos 40 x 5" Famously, the only stick of this vitola. Pre Rev Cigar
SLB x 25 discontinued 2017, x 50 discontinued 2006, Cajon discontinued pre 60's.
Packs x5 discontinued 2006.
Enjoyed these back in the day, as a cheaper Hoyo smoke, when I got 5% discount on a 5 pack. Personal score 81.
Hoyo.Prince.2014.05.29.SAM_4773a.jpg
Hoyo.Prince.2016.08.06.IMG_2133.jpg

du Roi Coronas 42 x 5 5/8" Pre Rev cigar
SLB x 25, discontinued 2009, x 50 discontinued 2003, Cajon x 100 discontinued Pre Rev.
Packs x 5 cigars discontinued 2006. Personal score 82.
Hoyo.duRoi.2019.01.20.DSC_1699.1.jpg

Hoyo.duRoi.2019.01.20.DSC_1698.1.jpg


Hermosa No4 Anejados 48 x 5"
Hoyo.Anj.2018.10.20.DSC_0210.jpg

[Simon Bolivar]

Epicure No1 Coronas Gordas 46 x 5 7/8" Pre Rev cigar
No bands before 2005, 2008 given 2nd band 'Epicure No1'
SLB x 25, (50 SLB Discontinued 2010)
Display box of 5 packs x 3 tubes, 5 packs of cigars x 3 from 2003 - 2011.

One of the few Coronas Gordas remaining on the Habanos line up. A nice change of pace from the more popular Epi No2. Personal score 86.
Hoyo.Epi.No1.2007.06.14.17.jpg
Hoyo.Epi.No1.2015.08.28.SAM_7670.jpg

Epicure No2 Robusto 50 x 4 7/8" Pre Rev cigar
No bands before 2005, second band 'Epicure No2' added 2008. Dress Box x 25, SLB x 50 & Cajon of 100 Discontinued in 60's. Cardboard packs x3 tubes, x 5 packs since 2010. 3 cigars in pack x5 in display pack since 2003.
Medium flav & light in strength a good morning or post luncheon cigar, I have always smoked the whole range of light to full flav cigars so I can appreciate both. If you just smoke stronger cigars, this one might pass you by. I always have one cab on the go & 2-3 aging. Currently smoking from 2005. Personal score 90.
Hoyo.Epi.No2.2007.06.28_0032.ajpg.jpg
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Hoyo.Epi.No2.2017.01.06.IMG_3645.a.jpg
Hoyo.Epi.No2.2018.11.07..jpg

Epicure Especial Gordito 50 x 5 1/2" 2008 release
SLB x 10 & x25. x50 cab 2008 - discontinued 2012. Display Packs x5 of x3 tubed,

A popular relatively recent release. Personal Score 88, EL 2004 94.
Hoyo.Epi.Esp.2008.10.15_1078.jpg
Above at the Thistle Hotel, Dyce, Aberdeen.
Hoyo.Epi.Esp.LE2004.2008.08.25_0235.jpg
Above, the 2004 LE original version, at a cafe, under the Tower Eiffel.
Hoyo.LE2004.2016.02.06.1454767446490.jpg
The Moon in the Square, Bournemouth.

Epicure De Luxe Magicos 50 x 4 1/2" Released 2012
SLB x 10 Label 'Epicure de Luxe & 2nd label LCDH. Personal score 84.

[Simon Bolivar]

EL2003 Piramides 52 x 6" Released 2003 (later EL's would be released far later than the band date).
Wrapper aged 2 yrs ( as per EL) SLB x 25. Very dark wrappers put me off these as I don't think Hoyo's suit them but with 10yrs age they were mighty fine. Personal score 92.

EL2004 Epicure De Luxe Magicos 50 x 4 1/2" Released 2012
SLB x 10 Label 'Epicure de Luxe & 2nd label LCDH. Personal score 84.
Hoyo.LE2004.2016.02.06.IMG_0816.jpg

EL2007 Realgos 46 x 5 5/8" Released 2007.
SLB x 25. Personal Score 81/

EL2011 Short Piramides 46 x 5 3/8" Released 2011
Wrappers aged 2 yrs. Personal Score 82
Hoyo.EL2011.2013.2015.08.13.SAM_7534.jpg

Hoyo.EL2011.2018.04.28.IMG_6533.jpg

EL2013 Grand Epicure 55 x 5" Released 2013
SLB x10 Band Grand Epicure & EL2013.

[Simon Bolivar]

Palmas Extra Cremas 40 x 5 1.2" Released Pre Rev but until 2002, was Machine Made.
Dress Box x 25 & Dress box x 25 in Cello, discontinued 2006.
Personally I preferred these Machine made, cheaper & still a decent fishing smoke. Personal score now 81.
Hoyo.PalmasExtra.2018.03.27_153919.jpg

Petit Robusto 50 x 4" Released 2004, as the every first Petit Robusto, a format which became very popular & most of the Cuban Marca's have produced one, even if only ER.
SLB x25, Display box of Packs x3 x5. Best smoked slowly, as James Suckling opined on release, they can burn hot otherwise. Personal score 85.

CigarCollection.2006.06.12.Hoyo.PR.jpg
PR x2 with an prebanded 2001 Epi No2 for comparison
Hoyo.PR.2009.08.18.316.jpg
PR smoked in an Antwerp night club, back in the day, feeling no pain, by the look of me!
Hoyo.PR.2011.05.01_030.jpg
Sharing a PR, with my oldest Belgie smoking buddy.

Corona Coronas 42 x 5 5/8" Pre Rev Release.
Glass Jar x50, discontinued 80's. SLB x 25 Discontinued 2006. Personal score 85.
Hoyo.Corona.2014.02.18.SAM_4260.jpg
Hoyo.Corona.2008.08.23_0926.jpg

Short Hoyo Coronas Marevas Petit Corona 42 x 5" Pre Rev release.
SLB x 25 Discontinued 2006 Personal Score 86.

Margaritas Carolinas 26 x 4 3/4" Pre Rev release.
Dress box x25 Discontinued 2006. Very elegant cocktail smoke, milder than the Punch, Personal score 80.
Hoyo.Marg.2007.05.18.000_0281.jpg
Compared with a ERDM DT.
Hoyo.Marg.2007.05.18.000_0282.jpg
Aberdeen Airport, just back from the rig.
Hoyo.Marg.2015.05.20.SAM_7045.jpg
Isle of Bute, fishing hols.

de San Juan Geniales 54 x 5 5/8" Released 2014
SLB x 10 & 25, display box 5 packs of 3 tubes.
Too large for my taste & don't think large RG in Hoyo's improves flav. Know many others disagree. Personal score a respectable 84.

LCDH 2016 Elegentes Tacos Perfecto 47 x 6 1/4" Released 2016.
Box x10. Prone to loose fill & draw. Personal score 82,

de Rio Seco Aromoso 56 x 5 1/2" Released in 2018.
SLB x 10 & 25. Display box of packs x 3 tubes x5.
Again, another fat RG release in this Marca.

[bigbarneyhotdog]

Ah, Hoyo DCs, they were the days!

[Simon Bolivar]

Ah, Hoyo DCs, they were the days!

Ah, I seem to remember you were a big fan of DC's, Punch springs to mind? Are you going to the Herf tomorrow at the Weyside Pub, in Guildford? Been too long since we herf'ed together & Martyn is going too.

[bigbarneyhotdog]

Ah, I seem to remember you were a big fan of DC's, Punch springs to mind? Are you going to the Herf tomorrow at the Weyside Pub, in Guildford? Been too long since we herf'ed together & Martyn is going too.

Hi Simon, I've only just seen this. I did try to get up to Guildford for the herf but life got in the way as usual.
SLR DCs were my favourite, the 2004 being just divine. I have quite a few empty cabs at home. The Hoyo and Punch DCs were great too.

[Simon Bolivar]

Hi Simon, I've only just seen this. I did try to get up to Guildford for the herf but life got in the way as usual.
SLR DCs were my favourite, the 2004 being just divine. I have quite a few empty cabs at home. The Hoyo and Punch DCs were great too.

Understand mate, life & Offshore is why I seem to only make an annual Herf too but working on that!