Over the history of Cuban Cigars the tastes of smokers have dictated what comes out of the factories of Havana. In the last few years more and more demand has been seen for thick cigars, ring gauges over 50 that are imposing to look at and deliver lots of delicious smoke. In 2014 Hoyo de Monterrey listened to this demand and introduced the Le Hoyo series to cater for those who are fans of the light-flavoured blend the brand is famous for and have a bit more time on their hands to enjoy it.
This impressive Geniales vitola measures 54 ring gauge by 5 and 7/8 inches. It offers 90 minutes or more of smoking pleasure and can be enjoyed at any time – be it with a sweet dessert wine after a meal in the evening or as part of a long summer breakfast next to your morning espresso.
Construction: 9/10
- The cigar looks impressive immediately thanks to its size, and there were no blemishes on the colorado wrapper. A very fine grain to the top leaf, well-filled throughout and clearly well-protected by the aluminium tube it came in.
Draw: 9/10
- There were one or two occasions a slight effort was required to tease the smoke from the stick, but these were fleeting and of no real concern. Overall, this cigar drew very well.
The Hoyo de San Juan is a beautifully presented cigar.
Combustion: 10/10
- The full width of this considerable stick stayed lit with no assistance. There was an even burn all the way down to the nub, with never a hint of a deviation from perfect.
Ash: 4/5
- The ash hung well to the foot, gently rolling off every 1.5cm or so. The colour was fairly grey, far from the white we look for. As one would expect from a well-rolled cigar, it was solid in the ashtray, no flakes.
Smoke: 4/5
- Fragrant and ample, the smoke flowed from both ends and hung beautifully in the air.
Flavour: 22/25
- The light body one associates with Hoyo de Monterrey is evident even in the larger cigars, but there is still a good deal of flavour to explore with this cigar to fill the considerable time one spends with it.
Overall: 33/35
- This cigar delivered across all fronts. From the moment I drew it from its crisp, white sheath it was alluring in look and aroma. I smoked this cigar for over 1.5 hours and never had to make any effort to maintain the burn or deal with problematic ash. I was free to relax and enjoy the flavours.
There was a perfect draw and burn on this cigar.
Final Score: 91/100
One of the great appeals of the Hoyo de San Juan is its versatility. The size and time commitment can often mean it is for the end of the day, when work is done, but the light body and zesty flavours also allow it to accompany a leisurely weekend brunch without being too overpowering. The first third brought lots of sweetness, with notes of citrus fruit and freshly-cut grass. As I moved into the middle third of the cigar this became even more pronounced, with the most gentle hint of mint towards the back of the tongue. Flavours of cedar then began to arrive as the smoke approached the final third and the body intensified. Deep flavours of caramel and toffee were the sign-off, leaving me with the sensation I had just enjoyed the most elegant confectionary.