Hoyo De Monterrey (Honduran) Dark Sumatra Espresso

Well, it's only been a few months, better do a cigar review!

Our editor had an unfortunate incident with a bamboo skewer and a wild ptarmigan, so we have been out of business for a while. But we are back and better than ever! Actually, the same.

I recently bought a 4-pack of these Hoyos from JR Cigar, as I wanted something to fill out my order after I bought a sweet leather cigar case for taking smokes to the bar. I hadn't heard much about them, but the super-dark wrapper caught my interest and they were very reasonably priced. (4 cigars for $14, or $3.50 each)

Well I've been on a business trip in Illinois, and then had to work the weekend to finish up the stuff I was doing on the trip. So a cigar and bourbon on the porch was in order. For the bourbon, I went for a new one, Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel. For the cigar, I chose this little Hoyo.

It was a short guy, but lasted over an hour. The draw was great, the burn was fine, with just one touchup needed. The flavors were very enjoyable, strong without being harsh. Definite spice, mellowing into some coffee and a leathery taste, and under it all a smooth tobacco flavor.

The bourbon was pretty good, but didn't knock my socks off. I still prefer Woodford Reserve as the mid-price champ. But the smoke was a definite pleasant surprise.

I really enjoyed the smoke, especially for the price. I will be getting more of these in the future. The nice and interesting flavors, the good construction, and the good price make this a solid Hoff.

Hoyo De Monterrey (Honduran) Dark Sumatra
Size: Espresso (4.5" x 50 ring)
Taste: Medium-Wild
Draw: Great
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Spicy pepper, leather, coffee
Overall Rating:
Michael Knight in shining armor

Camacho Triple Maduro

It was a warm Miami evening. Dinner had been an excellent Beef Bourguignon (the italics make it more french!) and I was now sitting in a poolside gazebo with a strong coffee, and an equally strong cigar.

First off, the Camacho Triple Maduro is a damned sexy cigar - from the dark maduro wrapper to a pretty impressive silver foil label. That comes at a price, though, at around 10-12 dollars apiece, this will never be an everyday cigar for me... though, admittedly, I don't think I'd want it to be.

Powerful. Crazy, crazy, strong and powerful is all that I can say about this cigar. I'd just finished dinner and it still hit me like a ton of bricks how strong this thing was, and on an empty stomach, it might have done me in.

Dont' get me wrong, it was great - it's on a short list of some of the strongest cigars I've ever encountered, and at the right time and place, it's a wonder. Assuming you have the palette for it (which is to say you have a thing for strong cigars in the first place) I definitely recommend picking one of these up for a try.

Take your time though - plan on at least 90 minutes - any faster and you're asking for trouble, as it will easily overpower you.

The draw was excellent, the ash held it's own, and... did I mention it was a powerful cigar?

The only thing holding back this cigar was that it was a little one sided - it as a heavy woodsy taste throughout, with notes of pepper getting more and more prominent as it went, but it was still pretty one sided - that's the only fault I can give.

This handsome, heavy-handed hunk of hurt hurtles home, HOFF in hand.


Camacho Triple Maduro
Size: Torpedo (6" x 54 ring)
Taste: Wild, Batshit Wild.
Draw: Great
Burn: Mostly Even
Flavors: Woody with peppery notes.
Overall Rating:

Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro Torpedo

Well, I will let my nerd flag fly. This Friday was the premiere of Season 4 of the new Battlestar Galactica, and I was excited. We went over to Curt's house to enjoy the giant 52" HDTV and the company, and it was a great time. (Editor: So... while pridefully flying your "flag" you went to "Curt's house" to enjoy his "Giant TV", and had a "Great Time".)

Before the show started, we decided it was time for a cigar. So Curt made some manhattans using Woodford Reserve, which was just awesome. (Editor: At least he bought you a drink first...) And then I grabbed this Padron 1964 maduro and Curt went for a Torano (don't remember which one).

I got this stick as a part of a secret santa thing back in November, and I have been looking forward to it. Well, I have to say that it definitely delivers. Just a kick in the ass of strong and complex flavors. The taste was really strong, any stronger and it would have crossed over into harsh. It had a nice spice to it, but there were spikes of sweetness that appeared from time to time. The draw was on the loose end of perfect, I was smoking everyone out with the giant clouds billowing out of this thing.

I really liked how the cigar changed constantly, it made for a really interesting smoking experience. The manhattan complemented it well, and overall I had a wonderful time.

Now, the big caveat here is the price. Like I said, I got this as a gift. But if you want to buy this fella you are looking at at least $14 per stick. That is pretty darn high. The last time I reviewed a stick that high (the Cohiba), I said it wasn't worth it to me. Well, this one is, but just barely. I really loved it, and it had the complexity that I find so interesting in higher-end cigars. I will get one again, but it will be a while. And I definitely won't be getting a box. So while I can't give it a full 10 rating, I liked it enough to push past the price and bestow it with a strong Hoff.

Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro Torpedo
Size: Torpedo (6" x 52 ring)
Taste: Wild
Draw: Insane
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Strong tobacco, spice, some cocoa and nut
Overall Rating:

Definitely a KITT not a KARR.

Padron 1926 Serie No. 9

I'm in Miami for the next couple of days on business - still full from lunch at a great Cuban place, I decided to be creative with my dining per diem for dinner - I swung by a cigar bar, picked up a few nice cigars, priced more than I would generally pay for such, and a large shot of Colada - a wonderfully sweet Cuban espresso that completely pervades Miami - every gas station you walk into has a commercial espresso machine just to make this stuff for under a buck a shot.

Anyway, my first buy was the Padron 1926 Serie No. 9. I don't give a great deal of credence to Cigar Aficionado's ratings - since we all know there are some pretty terrible cigars out there, and I've never seen a CI review lower than an 80... but this cigar was their top rated smoke for 2007. At 18 dollars a stick, it isn't one I'm likely to pick up again, but I can say I'm glad I tried it.

Let me set the scene - early April, Miami - sitting poolside at my hotel, legs kicked up on a couple of teak chairs, with a nice warm breeze blowing in off the coast.

Add in one of the best cigars I've had in a long time, and it takes the sting out of some of the annoyances of business travel.

The cigar started out smooth - and stayed that way throughout. The draw was nice and clean - and while the flavors were incredibly rich, they were never overpowering, and always smooth. The fact that Padron ages their tobaccos for these cigars for up to 5 or 6 years really shines through in the overall mellowness of this stick. The natural espresso notes of this cigar paired well with the sweet Cuban Colada I opted to drink with it.

When I first started smoking cigars - 10 or more years ago, I had my first Cuban - an old style RyJ which was so mild, so perfectly creamy that I spent the next several years trying to find a (legal) cigar that personified that mellow-but-powerful style. I think eventually I gave up - even later Cubans disappointed, as the cigar industry itself started to uproot itself and leave. My tastes turned toward increasingly potent, full-bodied cigars and I left that search behind.

I'm not sure that this compares to that original - I'm not sure anything ever will - but this cigar is a prime example of how strong and complex a milder cigar can be.

I give this 9 gets a 9, as I'm Walken out the door...


Padron 1926 Serie No. 9
Size: Corona (5 1/4" x 56 ring)
Taste: Mild (Medium)
Draw: Excellent
Burn: Even
Flavors: Rich, earthy, coffee tones.
Overall Rating:

Olde World Reserve Maduro by Rocky Patel

I grabbed this cigar before scooting down to Cincinnati for another fun working weekend - I was hoping for warm weather, and finally, late sunday afternoon, the sun finally decided to make an appearance.

I stepped outside, clipped a v-cut and, half a dozen matches later, lit the stick up. (Editor: And another half dozen matches later, you've destroyed the evidence of you and the Senator's illicit affair. )

But before I get ahead of myself - holding this puppy to light, I could tell it was going to be a strong smoke. Not surprising, this like the Camacho Coyolar Puro, came out of the CI Full-Bodied Sampler I picked up a few months back. Now I've had potent cigars before, but this one had a very strong version of that tingly nicotine feel you get from full-bodied cigars. I suspected I was in for a treat. (Editor: Know what else would be a treat? If you'd stop calling me every weekend in a drunken stupor, confessing your love of My Little Pony)

I wasn't disappointed - the cigar was strong right out of the gate, and didn't back down. Surprisingly smooth for a maduro, with an excellent draw and build construction, after a minute it really opened up into buttery, leathery notes that really floored me. I wasn't expecting anything like what I got.

I've had a strange run in cigars now - three in a row that have started off somewhat "meh", before really knocking my socks off. This one was a classic example of the kind of full-bodied cigar that sneaks up on you. You don't realize how strong it is until you stand up when you're finished. (Editor: That's what.....he said?)

It wouldn't be a Hassle to (h)offer this cigar to anyone that loves full bodied cigars. And for that, it gets an 8. (Editor: Ugggggghhhh...)


Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro
Size: Toro (6" x 52 ring)
Taste: Wild
Draw: Good
Burn: Even
Flavors: Buttery Leather.
Overall Rating: