Current 2018 Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo Series

[JohnS]

The Le Hoyo series are a group of cigars within the regular production line of the global brand, Hoyo de Monterrey. Below is a list of the Le Hoyo cigars sourced from Cuban Cigar Website...

 

 

The du Roi, du Prince and de Dauphin are officially discontinued, however the du Gourmet has been in hiatus since circa 2012 and the des Dieux has been hiatus since circa 2014.

The du Gourmet may be discontinued, however, the des Dieux future availability is uncertain. (It's been mentioned on our forum that a release in the near future may be possible). In regards to the du Gourmet, it's likely deleted as there is only one current slim panetela (i.e. 33 ring gauge x 6 inch or 150 mm and over length) in regular production, the Por Larranaga Montecarlos.

The Le Hoyo line is noted for its wood and cream flavours and the preference amongst cigar enthusiasts for long-term aging, i.e. 5 years and more. Recent additions to the Le Hoyo line include the de San Juan in 2014 and the de Rio Seco this year in 2018. Both these cigars have larger ring gauges, as has been the recent trend for Habanos S.A releases.

A review of the series from 2012 by @Michel1968 can be found at the link below...

 

[99call]

13 minutes ago, JohnS said:

San Juan in 2014 and the de Rio Seco this year in 2018.

Whats you're thoughts John, I've tried neither of these cigars.  Are their blend a complete departure of what the "Hoyo du" series was known for?

[thedame007]

I have smoked quite a few of the San Juan's (2015 and 2016) and i have found them to smoke beautiful young, so they're certainly a step away from the necessity to age them for 5+ years. Flavour wise it was full of cream, and wood/spice, and I am a big fan of them - though i do wish the ring size was not so girthy!  

[JohnS]

I do agree, the de San Juan have been very approachable young. You've summed up those flavours well, @thedame007 , in addition, sometimes I've gotten tea flavours out of them. I think the de San Juan belongs within the Le Hoyo Series, blend-wise.

@99call, I've yet to sample the de Rio Seco. I wonder if anyone has sampled a pre-release (or early release)?

[99call]

45 minutes ago, thedame007 said:

to smoke beautiful young

 

3 minutes ago, JohnS said:

I do agree

Is there any presence in there blend that points towards the more unusual, difficult expects of the 'Hoyo Du' line?.  Essentially my thinking is, as it always is. In order for a cigar to elevate into excellence, it has to have dark to balance out the light. A bit of dirt to balance out the clean. 

The darker unusual aspects I have found in the old "Hoyo Du" line, as been incredibly dry tannic white woods, a floral muskiness thats very deep and earthy. 

Essentially I'm wondering, have they removed all that, and left a vanilla, creaminess,  slight woodiness,,,,, aka very approachable, 'pleasant' but not 'great' cigar?

[thedame007]

9 minutes ago, 99call said:

 

Is there any presence in there blend that points towards the more unusual, difficult expects of the 'Hoyo Du' line?.  Essentially my thinking is, as it always is. In order for a cigar to elevate into excellence, it has to have dark to balance out the light. A bit of dirt to balance out the clean. 

The darker unusual aspects I have found in the old "Hoyo Du" line, as been incredibly dry tannic white woods, a floral muskiness thats very deep and earthy. 

Essentially I'm wondering, have they removed all that, and left a vanilla, creaminess,  slight woodiness,,,,, aka very approachable, 'pleasant' but not 'great' cigar?

For some reason this reminded me of the Muller adverts of Pleasure and Pain 

 

 

I would say that there is a spiciness to the smoke, so that leaves me to wonder as to how they will develop as time passes - I have 10 left from 2015, so I do expect I will have a few around at the 5+ mark. There is no pepper that i could detect. But at the moment the spice adds enough variance to cut through the creaminess.

 

I have 1.5 boxes of the HdM elegantes and they are all sweet, sweet, sweet: cream and candyfloss. I must admit, i do find them too 'light', and find myself hoping for some 'darkness' to add some complexity and balance - great way of phrasing the makeup of the cigar, never thought of it before in such terms, but it makes perfect sense! 

[99call]

3 minutes ago, thedame007 said:

great way of phrasing the makeup of the cigar, never thought of it before in such terms, but it makes perfect sense! 

It's a bit like people putting indole into chocolate and perfume, and little bit of it, is the 'magic' component. Smell indole in concentration, and apparently is smells like shit. 

Aged steak= that nutty, slight blue cheese funk.......we love it

Champagne= that tangerine/brioche like yeasty airy funk........we love it

Truffle= the deep peppery fungal stench............we love it

etc etc etc.............for some unknown reason the slight piquancy of rotten is what transcends good........into great.     I don't know why, but I believe it to be true

 

[JohnS]

44 minutes ago, 99call said:

 

Is there any presence in there blend that points towards the more unusual, difficult expects of the 'Hoyo Du' line?.  Essentially my thinking is, as it always is. In order for a cigar to elevate into excellence, it has to have dark to balance out the light. A bit of dirt to balance out the clean. 

The darker unusual aspects I have found in the old "Hoyo Du" line, as been incredibly dry tannic white woods, a floral muskiness thats very deep and earthy. 

Essentially I'm wondering, have they removed all that, and left a vanilla, creaminess,  slight woodiness,,,,, aka very approachable, 'pleasant' but not 'great' cigar?

Dry tannic woods and floral muskiness I've found in other Le Hoyo cigars such as the du Depute and du Prince, less so in the des Dieux. I've also had spice at times in the de San Juan, but I've found it predominantly lighter and more akin to the vanilla, creamy, slight woody flavours you describe.

[ayepatz]

15 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Dry tannic woods and floral muskiness I've found in other Le Hoyo cigars such as the du Depute and du Prince, less so in the des Dieux. I've also had spice at times in the de San Juan, but I've found it predominantly lighter and more akin to the vanilla, creamy, slight woody flavours you describe.

I’ve got a box of DD from MER MAR 13 and a box of SJ from EML JUL 14.

Of the few I’ve smoke from each box, I would say that both were predominantly creamy cigars, with the DD showing secondary flavours of wood and spice (more nutmeggy than peppery to my weird old palate), and the SJ exhibiting a tanniny-tea character, with a wee bit of peppery spice.

I’m not sure that, in a blind test, I would pick them as siblings. Mind you, the last go I had at the blind tasting comp on FOH I scored an impeccable 0 out of 5.

So probably best just to ignore all of the above. ?

[Fugu]

To address the du-Gourmet-question by @Philc2001 from the other thread, they have been delisted for quite some time now, like the Dieux, but never been officially announced to be discontinued by HSA (as is holding for quite a few others). As to the du Gourmet - unlikely, highly unlikely to see them return.

The Le Hoyo series, in particular with the fad-catering new additions - whether good cigars or not - is dead.

[Philc2001]

9 hours ago, Fugu said:

To address the du-Gourmet-question by @Philc2001 from the other thread, they have been delisted for quite some time now, like the Dieux, but never been officially announced to be discontinued by HSA (as is holding for quite a few others). As to the du Gourmet - unlikely, highly unlikely to see them return.

The Le Hoyo series, in particular with the fad-catering new additions - whether good cigars or not - is dead.

Thanks Fugu. I was aware they had disappeared, but was wondering if they had been officially axed. I was hoping there was still a chance they may return. I'm discovering I'm a big fan of the Le Hoyo series, particularly the Des Dieux, the Du Depute, Du Prince, and I am almost certain I would enjoy the Du Gourmet greatly. Such a shame these vitolas have been discontinued. Shame, shame, shame...