HdM Petit Robusto REM MAY 20 (FFSAug24)

[Capn_Jackson]

That’s me in the corner, that’s me in the spot…light… smokin’ another REM May ‘20. 

A couple of slightly bumpy veins, and a delicious shade of brown wrapper with just a bit of tooth. Barnyard and cedar aroma. Great resistance after a straight cut, and the cold draw brings to mind sweet chili powder and coffee. 

As things get going, I taste graham cracker or granola with honey, and some dried berries. After a few minutes, there is some slate, or a rocky, mineral flavor at the forefront. Behind it is still some dried berry and also some hay. Hoping that minerality goes bye-bye soon, because it can easily take over. The finish has a bright honey note, and some buttered toast. Pretty soon, the minerality thankfully gives way to baking spices and more fruit. Comes across a little like the fruit in a wine, slightly tannic but also sweet. Not tart. Mouthfeel is a little dry, not the creaminess I’d expect from a HdM. Other than that, this is about what I expected from a 4-yr-old Hoyo that easily could have taken another few years’ rest.

This is a short stick, but I’ll still divvy into thirds. The second act goes into a nice new area, something like butter cream frosting, and a little bourbon sweetness with some musty, dusty antique shop aroma surrounding it. This is what I came here for. Soon, that touch of leather starts to appear just on the middle of the tongue, flitting in and out of the antique shop. Not to be outdone, berries jump back into the party and bring a bunch of vanilla yogurt shots along for the ride. At the midpoint, prominent flavors shift back to graham cracker, with some toasted marshmallow. Here’s hoping cocoa or milk chocolate decide to hitch a ride, and create a much-expected s’mores party!! Mouthfeel finally does shift over to the creamy side, but still just a little dusty at times. Strength has not really exceeded mild, to me, the entire first half.

The ash on this sucker is remarkably solid, and the burn line has only required one touchup, which might’ve even been unnecessary but I went ahead with it anyway.

Ash stand!!!

To start Act III, some noticeable cocoa does finally wash its way in, giving a bit of a s’mores vibe. Dried fruit again, and maybe even a little peanut butter, come in tow. The natural, low sodium peanut butter, none of that cheap crap. 

Around the nub, as things heat up just a touch, coffee becomes the prominent player. Caramel macchiato with espresso on top. Finish and mouthfeel turn extremely creamy. No extreme bitterness from the coffee, only a little roasted bean along with the sweet decadent stuff.

Gotta slide that label up as I get close to this delectable nub. No berry, graham cracker, or cocoa here. Much more earthy, but still caramel macchiato. Coffee shop meets barnyard. Just before the nub gets too hot for my lips and fingertips, a hint of allspice shows up late to the party. Nothing to detract from the sweet coffee and earth though. I’ve heard others describe some complexity to the HdM Petit Robusto, but at the tail end of this box, most of the flavors were really sort of in a similar vein. Complexity be damned, love this smoke!

90. Would’ve been higher if not for that slate in the first act, and a few points lower if it had lingered longer. Just over an hour of a very pleasurable, if not extraordinary, Hoyo. To me, these wouldn’t seem to speak to a large portion of the NC crowd, but that’s fine by me as long as the price tag stays close to where it is.

Fat chance.