Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona

[havanaclub7]

I purchased a few singles from Czar this past spring, so they have a few months of age in my humidor. I don't have box codes and dates as they were singles. (Note to Prez, it would be great if your shipping staff could slip a note with box codes and dates on the singles. But I know how crazy you get during your big sales.)

Initial appearance was beautiful. Nice medium Colorado wrapper with a pronounced triple cap. Clipped the cap and there was nothing but sweet tobacco flavor. Torched the cigar and found not only a perfect draw but got a good volume of pure white smoke too. I'd say the body was light to medium light.

The initial flavors of the cigar was wood, nutmeg, floral and creaminess. As the cigar developed in the first third, the creaminess and nutmeg became more pronounced with some very interesting exotic spices. I wouldn't say cinnamon as others have noted in this marque and I wouldn't say pepper either. I can't quite place the spice, but it was really interesting.

As the cigar developed through the first third, the spice unfortunately went away and the nuttiness came through along with some dry, wood flavors. When the cigar hit the 2/3 mark, the nuttiness subsided and strong milk coffee flavors became pronounced. The milk coffee continued to get stronger and into the last 1/3 of the cigar became the main flavors with more coffee than milk. The cigar definitely finished stronger than it began.

Overall, I would rate it around a 90 or a 91. There were no construction or burn problems whatsoever. I would really like to figure out what those spice flavors were and will see if they become more evident over time or if, on the other hand, they disappear altogether.

This has always been one of my favorites and Bill Cosby's favorite CC as well. My first Hoyo DC was from around '96 or so and I would give anything for a box of them. I think CA gave them a 99 rating at one time. I saw the Cos at a show in the late 90s and gave one to him. I wish I had a picture of how his face lit up when I handed the cigar to him!

[SmokinAl]

Very cool Cosby story.

I'm in agreement that the quality of these have declined over the past ten years. I had a few cabinets from pre 2000 that I've slowly worked my way through and finished off earlier this year much to my eternal disappointment.

That said, I still think the HdM DC is a magnificient smoke. I was going to light up another 06 last night to review but you've beat me to the draw (pun intended).

Thanks for the great review.

[Ken Gargett]

interesting stuff. i checked my notes and had not a single positive review of these (they were fair, not great) until i bought a box of '01s from rob - then some mixed reviews but a few were very very good. have not had one for a couple of years so might be time to try. about half the box left.

[toasterhead]

Hey havanaclub7,

In the beginning, there was HDM DC...

My first ever box purchase, circa 2003 vintage. Shipped bandless from a neutral European country. Imagine my surprise when I opened the package; geez those are frickin huge cigars! I loved them of course, until an "expert" friend of a friend informed me that they were fakes. Game on again.. Out came the millimeter rule and ring gauge device. They tasted like a giant chocolate bar to me and seemed like the real deal.

Luckily I gifted several to a friend who maintains a good humidor, but who smokes about 1 cigar a month. We recently revisited the DCs and they are fantastic. Sublte sweet creamy flavors just like you describe.

HDM may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they have a special place for me.

Dave

[havanaclub7]

Thanks for the reply, Al. I'm guessing my stock was '07 since I bought them from Czars around the first part of April. I agree with you 100% that there has been a steady decline in these cigars from the late 1990s. That said, I'd definitely revisit them as I thought the '07 stock was pretty good.

As for Cosby, the very first issue of CA magazine that I ever purchased had Bill Cosby on the cover. I believe it was September of 1994. Around 1998 or so I got front row tickets to see Bill Cosby at a casino near Minneapolis. I remembered from the article that his favorite cigar was a Hoyo DC and I brought one to give him. At the very end of the show, he took his last bow and was turning to walk off the stage when I took the cigar out of my jacket and handed it up to him. He grabbed it, took one look at the band and just lit up. I had my CA magazine with (yeah, it was kinda planned) and he autographed it for me. It's a great memory and I always think about it when I smoke a Hoyo DC.

[havanaclub7]

Great story, Dave! It's funny how smoking cigars brings so many memories. For me, cigars have always been about experiences and adventures as much as the hedonistic enjoyment of the leaf.

[El Presidente]

It would be an 07.

Another nice 07 comeback from a cigar which went missing in action for many years.

Excellent review