Connoisseur’s Corner: A Flawless Hoyo de Monterrey
When you think of superb, big cigars, this one immediately comes to mind, for Hoyo Double Coronas are a benchmark for that Cuban size, which also goes by the name prominente. The wrapper on this large cigar—it measures 7 5/8 inches long, with a 49 ring gauge—is the texture of fine silk, the edges of the cigar squared just so. Everything about it is perfect, from the draw to the flavor. It’s brimming with character, with unbelievable amounts of chestnuts, walnuts and cinnamon that left me speechless. A flawless smoke. —Marvin R. Shanken
This is a near-perfect corona. The wrapper is reddish brown, and covered with streaks of dark brown oils. The first attack brings a sweet cedar note, and that quickly shifts to wood and dark cocoa powder flavors. The finish ends with a sweet leathery note that lingers on the palate. At its peak, but there is life left in this 44-year-old smoke. —Gordon Mott
This long, rather skinny smoke falls into our lonsdale category, and more than two decades in a dress box has left it rather squared on the sides. The burn is not quite even, but the flavor is big, with touches of black pepper, tropical fruit and a sweetness reminiscent of a chocolate malted milkshake. The finish is long and luxurious, and the balanced smoke gets better with each puff. —David Savona
This cigar (circa early ’80s), taken from a cabinet of 50, displays all the characteristics of a well-aged smoke. Stored from its arrival at James Fox tobacconist in Dublin, the cigar has a solid core of cedar flavors, with a touch of white pepper on the mid-palate, and finally, a hint of dry leather on the smooth, long finish. It still has plenty of life in its future, but it’s smoking perfectly right now. —Gordon Mott
