Hoyo de Monterrey Particulares

Description

The sun is just starting to dip below the treeline, casting long shadows across the deck while you settle into the deepest chair you own. You have cleared your schedule for the next two hours because lighting up a cigar of this magnitude requires total commitment to doing absolutely nothing else.

The Smoking Experience

First Third: When you hold a cigar that measures over nine inches, the ritual of cutting and lighting becomes an event in itself. The cold draw on the Particulares offers a whisper of dry hay and a subtle floral sweetness that is typical of the brand. Once you toast the foot, which takes a moment given the density of the tobacco, the first few puffs are surprisingly gentle. You might expect a construction issue with a format this long, but the draw usually offers just the right amount of resistance. The smoke is cool and airy, coating the palate with a distinct flavor of sweet cream and light cedar. It does not assault your senses with pepper or spice. Instead, it invites you in with a soft, toasted character that feels elegant and restrained. The ash begins to form a dark grey column, holding firm despite the length of the barrel.

Mid-Section: As you pass the forty-minute mark, the cigar settles into a steady rhythm. The initial sweetness tones down slightly, replaced by a more pronounced nuttiness that reminds you of roasted almonds or cashews. Because the ring gauge is a modest 47, the ratio of wrapper to filler plays a significant role here. The Colorado wrapper, aged for two years, adds a layer of fine leather to the profile without adding heaviness. The body remains firmly in the light category, making it easy to retrofit, which brings out faint notes of vanilla bean. It is the kind of smoke that allows you to carry on a conversation without constantly needing to sip water to cleanse your palate. The burn line might wobble occasionally due to the length, but it generally corrects itself without needing a touch-up.

Final Third: Crossing the ninety-minute threshold, you enter the final phase of this marathon smoke. The heat finally begins to build, but it rarely turns bitter if you have paced yourself correctly. The flavors condense into a richer earthiness, leaving behind the floral notes from the beginning. You get a bit more woodiness now, perhaps some oak, which provides a nice contrast to the earlier creaminess. Even as you approach the nub, the strength stays mild, never threatening to give you a nicotine buzz. It finishes cleanly, leaving a short aftertaste of tobacco and cedar that fades quickly. It is a graceful exit for such a massive format, proving that size does not always equal aggression.

Flavor Profile

The Story Behind Hoyo de Monterrey

Jose Gener founded Hoyo de Monterrey in 1865, realizing early on that the low-lying fields of the Vuelta Abajo produced a sweeter, lighter leaf than other regions. The name itself refers to the “hoyo” or basin where his farm was located, a geographic bowl that trapped moisture and created unique growing conditions. By the turn of the century, his factory was pumping out millions of cigars, setting the gold standard for mild Cuban blends that prioritized flavor over brute strength. The Particulares actually started its life in 2000 as a Limited Edition, but smokers loved the giant format so much that it eventually returned as a regular production gem for those in the know.

Perfect Pairings

• Rum: Flor de Caña 18 – The caramel and oak sweetness in this aged rum lifts the creamy texture of the cigar without overpowering the mild tobacco.
• Whiskey: Lagavulin 16 – The intense peat smoke of the scotch creates a fascinating contrast that cuts through the light cedar notes of the Hoyo.
• Coffee: Ethiopian Yirgacheffe pour-over – The bright acidity and floral citrus notes of this coffee bean mirror the delicate floral aromas found in the cigar’s first third.

Ideal For

This is strictly for the patient smoker who has an entire evening to burn and appreciates nuance over power. It fits perfectly for a celebration where you want to talk for hours without having to light a second cigar or rush through a robusto. Beginners can handle the strength easily, but the sheer size and time commitment might be intimidating for someone not used to managing a burn for this long.