The Hoyo de Monterrey Regalos Limited Edition was released by Habanos in 2007 and is presented in an unvarnished slide lid box of 25 cigars in two layers. The Regalos, as with all limited edition Habanos cigars, are not part of the usual range of the Hoyo de Monterrey brand. The careful selection of a two year aged wrapper from the upper level of the Cuban plant gives this release a darker colour which sets them apart from other HDM cigars. Binder and filler leaves used for the making of these limited edition cigars have also been aged for two years adding to its character. Having said that we had certainly looked forward to reviewing the HDM Regalos and partnering the Regalos for the review was ’The Yearling’ 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon from Rymill. 

(more…)

In 2003 Habanos S.A. released the Combinacciones Selección Piramides 5s case. This case contains five piramides of the most well known Habanos brands including Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Partagás and Hoyo de Monterrey.

This vitola measures 156 mm in length with a ring gauge of 52 and is currently available under the Montecristo banner as the Montecristo No.2. For the other four brands however this vitola is only available in the Combinacciones Selección Piramides case which incidentally also contains a humidifier to help maintain optimal storage conditions. For the review we’ll focus on the Cohiba Piramide which as previously mentioned is only available in the Combinacciones Seleccion Piramides 5s case.

(more…)

We recently reviewed the Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos which left us impressed and definitely wanting more! I could hardly wait to sit, smoke and review the Cohiba Maduro 5 Genios; the largest of the three Maduro 5 sizes at 140mm x 52 ring gauge. The construction of the Genios is also tip-top and the defiant dark shade certainly enhances the cigars appeal. This special dark colour and texture is obtained through a natural, five year process that apparently is chemical free. The traditional Cohiba ring adorns the Genios with the addition of a black band along the bottom featuring “Maduro 5″ in gold type. The anticipation of a great Cuban cigar prompted me to open a bottle of the delicious 2005 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon. 

(more…)

This new release from Montecristo is the little brother of the reknown Montecristo Edmundo. The Montecristo Petit Edmundo measures 110mm in length with a ring gauge of 52. The Petit Edmundo is classified as a petit robusto and measures exactly an inch shorter than the Montecristo Edmundo. Hoyo de Monterrey released the Petit Robusto in 2004 which was the first release of this size. This vitola is consistent with the current trend of thicker gauged and shorter Cuban cigars. The concept being a full, complex smoking experience in a shorter amount of time. It guess that’s the way of the world! Partnering the Petit Edmundo for the review was the equally creamy Kilkenny Irish Ale.

(more…)

The Cohiba Maduro 5 incorporates a new concept for Habanos as it utilises the highest grade Cuban grown maduro wrapper leaf. With a stunning dark shade the character of this tobacco is achieved during its five year aging process. This unique colour and texture is obtained through a process that is chemical free. This of course can’t be said for many of the non Cuban maduro brands. The tobacco used in the making of all Cohiba cigars comes from the five best tobacco farms of the Vuelta Abajo region. In addition Cohiba is the only Cuban brand in which two of the three types of leaves used to make them (seco and ligero) are given a third fermentation.

(more…)

In the early 1830’s at the age of thirteen Don José Gener y Batet left Spain immigrating to Cuba and began working on his uncles tobacco plantation in Vuelta Abajo. Some twenty years on he opened his own cigar factory  in Havana and produced the La Escepción line of cigars. In 1865 Don José Gener y Batet then acquired one of the best tobacco farms in Vuelta Abajo and registered a cigar range named Hoyo De Monterrey. Literally translating to “the hole of Monterrey” this reflected the concave terrain sought by growers of premium Cuban tobacco. Today it’s commonly acknowledged by many Habanos aficionados that Vuelta Abajo is the region where the best tobacco leaf is grown.

(more…)

In 2003 Habanos S.A. released the Combinacciones Selección Robustos 5s case. This case contains five robustos of the most well known Habanos brands including Montecristo, Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey and Partagas.

The Romeo y Julieta and Montecristo robustos are only available in the Selección Robusto case and are not included as a standard offering. The Selección Robusto case is totally handmade with specially selected leaves from the region of Vuelta Abajo. The robusto vitola (124mm x 50 ring gauge) has been one of the most popular sizes released from Habanos and for the review we’ll look a little closer at the Montecristo Robustos.

(more…)

Partagas is Cuba’s second highest selling Cuban cigar behind Montecristo and is probably the most diverse of all Habanos brands. Partagas encompasses ninety five different vitolas with thirty two currently being produced. The largest production Partagas cigar currently is the Series D No. 4 robusto, which currently averages around 360,000 cigars per annum. Partnering the Series D No.4 for the review was the delicious Trentham Estate Pinot Noir 2006. Construction of the Series D No.4 is flawless and very appealing with its gorgeous oily and silky smooth maduro wrapper. I cut the head with a twin blade cutter and lit the foot using my Vector Tri Pump butane table lighter.

(more…)

The Cuaba brand was first introduced in London in 1996. Cuaba is the Taino Indian word for the special Cuban bush used to light the “Cohiba” or “Tobacco”. The whole Cuaba range including the Cuaba Distinguidos is in the uncut figurados format which was popular in England at the beginning of the 20th century. The drink accompanying my Distinguidos once again was the fantastic new low carb Tasmanian beer; Cascade Green . The uncut figurados are apparently particularly hard to make and demand a lot of skill from their torcedores.

(more…)

The Cohiba Robusto is one of the original six cigars from the Línea Clásica range. When released this range was made available for diplomatic use only.

From 1982 three sizes were offered to the public: The Lanceros, Coronas Especiales and Panetelas. The infamous Esplendidos, the Robustos and Exquisitos were also made publicly available in 1989. The Cohiba Robustos is still one of the most sought after Cuban cigars on the market and with good reason. It presents beautifully with its medium brown oily wrapper and its construction is second to none. I cut the head with my CC cutter and lit up using my new Vector Tri Pump butane table lighter.

(more…)