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Dimensions:

Length: 140 mm (5.5 inches)

Ring Gauge: 56

Shape: Robusto Extra

Appearance:

This new cigar from Hoyo de Monterrey follows the trend of short cigars with a bigger ring gauge, it is indeed the biggest from the Le Hoyo Series (bigger and shorter than the Hoyo de San Juan). This vitola, called a Aromosos, like the other cigars of Robusto Extras format allow the cigars to express all their flavors and complexity, while delivering a smooth smoking experience. As expected, the Le Hoyo de Rio Seco has a special made band, which is very elegant.

The cigar looks very well constructed, the seams are almost invisible, the triple cap is well applied. It is not veinless, but only very small veins are apparent on the wrapper, which has a beautiful chocolate brown color. The wrapper is fairly rustic, not very smooth but there is a nice sheen of oil on the wrapper, so overall a very nice appearance. The foot is very well packed, and there are no soft spots at all on the cigar.

Smoking Notes:

Before lighting up

There are some earthy flavors off the wrapper and some vegetal tang from the cold draw.

Burn/ Draw

The draw is open and very nice. It takes a little bit of effort to light up this massive cigar, but once lit there is no combustion issues. The cigar emits a nice gray smoke with some bluish tones.

Initial third:

The Le Hoyo de Rio Seco starts beautifully with some smooth and creamy feeling. The main flavors are woody, but a dark wood, mahogany like, with some damp cedar notes. Lots of earthy flavors as well at the start while it fades away leaving space for some nice roasted nuts flavors as well as some leather. Being a young cigar, rolled with crops from 2018, there is as expected some herbal aspect to it, especially on the finish. The most notable flavors are some cilantro, parsley leaves or dried thyme. But it is not pungent whatsoever, it is overall very rounded and smooth. 2018 harvest in Cuba is actually one of the best in many years, so we can expect great cigars all around the Habanos brands and especially on this new release. The cigars is not too powerful, maybe not at light level, but well under a medium. There is no harshness or bitterness whatsoever. The burn is slightly wavy but doesn’t affect the smoking experience. The draw remains amazing.

Middle third:

The middle section of the cigar is a nice evolution from the first one, the cedar and the earth are coming to the fore intermittently. It is still very well balanced overall, very rich but mellow at the same time. We get the usual Hoyo de Monterrey flavors, the one from the famous Epicure No.2, but amped up. Flavor wise it is at a full level, while the body is at a mild to medium point. Some sweet spices also join the fray and the cigar is simply great up to now. No complains can be made about it, it is still very mellow without any sudden jump in strength. The draw is still great and smooth. The smoke is getting thicker in mouth. The ash is holding on very well, in a white/greyish color. Once we ash it, it reveals a perfect dome at the foot, the cigar is now smoking very evenly.

Final third:

The intensity of flavors ramps up in the last third, the roasted nuts flavors are coming back. The herbaceous notes are also more noticeable than in the middle section, with cilantro and parsley mainly. Some fruity notes also come to the foreground, almost like a raw coffee berry. The flavors work very well together and get blended beautifully in the thick and creamy smoke. Despite being still a young cigar, it should only get better one or two years down the line. The construction remains perfect, with an ash holding on still the end of the first third. Great until the end.

In summary, if we were to compare cigars and wine, one could say that the Le Hoyo de Rio Seco is like a Burgundy wine to the Habanos cigars: a great intensity and very elegant at the same time.

Smoking time:   45 minutes – 60 minutes