Cuban Cigar Aficionados

The Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto is mild and earthy in the beginning, evolves progressively without beeing agressive. A very pleasent Cuban cigar. Althought we can feel the ammonia of a freshly rolled cigar, the aromas developped are so round and aromatic that we can almost forget that it's so young. The finish is outstanding. A great Cuban cigar, will be even greater in a 3-6 months of aging. One of the best new cigars of 2004. It has nothing to do with an Epicure No.2.

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Year of Foundation: 1865

Tobacco Country: Cuba

Tobacco Procedence: Vuelta Abajo (Pinar del Rio)

Cigar Factory: La Corona

Cigar Strength: Light Strength

Jose Gener, a Spanish leaf grower, began producing the great Hoyo de Monterrey cigar brand in 1960. Gener was one of the most important barons of the tobacco industry, who acquired his fortune with cigars and sugar cane on the island of Cuba. The trademark Hoyo de Monterrey was registered in Cuba in 1867 by Gener. Later, the "Le Hoyo" series was added to the commercial Cuban cigar market in the mid-seventies.

The name Hoyo de Monterrey translates roughly as "Valley of Monterrey", which is a very fertile stoke of land in the "Vuelta Abajo" region of South West Cuba. Gener farmed in this valley for many years. Hoyo de Monterrey is known to all Cuban cigar connoisseurs due to its distinctive cigar flavor and the silky richness and complexity of the Hoyo cigars.

Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona is perhaps the most famous and coveted Monterrey cigar made. Gener invested his profits in purchasing the best farms and plantations in Vuelta Abajo, Pinar del Río, mainly the areas close to San Juan y Martinez. He acquired the Hoyo de Monterrey plantation in 1860, with which he tried to capitalize the success of La Escepción, a successful cigar brand for the American market.

Jose Gener started printing the initials of his most distinguished buyers in the cigar's rings (vitolas). He achieved complete control of the business from 1870 to his death in 1900. After his death, his heirs (inclined to the sugar cane business) sold the Hoyo de Monterrey trademark to Ramon Fernandez and Fernando Palicio, co-owners of the trademarks Punch and Belinda.

At present, Hoyo de Monterrey still keeps the prestige of being one of the best Cuban cigar trademarks among the smoothest cigars, offering about fifteen handmade cigar models and about the similar number made mechanically.