Cigars.ie

Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto

It has been a while since I last reviewed a cigar and I would like to apologise to everyone for my absence. Work as well as added family commitments since our new arrival, have left me unable find to the time needed to smoke and review a cigar. Although I have been smoking quite regularly, it has always been while multitasking! I have a few cigars left aside for a series of reviews during the Christmas period, but I thought it will be a good idea to brush the cobwebs off my reviewing sheets and review one of my favourite little cigars - as little as the time I have available tonight!

The cigar I will be reviewing today is the Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto. The Petit Robusto first hit the shelves in 2004 and it was the first of the short and stout vitolas that have now become mainstream. With a 50 ring gauge but only 4 inches in length; thats the girth of a robusto, squeezed in the length of a tres petit corona! Sounds like a good combination and an ideal cigar for the Irish winter…

Appearance & Construction 12/ 15

The Hoyo Petit Robusto is a well constructed cigar, with a light claro wrapper that is smooth and free of prominent veins or wrinkles. The bunch is solid and the cap is perfectly applied. Strong aromas of fruits and spices are present on the foot of the cigar and the prelight draw is perfect.

Flavour & Body 22 /25

On the first draw, the Petit Robusto presents a strong earthy and grassy profile, which smooths down as you smoke into the first third. Wood, cimammon and earth are the most dominant flavours, all well balanced and with good depth. The body is still medium on the second third, with added flavours of wild flowers and citrus joining the complex mix. The cigar has a great cool, fresh and long finish, with a slight spicy tingle. The burn problems affect the palate on the last third, with the fruit and floral flavours disappearing, and an unpleasant tarry and charcoaly flavour joining the dominant wood and earth. Not a great finish on a cigar that was very pleasant until the beginning of the back end.

Draw & Burn 20/25

The cigar lights up easy and draws very well from the beginning. I could not say the same about the burn however, as it kept going off after the second third, while it was also uneven. The Petit Robusto required several touch-ups, which affected its taste and the overall experience. To smoke this small cigar, make sure you have a big box of matches!

Overall 31/35

I usually enjoy the Hoyo Petit Robusto. Even though the size wouldn’t be one of my favourites, this cigar is short and sweet, never overpowering, with a cool smoke texture. A good choice for a 45 minute smoke, the Petit Robusto has great aging potential, as it shows some edges on its complex flavours that need to be refined. I would love to be able to review it against one of the first 2004 release to see how six and half years have affected its flavours. The burn problems are not common, but not rare either in these cigars. Although the one reviewed here failed to impress me, the Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto is generally a good cigar, and in my opinion, one of the best petit robustos/gorditos out there.

TOTAL 85 / 100