Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Natural No. IV is light brown and has some raised, knotty veins present. The seams are smooth and the head is decently finished. The band is gold, yellow and black and denotes the brand and line. The aroma from both the wrapper and foot is a mellow mix of cedar and earth. The pre-light draw brings cedar, earth and some cereal sweetness.

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Natural No. IV

First Third

The cigar begins with some toasted cedar, earth, construction paper and a bit of black pepper. At a quarter inch in, a light creaminess joins the profile. The retrohale is toasted cedar, earth and lightly zingy black pepper. At three quarters of an inch in, the black pepper increases a bit. At an inch and a quarter, the construction paper increases a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, with construction paper just behind it. The black pepper is in the middle of the profile with some creaminess in the background. The overall profile has a slight dryness to it. The strength was slightly below medium.

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Natural No. IV

Second Third

As the second third begins, some wood bitterness joins the profile. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth and construction paper while the black pepper no longer has a zing to it. At three quarters of an inch in, the dryness of the profile picks up a bit. At an inch in, the black pepper mellows a bit. Nearing the end of the third, the black pepper has departed. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, with construction paper just behind that. Some creaminess and wood bitterness are in the background. The strength remained at slightly below medium.

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Natural No. IV

Final Third

As the final third begins, both the creaminess and wood bitterness increases a bit. The retrohale remains now toasted cedar, earth and construction paper with light black pepper. At a half inch in, the toast level increases a bit and so does the wood bitterness. At three quarters of an inch in, some black pepper re-joins the profile and the wood bitterness transitions to a vegetal bitterness. At an inch in, the vegetal bitterness increases some more. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, with construction paper just behind that. The vegetal bitterness is just ahead of the middle of the profile with some creaminess in the background. The strength remained at slightly below medium.

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Natural No. IV

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any intervention. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Natural No. IV

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with some toasted cedar, earth, construction paper and a bit of black pepper. Some light creaminess joined in fairly quickly. Then, the construction paper increased a bit. The second third saw some wood bitterness join in. The black pepper mellowed through the third until it departed. The final third saw the creaminess and wood bitterness increase a bit. Then, the toast level and wood bitterness increased. Later, some black pepper re-joined and the wood bitterness transitioned to vegetal bitterness which later increased in fullness. The Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Natural No. IV had an average flavor profile through the first two thirds, focused around toasted cedar, earth and construction paper. It took a step down in the final third as the wood bitterness increased and then transitioned to vegetal bitterness and increased some more. A pretty traditional Connecticut shade offering, but it just didn’t do enough to make it something I’d really want to come back to. The price point is attractive though, so it’s an easy try for those that enjoy this flavor profile.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.30

Cost/Point

$1.88

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Natural No. IV