Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Hoyo de Monterrey Shade Toro is dark tan and has some decently raised veins present. The seams are pretty smooth and the head is a bit lopsided but the caps well applied. The band is white, red, gold and black and denotes the brand and line. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of dry hay and earth while the foot brings graham cracker, hay and earth. The pre-light draw brings floral perfume and some earth.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar, paper, earth and some black pepper. At a quarter inch in, the paper departs. At a half inch in, I start getting popcorn notes on random draws. The retrohale is toasted cedar and earth with some lightly zingy black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, some light hay joins the profile. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is a bit ahead of the earth, with black pepper just behind the middle of the profile and some hay in the background. The strength was just below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the hay picks up a bit and there are still some popcorn notes on random draws. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth and hay with some mild black pepper. At an inch and a half in, the black pepper mellows a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, with black pepper and hay in the back half of the profile. The strength bumped up to medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the the toast level increases a bit. At a quarter inch in, the earth mellows a bit. The retrohale remains toasted cedar, earth and hay with some mild black pepper. At three quarters of an inch in some vegetal mintiness joins the profile. At an inch in, the vegetal mintiness morphs to vegetal bitterness. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted cedar is ahead of the earth, with black pepper, hay and vegetal bitterness in the back half of the profile.The strength remained at medium.

Burn

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

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar began with toasted cedar, paper, earth and some black pepper. The paper departed fairly quickly and I started getting popcorn notes on random draws. Some light hay joined a bit later. The second third saw the hay pick up a bit. Later, the black pepper mellowed a bit. The final third saw the toast level increase and the earth mellowed a bit. Some vegetal minteniss joined in which quickly transitioned to vegetal bitternes.The Hoyo de Monterrey Shade Toro had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around the toasted cedar and earth. The random popcorn note was nice, but never played enough of a role to enhance the profile. There’s nothing really exciting about the blend, but it’s pretty serviceable, and at a low price point I could see some finding this as a regular in their rotation, but it’s just not for me.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.65

Cost/Point

$1.33

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Hoyo de Monterrey Shade Toro