BACKGROUND: This review features the Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros. I first featured this cigar in Episode 325 of the Stogie Fresh 5 podcast back on Saturday, July 28, 2012. These cigars have been resting in my humidor for 1 year, 3 months and 25 days. This is the second and final review of these cigars.

The blend features an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, a USA, Connecticut Broadleaf binder and the filler consists of tobacco from Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua.

One of the interesting bits of information about the Reposado en Cedros, is that this cigar undergoes a process which the company calls, Inmersión. According to General Cigar, this is a method of aging in which each individual cigar is enveloped in cedar and left to rest for an extended period of time. This is purported to add subtle nuances to the flavor of the cigar.

The cigars are then packed in boxes of 24 cigars, protected in canvas, and surrounded by cedar shavings to maintain the flavor and aroma that is supposedly imparted by the Inmersión process.

Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros comes in three sizes. This review features the 5.25-inch by 54 ring gauge Sueño Robusto Grande.

TASTING NOTES: Right off the bat, you will understand the reason for the cigar’s name, “Reposado en Cedros” (resting in cedar) because the cigar comes out of the gate with bright cedar notes on the palate. There was also a hint of medium roast coffee and a nice touch of natural tobacco sweetness on the finish. Retrohaling brought out a bit of white pepper spice and more cedar.

The draw was just about right and the burn line was thin and even. The chalk-white ash was slightly uneven in consistency and was flaky, but still held on for me to tap off in 1-inch chunks.

This is an easily approachable cigar that is medium in body and strength and medium full in flavor.

FINAL THOUGHTS: The Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros is a stick I can easily recommend. It is a cigar that can appeal to a wide cross-section of taste preferences and it is an interesting and challenging smoke.

The extra year of aging didn’t change the flavor and body profile much. The same bright cedar notes dominated the flavor profile with some other nuances tossed in for good measure. Although the retrohale may have been a bit more subdued, the cigar was otherwise consistent in flavor and body profile.

The Reposado en Cedros comes at a nice price point. If you purchase a box of 24 the cost per stick would be around $3.90. A 5-pack purchase would mean a per stick price of $5.80.

The Reposado en Cedros from Hoyo de Monterrey is a great all around smoke, with excellent construction, flavor and price. If you want to see what a cedar-enhanced smoke tastes like, give the Reposado en Cedros a test drive.

~Doc