A New Cuban Hoyo
Everyone knows the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2, one of the cigar world’s most famous robustos. And we’re certain you’ve heard of the Epicure No. 1, which is a little longer and a little slimmer. But now there’s a new number in Cuba’s Hoyo line, the No. 3, and it was unveiled on Saturday night in Spain.
It was an evening of Cuban cigars, live performances and fine food at the Desert City botanical garden and nursery just outside of Madrid in Spain on September 23rd. In a cigar banquet dubbed “Epicure’s Garden” or El Jardín de Epicure, more than 400 cigar fans were among the first to try the new Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 3, a belicoso that measures 4 7/8 inches long by 54 ring gauge. This particular belicoso format is referred to as Originales in Cuban cigar factories.
The cigars, which come in slide-lid cabinets of 25, are expected to appear in shops throughout Spain this week where they will retail for 20 euros each (about $21.25). Although Spain is the first country to receive the Epicure No. 3, shipments of the new smokes should arrive around the world in the coming months. There is no official word as to when the other countries will receive their allocations or in what order.
The event was organized by enthusiast group Club Pasión Habanos and Tabacalera S.L.U., Spain’s distributor of Cuban cigars. This wouldn’t be the first time that a new cigar got its premiere party in Spain. Previous cigars like the Montecristo Wide Edmundo, Partagás Legado and Cohiba Novedosos were also unveiled in the Iberian nation.
The No. 3 is the newest addition to the regular-production Hoyo Epicure Series since the Epicure Especial was released in 2008. Not counting La Casa del Habano exclusive cigars and other limited editions, the new cigar brings Hoyo’s Epicure series to four sizes.
For a rating of Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 3, see an upcoming issue of Cigar Insider.
