Hoyo de Monterrey

Q: What is the strength of Hoyo de Monterrey cigars?

Hoyo de Monterrey is classified as a light-strength Habano. The blend focuses on aromatic complexity and delicate flavours rather than raw power, making it highly regarded by smokers seeking nuance.

Q: How long should I age Hoyo de Monterrey cigars?

While approachable when young, collectors often age larger formats like the Double Coronas for five to ten years. The lighter blend develops subtle cedar and sweet notes when properly stored over an extended period.

Q: What is the difference between the Epicure and Le Hoyo lines?

The Epicure series focuses on traditional formats like the Robusto and Coronas Gordas, providing the classic Hoyo profile. The modern Le Hoyo line employs significantly heavier ring gauges to deliver a cooler draw that protects the delicate aromas.

Q: How can I verify the authenticity of Hoyo de Monterrey?

Look for standard Habanos verification marks, including the warranty seal and micro-printing. Always check the factory box code and date stamp, and ensure you purchase through established specialists providing EMS certification where applicable.

Hoyo de Monterrey is a historic Cuban cigar house founded in 1865, originating from the Vuelta Abajo region. Produced under the aegis of Habanos S.A., the brand is distinguished by its light-strength, highly aromatic profile. It is best known for its classic Epicure series and the long-standing Double Coronas, appealing to collectors seeking refinement over sheer power.

The Character of the House

Hoyo de Monterrey occupies a distinct position within the Habanos portfolio, designated as a light-strength brand. Rather than commanding the palate with heavy spice or earth, the blend relies on subtle, intricate aromas. This lighter classification does not imply a lack of complexity. On the contrary, the tobacco selection requires careful blending to maintain flavour without the structural support of stronger ligero leaves.

Serious smokers often select Hoyo de Monterrey for morning or early afternoon occasions. The delicate nature of the blend also makes it highly responsive to careful storage and maturation, where the aromatic profile can settle into notes of cedar, faint sweetness, and light leather over several years.

The Principal Lines

The house divides its production into three main families: the Core Range, the Epicure series, and the Le Hoyo line.

The Core Range includes the highly regarded Double Coronas, known in the factories as the Prominentes vitola (194 mm by 49 ring gauge). This format provides an extended smoking duration, allowing the subtle blend to evolve gradually. Other core cigars include the Petit Robustos (102 mm by 50), introduced in 2004, which successfully adapted the brand’s profile to a shorter format.

The Epicure line contains some of the most recognisable cigars in the world. The Epicure No.2 (Robustos) serves as a benchmark for the vitola across all Cuban brands. The Epicure No.1 provides a slightly longer Coronas Gordas format, while recent additions like the Epicure Especial (Gordito) and the 2022 Epicure No.3 (Originales, 125 mm by 54) cater to modern preferences for thicker ring gauges.

The Le Hoyo family was originally known for slender vitolas such as the Le Hoyo du Maire (Entreactos) and Le Hoyo du Depute (Trabucos). In recent years, Habanos S.A. has repurposed the line to introduce substantial formats. The Le Hoyo de San Juan (Geniales, 150 mm by 54) and Le Hoyo de Rio Seco (Aromosos, 140 mm by 56) offer voluminous ring gauges, designed to deliver a cool smoke that preserves the delicate aromas of the blend. In 2025, the house expanded this further with the Le Hoyo de San Luis (Fragancias, 160 mm by 52).

Hoyo de Monterrey: Le Hoyo De San Juan

Limited, Regional and Reserva Releases

Hoyo de Monterrey is frequently selected by Habanos for prestigious limited releases, reflecting its status among collectors. The brand has been featured in the Edición Limitada programme numerous times, notably with the Regalos in 2007, the Grand Epicure in 2013, and the Monterreyes No.4 in 2021. These releases typically utilise aged wrappers that add a darker visual character and subtle sweetness to the underlying light blend.

The house is also chosen for the highest tiers of Habanos production. The Epicure No.2 Reserva Cosecha 2012 (released in 2016) and the Double Corona Gran Reserva Cosecha 2013 (released in 2019) represent the pinnacle of the brand. These boxes command significant premiums on the secondary market due to the strict selection of aged tobaccos and their very limited production numbers.

Purchasing and Maturation

When acquiring Hoyo de Monterrey, collectors pay close attention to provenance and factory dates. As a lighter cigar, it benefits greatly from careful resting. While the Epicure No.2 can be smoked relatively young, the Double Coronas and thicker Le Hoyo formats are routinely aged for five to ten years to allow the blend to harmonise.

In the UK market, buyers should look for the EMS (English Market Selection) stamp, which indicates that the boxes have passed rigorous quality control by the official distributor. Always inspect the box code stamped on the base, as certain factories are favoured by collectors for their consistency. Familiarity with how to spot fake Cuban cigars is essential, particularly when seeking older vintage boxes or Gran Reserva releases.

Key Vitolas Specification

Double Coronas — Vitola de Galera: Prominentes — Length: 194 mm (7.64") — Ring Gauge: 49 — Introduced: Pre-1960

Le Hoyo de San Luis — Vitola de Galera: Fragancias — Length: 160 mm (6.30") — Ring Gauge: 52 — Introduced: 2025

Le Hoyo de San Juan — Vitola de Galera: Geniales — Length: 150 mm (5.91") — Ring Gauge: 54 — Introduced: 2014

Epicure No.1 — Vitola de Galera: Coronas Gordas — Length: 143 mm (5.63") — Ring Gauge: 46 — Introduced: Pre-1960

Epicure Especial — Vitola de Galera: Gordito — Length: 141 mm (5.55") — Ring Gauge: 50 — Introduced: 2008

Le Hoyo de Rio Seco — Vitola de Galera: Aromosos — Length: 140 mm (5.51") — Ring Gauge: 56 — Introduced: 2018

Epicure No.3 — Vitola de Galera: Originales — Length: 125 mm (4.92") — Ring Gauge: 54 — Introduced: 2022

Epicure No.2 — Vitola de Galera: Robustos — Length: 124 mm (4.88") — Ring Gauge: 50 — Introduced: Pre-1960

At MokaCigar

We maintain a careful selection of Hoyo de Monterrey for our clients, ensuring proper provenance and storage conditions. Our current holding includes regular production benchmarks such as the Epicure No.2, the Le Hoyo de San Juan, the Double Coronas, and the newly released Epicure No.3. For collectors seeking rare and aged releases, we hold the Double Corona Gran Reserva 2019, the Epicure No.2 Reserva 2016, a 1999 vintage of the Epicure No.1, alongside Limited Editions including the Monterreyes No.4 2021, Regalos 2007, and Grand Epicure 2013. You can browse our available stock on the Hoyo de Monterrey brand page.