Sounds like a typical General Cigar product.

---

j0z3r:

I liked it, it tasted less like a Gurkha and more like a normal cigar, good flavors too.

Funnily enough, I had one last night. I was very unhappy with the initial tastes, but as it burned through, it picked up a good bit of spice. It was a little on the mild side as well for me, and I can see what you said; nothing really popped. I would rank it a touch lower then you at an 8 or so.

---

Appreciate.

yeah... i designed my rating system to be as fair as it could be. if i didnt like the flavor but others could then the other criteria would keep the score from ending up in the dumps. this has a way of raising the score for many cigars that are made well but have little to no flavor. this was the case in this cigar.

i used to only have 6 criteria for cigars, not 7. I added "Feel" just for this reason.

---

Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

5-28-09 been in humi since 9-11-08

Hoyo de Tradicion Toro Grande (6.2x54)
Wrapper: Honduran Viso Rosado
Binder: Connecticut
Filler: Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaraguan

The presentation of this cigar is fantastic. The classic band with the light red/brown wrapper and a slight box press bring a good look to the table. The only flaw that I can see is that the cap looks as if it was hastily trimmed.

The smell is light, maybe woody but its hard to pin down its so light. The lick on the cap also has very little flavor.

Cut with a punch. The draw test shows a good draw that (finally) brings the flavor on. It is very chocolaty and a bit nutty.

The initial puffs are round and nutty with a bit of cedar. The aftertaste has a tiny bit of a bitter note to it but I feel that is due to a poor light. (its windy) the large ring is a bit strange to me after all of the coronas that I’ve been smoking.

As it settles the flavors of wood and nut intensify while the bitter fades away. The flavor is round and smooth with maybe a hint of coffee on the finish. The aroma of this cigar is quite good. It has a nice wood to it. the first ash fell at just over an inch.

Nearing the half way point a very slight spice develops. It is very short and compliments the rest of the smoke well. The aftertaste is still a bit coffee. The initial flavor is just about the same as it was before. The aftertaste isn’t as intense or as round as the initial taste and though it is good on its own I feel that it is slightly mismatched with the rest of the smoke.

In the last third the aftertaste turns over to a more tea like taste. This change in flavor brings it back into the balance that it was looking for.

The burn has been perfect even though it is raining outside (100% RH). No splitting. No relights. No corrective lights.

The last few puffs are a carry over from before.

Burn: 10
Draw: 9
Taste: 9
Aftertaste: 8
Construction: 9
Appearance: 9
Feel: 9

Overall: 9.0
4 smoke rings -- an above average cigar

---

Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

Would you reccomend me giving Hoya de Monterrey another shot after smoking that cigar? I had a few bad sticks from them when I was first starting out and pretty much haven't looked at one since.

---

brsmith21:

I've heard the first step is admitting that you have a problem. Thankfully, I don't have a problem. I'll just smoke more.

i dont feel that the regular line of HdM is all that special. Hoyo de Tradicion is good and the excalibur series are all a needed step up.


heck, ill try cigars i know i wont like just to see if i still dont like them. usually they have a bit more age on them at that point though.

---

Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

I had a HdM Excalibur no1 today. Had about a year of time rest on it. was a very nice, albeit, mild stick. I would smoke several more when in the mood for a milder stick. Got a little more body toward the end.

---

"As I grow to understand life less and less, I learn to love it more and more." - Jules Renard

bbc020:

I had a HdM Excalibur no1 today. Had about a year of time rest on it. was a very nice, albeit, mild stick. I would smoke several more when in the mood for a milder stick. Got a little more body toward the end.

maduro or natural?

---

Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

kuzi16:

bbc020:

I had a HdM Excalibur no1 today. Had about a year of time rest on it. was a very nice, albeit, mild stick. I would smoke several more when in the mood for a milder stick. Got a little more body toward the end.

maduro or natural?

it was the natural....very nice for a mild stick. I think the wrapper on those is described as an English Claro

---

"As I grow to understand life less and less, I learn to love it more and more." - Jules Renard

nice, i may have to check that one out. ive only had the maduro.

---

Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

I really like the Excalibur. I wonder if the year it sat mellowed it a little, I'd say they're medium-ish. Now I'm looking forward to the Tradicion, never had one of those.

---

champagne taste with a beer budget

6-2-09

NUB maduro 464 (4x64)
Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

The cellophane on this cigar is very “crisp” …it just FEELS new. As the Cellophane comes off a very pronounced barnyard smell comes out. It is very strong. There is no need to bring it to the nose. The cigar is a dark brown. The color of the wrapper is the same as the band, save for the gold on the band.

The lick on the cap is very oily on the tongue but the flavor off of it is very light. All I can taste/smell is that amazingly strong barnyard. Cut with my double guillotine cutter. The draw is a bit tight, but it isn’t from a poor cut.

Given the ring gauge, the light takes forever. The aroma is a bit coffee. The first draws are mild with sweet and cream and a hint of dark chocolate. The aftertaste is a bit Nicaraguan; slightly spicy, and a bit sawdust. The finish is a tiny bit harsh but some time in the humidor may do it some good.

About twenty minutes in and the cigar has reached medium body. The flavor is roughly the same but the aftertaste has settled down some. It is more woody than harsh or spice now. There is a bit of a coffee undertone all around.

Thirty minutes in and I’m about half way through. The ash has yet to fall. Given that I am inside, I knocked it off. It was still a firm ash.

Getting to the last third and this cigar has not changed much. It is good, but by nature/design it is not complex.

The cigar finishes with much of the same.

Burn to the burn.
Time: 1 hour 10 minutes.

Burn: 9
Draw: 8
Taste: 8
Aftertaste: 8
Construction: 10
Appearance: 9
Feel: 9

Overall: 8.8
4 of 6 smoke rings -- an above average cigar


There was a lot of speculation on what this cigar would be like. The two running theories on the forum were a nub version of the Serie G maduro or a nub version of the Serie V maduro. This is neither. This is purely NUB maduro. This is a testament to the blenders at Oliva

---

Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

So you got a tight draw on the Maduro as well? I thought it was my cut. My buddies had an easier draw than mine, but it was still tight. You know, now that I think about it, I think I was overthinking this cigar when I smoked it. I did get that barnyard smell, although I couldn't place what the smell was until you mentioned it. I'm going to pick up a few of these soon, and see how it progresses. My theory is that each stick will be a little better than the last. They all need a little age on them since they're so new. Any validity to this?

---

Only real men cut their cigars with the tusks of elephants.- Hugemoose

The La Aurora Maduro I smoked the other night had a STRONG barnyard smell as well, but thank god it didn't taste like that. The only smoke I've ever had that tasted like that was a Black Pearl. It tasted like a heavily fertalized barnyard! lol

---

Jason
"A woman is an occasional pleasure, but a cigar is always a smoke."
- Groucho Marx

Matt Marvel:

My theory is that each stick will be a little better than the last. They all need a little age on them since they're so new. Any validity to this?

kuzi16:

The finish is a tiny bit harsh but some time in the humidor may do it some good.

yes

---

Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate