After recieving my new CA magazine last friday, I could not help and notice that they were rating the Hoyo EL particulares, even do the cigar seen on this rating does not even resemble the Hoyo Particulares, I think CA made a mistake since the cigar label is different since the Hoyo Particular has the same label as the Hoyo Doble Corona and Churchill, and the one seen in this months CA looks to be from either the corona or the new epicure.
But what supprised me was the low rating, I have 5 boxes of these 5 cigar boxes in my cabinet, and had not smoked one, that until this friday, I wanted to see if it was true of this low rating.
I took out one of these cigars individually packaged in a cedar box, most of these have a little split end, since I think because of the packaging and that they move around.
But still the cigar looked beutifull, dark, oily, wonderfull wrapper, I was having dinner at a new restaurant in Tijuana Mexico, since I went there for a wedding, and I always bring my own cigars, since the prices in LCDH in Tijuana are 20% more than in Mexico City, the new restaurant was called Palma Azul, very nice restaurant and to my suprise they had a cabine humidor with a very good selection.
But I had my own cigar that I was waiting like a little kid with a new toy, so after an excelent puerto nuevo style lobster meal, we headed to the bar, and then the Hoyo particular just took everyones attention.
The draw was good, not excelent but good, the burn was very good, burned straight all the way, and the ash, well what can I say, white as sand, work of art, I felt like Winston Churchill in this leather couch with my cigar having half the ash still on.
The taste, much like the Hoyo DC, not to strong, this time it tasked a little bit like a frangelico or amereto with espresso, a lot of nut taste, it only went out once at the end, the only fualt I would say whas the draw, maybe the change in humidity from Mexico City to Tijuana affected the cigar, but overall it was quite an experience.
Another bad aspect is that instead of concentrating on your wife or friends, you will find yourselfe involved with this cigar as you just get amazed of how it burns, and the taste.
This is a cigar to be smoked with at least 3 hours time, no one rushing, and with a nice single malt, and you will be in heaven.
I would rate this cigar a 94, and thinking that if I would have the humidity down to 65, it would improve the draw and this could easy be at a 96 rating.
Yes the LCDH in Presidente Mazarik in Polanco is the best one of all, they have the best selection, and I always pass trough there before going to Lunch at nearby restaurants, since Polanco now has in my opionion the best restaurants in Mexico City.
Also ask them for their special selection since they always have something special like old limitadas.
I smoked a box of 5 Particulares. None were in anything but perfect condition, burnt unevenly or didn't taste magnificent. What rating did it get? It definately deserves above 90.
They were rated an 88, the only problem with mine were the split ends, I think because of the cigar being inside the single cedar packaging they had split ends, but nothing that would harm the cigars taste.
If you check the recend CA limitada tasting, they are all under 90, strange, for the the best limitadas have to be the Partagas Serie D #3 2001, then the Cohiba Doble Coronas and then the Hoyo Piramides. All of these recieved ratings under 90.
There is no way they all deserve under 90. The Cohiba Double Corona is a truly outstanding smoke, and everyone which I have discussed this cigar with agrees.
I totally agree with you, I dont know why CA gave the limitadas such low ratings.
Here are my personal ratings.
PARTAGAS SERIE D #3 EL 2001 RATING 98 COHIBA DOBLE CORONA EL 2003 RATING 96 HOYO DE MONTERREY PIRAMIE EL 2003 RATING 95 ROMEO Y JULIETA ROBUSTO EL 2001 94 HOYO DE MONTERREY PARTICULARES EL 2001 94 PARTAGAS PIRAMIDES EL 2000 94 MONTECRISTO ROBUSTO EL 2000 93 COHIBA PIRAMIDES EL 2001 93 ROMEO Y JULIETA HERMOSOS #1 EL 2003 93 ROMEO Y JULIETA HERMOSOS #2 EL 3004 92 MONTECRISTO DOBLE CORONA EL 2001 91 PARTAGAS SERIE D #1 EL 2004 90 MONTECRISTO C EL 2003 89 ROMEO Y JULIETA EXHIBICION #2 DC EL 2000 87 (this one had no draw whatsoever just keept going off, dont think it was fake, just maybe a dud, but I had to trough it away, and had never tried another one.
I could never get my hands on a Partagas Serie D #2, but have heard mixed reviews.
These are just my own reviews, maybe im wright maybe im wrong.
