---

When I first started smoking cigars in about 1989, I would pick out the biggest, raunchiest, stogie that I could possibly find. To me, the cigar that most symbolized what a real cigar was supposed to be was the Hoyo De Monterrey Excalibur Maduro. As a novice cigar smoker, I was under the impression that a darker cigar must be a stronger, more harsh cigar. To the contrary, in general, a maduro is a very smooth, mild flavored cigar.

The Hoyo De Monterrey Excalibur series comes in various sizes, ranging from the Number I to the Number VII, with the Number I being the largest. All cigars are available in either English Claro, or Rich Maduro. Recently I came across a box of Number III Maduros, which retail for about $4.00 each. Still quite a large cigar, it measures six and one eighth inches long, and has a ring gauge of 48. The Cigar Aficionado magazine gave the Number III a rating of 87, placing it near the top of the very good to excellent category.

The Number III Maduro smokes, on average, for about one hour. The burn was fairly uneven from start to finish, however, the draw remained impeccable.

I have enjoyed the Number III Maduro in a number of different settings. From the start, the Number III has a very smooth and mild taste. This flavor gets stronger and spicier as you smoke the cigar, bringing out very strong cocoa bean qualities. This is an excellent cigar for enjoying after a heavy dinner, or while relaxing with a favorite imported beer. It is also complemented nicely by Scotch Whiskey, which seems to bring out a sweeter flavor in the cigar.

By far the best way to enjoy this cigar, however, is while sipping a cup of espresso or cappuccino. The rich flavor and aroma of the coffee beans magnifies the richness of the cocoa bean highlights of the cigar.

(C) C.J. McCall 1996

Click Here To Return To Chris' Cigar Page!!!