Origin : Cuba
Format : Short Robusto
Size : 102 x 19.84 mm (4 x 50)
Ring : 50
Box code : 2010
Weight : 9.59 g
Hand-Made
Price : ~$9/piece
Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto has become one of my go-to cigars lately. It totally fits my current needs – a short smoke with a reliable construction and enough punch to be suitable as an after-dinner cigar. For this reason, the 4-inches long Cuban puro made it to my top Cuban cigars of 2011 list.
Appearance : Rating: 
As you can see from the pictures, this cigar looks pretty impressive. The 50 ring gauge is the point where, for me, a cigar becomes too thick to smoke comfortably so I’m glad it’s not a 52 or more. The wrapper, fairly rustic, might have a few water spots on some samples. Besides that, the Petit Robusto seems well-rolled and usually does not present any obvious visual defects.
Construction : Rating: 
The draw is usually spot on, I’ve had multiple boxes from different years and haven’t had a single plugged cigar. On the other hand, some of them might seem underfilled which results in a draw that is too open. As for the burn, I’m yet to experience any canoeing – but again, the burn line is not razor-sharp most of the time. Overall, decent construction that does not require too much attention, this is especially true for more recent boxes (2010+).
Flavor : Rating:
Unfortunately, Hoyo Petit Robustos do need some aging to show their full potential. My 2010 box is ready to be smoked right now and there’s some more room for progress. I’ve smoked 4 samples from the box for this review. Depending on the box date, it might start out tasting a little young with some hints of ammonia – there is almost none of this left on cigars from my box. The first third starts with a typical peppery Cuban blast, then quickly deploys cocoa and chocolate notes. Spice is present but far from overwhelming, allowing me to detect some more subtle flavors like nutmeg and almonds. The second third is more woody, with clear cedar flavors which become more intense as I approach the last third, medium+ in terms of power and exempt from bitterness of any kind. The finish is full of flavors and leaves you wanting to light another one.
Value : Rating:
That’s a pretty affordable Cuban and provides a good bang for your buck. If you have humidor space, getting a box for ageing is a good idea.
Overall Rating : Rating:
A good 40-45 minutes smoke, the Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto is one of my favorites in this format, along with the Montecristo Petit Edmundo which is slightly more imposing. For a busy man, this is a good cigar to end a weekday with.
