Hoyo de Monterrey owes its origin to the town of San Juan y Martínez, which lies at the heart of the Vuelta Abajo tobacco zone. Here the Hoyo de Monterrey plantation, one of the great Vegas de Primera, can be reached through a gate on the town’s main square inscribed ‘Hoyo de Monterrey. José Gener. 1860’.

‘Hoyo’ literally means a ‘hole’ and, in this case, describes the low-lying position of the plantation on the fertile banks of the San Juan y Martínez river. José Gener, a Spaniard from Tarragona, first used his vega’s name on a Habanos brand in 1865. The flavour of Hoyo de Monterrey’s blend makes it an attractive choice for those seeking a delicate yet aromatic Habano that is lighter to the taste but has great elegance and complexity.

The brand is renowned for its Double Corona and the prestigious Epicure series, the No.1 and No. 2, to which the longer Epicure Especial was added in 2008. There is also a range of standard and slender gauge vitolas known as the Le Hoyo Series. Hoyo de Monterrey was the first brand to introduce a Petit Robusto in 2005, the 50-ring gauge size with a shorter length to suit those who like thicker formats but do not always have the time to enjoy them.