Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur 1066 Merlin Review

[Digerati]

Here goes my first review:

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur 1066 Merlin

APPEARENCE:
-Deep, rich brown, dark-natural cameroon, one sun-spot on wrapper, otherwise flawless.
-Slight tooth, veins are numerous, yet hardly protrude from the wrapper.

Initial SCENT:
-Sweet, almost raisin-like.
-Not sour.
-The wrapper wouldn't burn my nostrils, even after numerous deep inhales.

Post-light AROMA:
-Nutty, reminds me of pistachios.

BURN:
-First half: completely straight.
-Second half: became crooked, but eventually corrected itself.

DRAW:
-Average, leaned ever so slightly on the tighter side.

FLAVOR:
-First half: equal parts woody and nutty overtones, slightly toasty, hints at spicy, not bitter.
-Second half: decidedly toasty, nutty overtones, slightly woody, spice developes and grows thereafter until a full-fledged overtone at the end.

TEXTURE of smoke:
-First half: smooth.
-Second half: slightly thicker, creamier, never harsh.

VOLUME of smoke per puff:
-Generous and adequate, neither thick or thin.

AFTERTASTE and its persistence on the palate:
-A few seconds of soft spiciness with nuts and cedar lingering approx. 1 min, completely gone in 10 minutes, pleasant in taste and length.
-No need (or desire) to wash away with a drink.

STRENGTH (or nicotine):
-First half: mild.
-Second half: a milder medium, slight tingle on the palate, but never came even close to a buzz.

ASH:
-Typical Excalibur 1066 ash, solid light-grey.
-Would have stayed on longer, but I knocked it half-way through, due to my caffeine-induced jitteriness.

VALUE:
-Paid a little over $2 each, costs $3 each at box price.
-Good value at either price-point, IMHO.

OVERALL:
-This was a good, tasty cigar.
-Many noteworthy positive qualities.
-Negatives were hardly noteworthy.

SCORE on my 10 point scale (7 being average):
-a very solid 8.7 score.
-would've scored 8.9, but docked .1 point each for less than perfect draw and burn.

[TechMetalMan]

Thanks for that review, nice and in depth. I have never had a HdM, but I see them every where I go, so I guess I need to pick up a few.

[tazziedevil]

good review. Good price you paid, too.

[zonedar]

Nice review. I smoked a couple Dark Knights. Liked 'em so much I bought a box for my new humidor. Should get them this week.

-Steve

[deslni01]

Great review - don't mean to bring back an old thread such as this, but I smoked one of these the other night and I was thoroughly impressed with the Merlin cigar and will eventually be purchasing a box of them. Your review is spot on to what I was thinking while and after smoking it.