I. Don José Gener y Batet: The Farm Dream of a 13-Year-Old Who Landed in Cuba

In 1831, a 13-year-old Spanish boy, José Gener y Batet, boarded a ship bound for Cuba. At his uncle's tobacco farm in Vuelta Abajo, he learned agriculture, tobacco harvesting, and fermentation, gradually mastering Cuba's most essential tobacco craftsmanship.

Years later, Gener opened his own factory in Havana and named his main brand "La Escepción" ("The Exception"). La Escepción was well received, but Gener held a greater ambition in his heart: to return to Vuelta Abajo, purchase that finest hollow farmland, and establish a new brand upon that foundation.

In 1865, Gener formally acquired a farm in Vuelta Abajo and named it after its terrain, registering "Hoyo de Monterrey" with the commercial bureau at 7 Príncipe Alfonso Street, Havana. It was the golden age of the Cuban cigar industry, when the upper classes of Britain, Germany, and the United States eagerly sought Habanos. With its sweet, creamy smoke profile, Hoyo de Monterrey quickly won over the British market and became a frequent presence on the dinner tables of Victorian gentlemen.

II. Brand Characteristics: Cuba's Standard-Bearer of the Gentle Style

Among Cuba's major brands, Hoyo de Monterrey represents the extreme of "lightness, sweetness, and creaminess". This is closely tied to its tobacco blend. Although also sourced from Vuelta Abajo, the Hoyo blend tends to use more Seco leaves (middle-section sweet leaves) and a lower proportion of Ligero (top-section powerful leaves), creating an overall medium-light strength and a delicate finish of cream, nuts, and cedar.

Habanos S.A. positions Hoyo de Monterrey as an elegant choice suited to afternoon appreciation, paired with a light white wine or Fino Sherry, rather than a powerful cigar to accompany Armagnac after dinner. In the setting of Taiwan gentlemen's clubs, it is a preferred recommendation for members encountering Cuban cigars for the first time, or for long-time members who prefer a softer profile.

The modern Cuban edition of Hoyo de Monterrey is overseen by Habanos S.A. and produced mainly at the La Corona factory in Havana. This factory is known for the refined craftsmanship of its artisans and is also responsible for producing several mid- to high-end brands.

III. After Gener: Family Succession, Sale, and Nationalization

In 1900, José Gener passed away in Spain. His daughter Lutgarda Gener took over the brand and maintained family management for about thirty years. In 1931, the Gener family sold its cigar brand assets, including Hoyo de Monterrey, and shifted its focus to investment in sugarcane agriculture.

After the Cuban Revolution of 1959, all private tobacco enterprises were nationalized. Hoyo de Monterrey became a brand under Cubatabaco, and after the establishment of Habanos S.A. in 1994, it was integrated into the new joint venture structure. Habanos S.A. is now jointly held by 51% Cubatabaco and 49% Allied Cigar Corporation, which took over from Imperial Brands in 2020.

It is worth noting that before the U.S. embargo, the Hoyo de Monterrey brand name was registered first by operators in the U.S. market. As a result, there is also a "Hoyo de Monterrey Honduran edition" on the market, produced by General Cigar Company using Honduran tobacco. The key to identifying the authentic Cuban version lies in the "Hecho en Cuba / Totalmente a Mano" marking on the box, as well as the Habanos S.A. holographic anti-counterfeit label.

IV. Modern Core vitola Lineup

Epicure No.1 (Corona Gorda format)

Hoyo's creaminess is expressed most completely in this format. With a medium burn rate, the opening section carries clear notes of sweet nuts, cream, and vanilla, making it an ideal choice for relaxed afternoon appreciation.

Epicure No.2 (Robusto format, 4⅞" × 50)

The brand's best-selling vitola. The compact 50 ring gauge concentrates the draw, making the creaminess more focused, while the strength rises slightly to light-medium. It is recommended as the starting point for understanding Hoyo's overall style.

Double Corona (Prominentes format, 7⅝" × 49)

The brand's flagship length. At nearly 8 inches, it provides a complete three-stage evolution: fresh grass and wood in the first section, cream and nuts in the middle, and a light spiciness toward the end. It is the best way to appreciate the essence of Hoyo, and is recommended with Fino Sherry or white wine for a calm appreciation.

Petit Robusto (added to the regular series in 2004)

Habanos S.A. introduced this to Hoyo to meet demand for quicker appreciation. It can be completed in 30 to 40 minutes, with direct and concentrated creaminess, making it an ideal choice for a busy business afternoon.

Le Hoyo du Roi (Corona format, 5⅝" × 42, discontinued)

Once the core of the "Le Hoyo" sub-series, it was positioned as lighter, with a more evident floral aroma, and officially exited the regular series after 2009. If there is an opportunity to obtain surviving older vintages in circulation, they are worthy of collection and appreciation.

V. Hoyo Settings in Taiwan Gentlemen's Clubs

As a PCC authorized dealer, W Cigar Bar has long carried the core vitola of Hoyo de Monterrey. For Taiwan's appreciation culture, Hoyo has two key meanings:

One of the best entry brands for new members. Compared with the powerful strength of Bolívar or Cohiba Behike, Hoyo's light-to-medium strength and creaminess allow members new to Cuban cigars to avoid being overwhelmed by nicotine, while still clearly perceiving the delicate layers of Habano tobacco.

An afternoon setting cigar. On a summer afternoon in Taipei, an Epicure No.2 paired with lightly chilled Fino Sherry is one of W Cigar Bar's most popular pairings. This setting does not require the complex depth of Cohiba Esplendidos; what it calls for is relaxation, sweetness, and a twenty-minute afternoon rhyme.

Conclusion

One hundred and sixty-one years ago, the seeds sown by Don José Gener y Batet on the hollow farm of Vuelta Abajo continue today to nourish the afternoon hours of gentlemen's clubs around the world with creaminess and a light style. From the dinner tables of Victorian gentlemen to the temperature-controlled cigar lounge of Taipei's Da'an District, Hoyo de Monterrey interprets what heritage means through "Cuban elegance that overcomes weight with lightness".

Take a box of Epicure No.2 into your collection, and feel the hollow-valley fragrance left behind in 1865.

--

Sourcing channels: Cuban cigars from four major official channels (PCC authorized dealer, Cuban official state-run store, Swiss general agent, Spanish general agent).

LUBINSKI accessories official website: https://cigarclub.tw/

Reserve appreciation: https://share.google/d9NIeFEetij9qWKj0

This site is for viewing only by adults aged 20 and above. Smoking is harmful to health. Smoking cessation hotline: 0800-636363.

W Cigar Bar Gentlemen's Cigar Lounge, written and planned by Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai.