Today we take a look at another offering from boutique cigar company, Tabac Trading Co. Patrick Potter, owner of Tabac Trading Co., under the supervision of Master Cigar Maker Ernesto Perez Carrillo of E.P. Carrillo, created HOY VIVO “Live Today.” Paying homage to Ernesto’s Cuban heritage this cigar is as “Cubanesque” as are his methods for making it.
The HOY VIVO is expressed in three vitolas. The toro comes packaged in 50-count boxes, the other two come packaged in 5-Count boxes and are more rare.
- Toro (6 x 56) MSRP $18.00
- Piramide Extra (6.6 x 54) MSRP $25.00
- Robusto Gordo (4.75 x 60) MSRP $25.00
The Tabac Trading Co. Hoy Vivo has a tricky blend as Patrick Potter told me ‘the Hoy vivo 4.75 x 60 and the pyramid are slightly different blends and wrappers shade‘. With regards to the toro, which is the one being reviewed, the company describes the blend as:
- Wrapper – 2011 Ecuadorian Rosado
- Binder – 2018 Vuelta Abajo Corojo
- Filler – 2018 Vuelta Abajo Corojo
The company notes on their website:
“In 2018 we experimented with a Corojo seed from Vuelta Abajo Cuba, planted in Condega Nicaragua. The leaf was graded and separated, only the finest leaf was fermented using a three times method.“
Ernesto and Patrick produced a very limited number of the 6 x 56 toro. Patrick use’s his own small factory in Miami, FL to produce the 6.6 x 54 Piramide Extra and the 4.5 x 60 Robusto Gordo. which are even rarer than the toro.
For this review, I sampled a couple of the HOY VIVO Toros that I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Tabac Trading Co. Hoy Vivo Toro has a beautiful reddish brown and marbled wrapper that is smooth to the touch and light on veins. The wrapper has a mild oily sheen. A well applied triple cap completes the presentation.
A single band adorns the cigar. It uses a red, gold and white motif and proudly displays the company’s logo in the center and the white name “HOY VIVO” at the bottom.
Running the HOY VIVO along the nose, I did not detect much aroma along the barrel but the foot had a musty earth aroma.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder with my double blade Lotus cutter and proceeded to take some cold draw puffs. The restriction much to my liking and offered notes of sweetness, pepper and savory BBQ spice.
With the cold draw peaking my interest, I used my double flame torch to warm the foot and draw in the first puffs of savory spice to start the journey. Follow along as I burn the Tabac Trading Co. Hoy Vivo to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Cocoa aroma right off first light
- Light grey ash forms on top of a medium thick and slightly wavy char line
- Full volume of thick chewy smoke
- Savory and earthy notes begin to evolve
- Ash fell in a decent chunk, revealing a slightly off-centered burn cone
- Chocolate nuances add to the pleasure near the end of first third
- Off burn develops that requires a touch up
- Cream and coffee notes take front and center
- Aroma shifts to a pleasant floral note
- Dried fruit fills out the profile moving through the second third
- Mild spice enters in the final third and blends well with the fruit
- Medium Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Overall, the Tabac Trading Co. Hoy Vivo is another fine example of the journey that Patrick Potter has been on. Teaming up with Ernesto Perez Carrillo resulted in a pleasantly complex yet smooth smoking experience from foot to nub with the toro variant of the blend. It did develop an off burn that required a mild touch-up. Pick up a fiver of these if you can locate them and enjoy. I rate this a 91.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Off-burn; (-1) Touch-up Required; (-1) Off Centered Burn Cone
Bonus Points: (+1) Extremely Complex in Flavor and Aroma
