Ever since the beginning of time (that would be 2011 for HVC cigars), the Cerro line has been around. It was one of the lines that they originally launched the company with. Now the line is getting a dark sibling, the HVC Cerro Maduro. Announced at this years IPCPR, the Cerro Maduro takes the original Cerro blend of fillers and binders from Jalapa and Esteli and wraps them in a rich dark Mexican San Andrés leaf.
The original HVC Cerro was a tribute to one of the oldest neighborhoods in Havana, El Cerro. This years incarnation keeps that tribute going. I had a chance to meet the HVC team at the IPCPR this year and they were kind enough to give me a sample of the new HVC Cerro Maduro for reviewing on Stogie Press.
It was a cool Sunday morning here in Melbourne, Florida and my trusty pup Ziggy got me up around 7:30 AM which is just fine on a weekend morning like this. The sun was rising and the sky was blue. A perfect time to relax and enjoy a fine cigar. I love this time of the year here in Florida, my apologies to those up north but we suffer with brutal heat and humidity for at least 4 months a year.
I looked through my humidor and came upon the HVC Cerro Maduro which has been resting and waiting to be smoked since the middle of July. It was time!
The HVC Cerro Maduro
As I already introduced you to HVC Cerro Maduro, let’s break it down further.
The blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Mexican San Andrés
- Binder – Nicaraguan
- Filler – Nicaraguan
All leaf has been aged at least 3 years in this creation.
The HVC Cerro Maduro is being offered in 4 vitolas and come packaged in 20-count boxes.
- 4.5 x 46 -MSRP $7.80
- 5 x 50 – MSRP $8.50
- 6 x 54 – MSRP $8.80
- 5.5 x 58 -MSRP $9.60
No fancy names on these vitolas, just solidly constructed cigars. For this review I sampled the HVC Cerro Maduro 4.5 x 46 vitola.
There are two bands on this cigar. The primary uses a red, gold, white, and black motif with the bold white letters “HVC” centered in a bright red background. The second band is simple and using a red, white, and silver motif and has the word “CERRO” in white on a red background.
As I run it across the nose I picked up a delicious cocoa and hay off the foot. There was not much aroma off the barrel.
I used a punch to open it up and the cold draw was as tight as I imagined from the feel I did earlier. The cold draw presented notes of earth and black pepper.
Well, I was not sure how it would perform due to the tight draw, but as you read, it opened up and had my palate engaged through the journey.
Cigar Review Notes
HVC Cerro Maduro
HVC Cerro Maduro
HVC Cerro Maduro
HVC Cerro Maduro
HVC Cerro Maduro
HVC Cerro Maduro
HVC Cerro Maduro
- First puffs deliver a hard pepper shot to the nose and throat
- Butter and mineral notes enter shortly after
- Cocoa follows
- Pepper is still strong on the nose after an inch
- Light grey ash rests on a thin char line
- Savory spice and meat components enter the profile
- Ash fell after an inch well centered and flat burn cone
- Smoke opens up after an inch
- Nice oiling is appearing on the wrapper
- Still savory with a touch of spicy raisin in the second third
- Hint of mint breaks through
- Smooth full body of smoke
- Slow burner for sure!
- Oak enters after secondary band
- Finishes with savory spice and a sprinkle of black pepper
- Medium to Full Strength
- Total Smoking Time was an incredible one hour of smoking pleasure
Overall, the HVC Cerro Maduro was simply an amazing cigar that smoked beautifully with no issues and delivered notes that I would not put on a San Andres wrapper like savory spice and meat. Certainly the fill has played well into this blend. Although I enjoyed this in the morning, and it certainly got my day started, I would suggest you smoke this as a mid afternoon smoke or even after dinner. I will have to find some of the other vitolas to see how they compare. If was to pair this in the evening it would be a well aged Islay single malt. You can find HVC cigars through the USA here.
HVC Cerro Maduro