Excalibur No. V by Hoyo de Monterrey Review

Overview

There exists a quiet elegance in the Excalibur No. V by Hoyo de Monterrey — a cigar that has, for decades, offered a counterpoint to the bold, pepper-laden blends that have come to define much of the modern premium landscape. Born from the storied Villazon legacy in the 1970s, when Havatampa’s portfolio sought to elevate everyday smoking into something more refined, this Lonsdale vitola (6.75 x 44) remains a living artifact of a period when balance, restraint, and a golden-hued Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper were the hallmarks of connoisseurship. Hand-rolled in Danlí, Honduras, General Cigar’s operations continue to honor the original blend, employing a binder of Honduran leaf and a long-filler core that marries Honduran and Dominican tobaccos. The result is a cigar that smokes as a quiet meditation — a smoke session that unfolds rather than announces itself.

From the first light, the Excalibur No. V reveals its character with a cream-forward, buttery toast that softens the palate like a warm morning. Gentle cedar and hay frame the opening, while a delicate sweetness — toasted almonds with a whisper of white pepper — signals that this is no ordinary Connecticut. A retrohale introduces floral nuance, a gentle lift that speaks to the quality of the wrapper: a natural shade leaf with a silky, lightly toothy surface in that unmistakable golden honey-tan. As the cigar moves through its second third, a mild earthiness and dry oak take root, the creaminess settling into a more defined profile. Cashew, vanilla, and a refined leather undertone weave together — modest in complexity, yes, but deeply cohesive and satisfying. The final third is a testament to the blend’s aging: smoothness prevails, with cedar and roasted nuts persisting alongside a slow-building spice that never overwhelms.

Construction remains a point of pride. The Lonsdale format, with its generous length and 44-ring gauge, delivers an even burn line, a firm but nicht tight draw, and an ash that holds well past an inch. Smoke volume is excellent, temperatures remain cool, and the session rewards patience, spanning 60 to 75 minutes. In an era dominated by Nicaraguan powerhouses, the Excalibur No. V is frequently underestimated. But to do so is to miss the point. This is a cigar for the aficionado who values elegance and repeatability — a blend that achieves its refined peak without recourse to shock and awe. It is an important legacy smoke, one that deserves more shelf space in serious humidors, not as a relic but as a benchmark for what Honduran-adjacent blending can achieve when grace and consistency are the goals.