Hoyo de Monterrey
Founded by Jose Gener in 1865 and named for a Vuelta Abajo vega; a separate Honduran Hoyo is sold in the United States by General Cigar.
Jose Gener registered Hoyo de Monterrey in 1865. The name refers to a hollow, a hoyo, on his farm at San Juan y Martinez in the Vuelta Abajo, and the brand's identity has been tied to that ground ever since. The Cuban line is traditionally light to medium in strength, and the Le Hoyo series, created in the 1970s, remains its most recognisable sub-family alongside the Epicure sizes.
The Double Coronas has long been the brand's flagship large format, and the Epicure No. 2 robusto its volume seller. Cuban production is handled at the La Corona factory in Cerro, which also carries Punch, San Cristobal de la Habana and Por Larranaga. Habanos has extended the marca in recent years with the Le Hoyo de Rio Seco and Le Hoyo de San Juan.
The non-Cuban Hoyo de Monterrey is a distinct brand owned by General Cigar and made in Honduras, a lineage that runs through Villazon y Cia and the Danli factory Frank Llaneza founded. Its best-known line, Excalibur, has no Cuban equivalent. The two brands share a name and a general house style claim but not blend, tobacco or ownership. Excalibur is made in Honduras from Central American leaf under a Connecticut shade wrapper, a very different construction from the Cuban line.