What cigars are inside the 510 Aniversario Humidor?

The 510 Aniversario Humidor contains 50 Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 cigars. These are special production cigars distinct from standard release, featuring a specific blend created to commemorate the brand's lengthy history. The humidor itself is a limited edition collector's item, and the cigars inside measure 124mm (4.9 inches) in length with a 50 ring gauge. This specific vitola is highly regarded among enthusiasts for its construction quality and is presented in a unique varnished finish within the commemorative box.

What is the history behind the Hoyo de Monterrey 510 Aniversario?

This release honors the 510th anniversary of the arrival of Columbus in Cuba, a pivotal moment that introduced tobacco to the world. Hoyo de Monterrey, established in 1860 by José Gener, utilized this milestone to release a special edition in 2002. The brand is historically rooted in the Vuelta Abajo region, famous for its soil quality. This humidor celebrates over five centuries of Cuban tobacco heritage, combining the brand's traditional naming conventions with a significant historical date to create a highly collectible item for cigar connoisseurs.

How does the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 taste?

The Epicure No. 2 is renowned for its medium-bodied flavor profile, offering distinct notes of cedar, earth, and a signature grassy or hay characteristic common to the Hoyo de Monterrey marca. Smokers often detect subtle hints of cream and coffee bean, accompanied by a smooth aroma. It is known for a clean draw and even burn, making it approachable for novice smokers while retaining enough complexity, including a slight spiciness on the retrohale, to keep experienced palates engaged throughout the roughly 60-minute smoking duration.

What cigars are inside the 510 Aniversario Humidor?

The 510 Aniversario Humidor contains 50 Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 cigars. These are special production cigars distinct from standard release, featuring a specific blend created to commemorate the brand's lengthy history. The humidor itself is a limited edition collector's item, and the cigars inside measure 124mm (4.9 inches) in length with a 50 ring gauge. This specific vitola is highly regarded among enthusiasts for its construction quality and is presented in a unique varnished finish within the commemorative box.

What is the history behind the Hoyo de Monterrey 510 Aniversario?

This release honors the 510th anniversary of the arrival of Columbus in Cuba, a pivotal moment that introduced tobacco to the world. Hoyo de Monterrey, established in 1860 by José Gener, utilized this milestone to release a special edition in 2002. The brand is historically rooted in the Vuelta Abajo region, famous for its soil quality. This humidor celebrates over five centuries of Cuban tobacco heritage, combining the brand's traditional naming conventions with a significant historical date to create a highly collectible item for cigar connoisseurs.

How does the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 taste?

The Epicure No. 2 is renowned for its medium-bodied flavor profile, offering distinct notes of cedar, earth, and a signature grassy or hay characteristic common to the Hoyo de Monterrey marca. Smokers often detect subtle hints of cream and coffee bean, accompanied by a smooth aroma. It is known for a clean draw and even burn, making it approachable for novice smokers while retaining enough complexity, including a slight spiciness on the retrohale, to keep experienced palates engaged throughout the roughly 60-minute smoking duration.

Cigar Information

510 Aniversario Humidor

The 510 Aniversario Humidor stands as one of the most significant commemorative releases in Cuban cigar history. Unveiled in 2003, this limited edition collection was created to mark a landmark moment: the 510th anniversary of tobacco's introduction to the Old World. The release represents a collaborative effort across five prestigious Habanos brands, each contributing a distinct vitola to the collection.

Historical Significance

This commemorative humidor pays tribute to a pivotal moment in cigar history—the arrival of tobacco from the Americas to Europe. The 510-year milestone represents over five centuries of cigar culture and tradition. To celebrate this heritage, Habanos S.A. produced exactly 510 numbered humidors, each containing 100 cigars across five different marques.

A notable charitable aspect accompanied this release: Humidor Number 510 was auctioned during the Habano Festival for $15,000 USD, with all proceeds donated to Cuba's public health system.

Collection Overview

Each 510 Aniversario Humidor contains a carefully curated selection of 100 cigars, divided equally among five brands. Every cigar features its brand's standard band accompanied by a distinctive special edition 510 Aniversario secondary band, creating a unified aesthetic across the diverse collection.

Brand	Vitola	Factory Name	Ring Gauge	Length	Weight	Quantity
Hoyo de Monterrey	Epicure No.1	Coronas Gordas	46	143mm (5⅝″)	11.41g	20
Cohiba	Espléndidos	Julieta No.2	47	178mm (7″)	15.07g	20
Romeo y Julieta	Hermosos No.3	Hermosos No.3	48	140mm (5½″)	11.97g	20
Montecristo	No.2	Piramides	52	156mm (6⅛″)	14.26g	20
Partagás	Royals de Partagás	Felipe 94	45	115mm (4½″)	8.64g*	20

*Estimated weight

The Five Vitolas

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.1

This existing production vitola brings the delicate, elegant character of Hoyo de Monterrey to the collection. The Coronas Gordas format offers a substantial smoking experience while maintaining the brand's signature refinement.

Cohiba Espléndidos

Representing Cuba's most prestigious brand, the Espléndidos in Julieta No.2 format delivers the sophisticated, complex profile that has made Cohiba legendary among cigar enthusiasts worldwide.

Romeo y Julieta Hermosos No.3

Created specifically for this release, the Hermosos No.3 represents a new special format within the Romeo y Julieta portfolio. This exclusivity adds considerable collectible value to the humidor.

Montecristo No.2

The iconic Piramides format from Montecristo needs little introduction. This torpedo-shaped vitola remains one of the most sought-after cigars in production, bringing immediate recognition and desirability to the collection.

Partagás Royals de Partagás

Another special release created expressly for this commemorative edition, the Royals de Partagás in Felipe 94 format offers collectors a unique size unavailable through standard production channels.

Construction and Presentation

All cigars within the 510 Aniversario Humidor are entirely handmade using premium Cuban tobacco. The presentation maintains consistency across brands through the uniform application of the commemorative 510 Aniversario band alongside each marque's standard labeling.

Collector Notes

Collectors should be aware of a documented production anomaly affecting certain humidors. In some units, the bands for the Partagás and Romeo y Julieta cigars were inadvertently swapped during manufacturing. This error has become a point of interest among serious collectors, with affected humidors representing a curious footnote in the release's history.

Release Details

Release Year: 2003
Total Humidors Produced: 510 (individually numbered)
Cigars per Humidor: 100 (20 of each brand)
Construction: Handmade
Charitable Auction: Humidor No. 510 sold for $15,000 USD

Questions & Answers

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