Recently during a silent auction I was able to procure three of these cigars. The rarity of this cigar is nearly unmatched in the industry, they are not available for sale in any retail establishments and are basically available when they are donated to charity type auctions. To say that I was excited to win them would be an understatement, and at a price of about sixteen and some change, I would say well worth the flyer investment for a once in a lifetime opportunity.
The cigar itself is very plainly presented in a box of three with a My Father Special Selection band that sports an S and some of the same artwork of a standard My Father. The wrapper is very familiar to a My Father enthusiast such as myself and is applied flawlessly and shows little veining. The construction feels excellent to me and I can't find a single area of concern. The pre light aroma is leathery with a touch of spice. The pre light draw is a slap in the face as that familiar nicotine burn coats the lips and tongues with a fiery tingle that is bordering on being uncomfortable. I am worried about this being too strong for a first cigar of the day, but I plunge onward.
The smoke opens with a profile that is all nicotine fire and strong tobacco notes. I am immediately on notice and off balance because I was not expecting such power (even after the pre light draw showed me what could be coming), I was anticipating a more My Father like experience early on. At the back of the palate the throat is tingling from the early blasts of nicotine, but there are some very nice notes of dark wood and earth here as well. The draw is nearly perfect for me, providing just the desired amount of resistance to each pull. The burn is very solid and a nice ash develops slowly and cleanly.
The first half of the smoke settles in beautifully, gone are the in your face nicotine and tobacco notes and the cigar begins to show a level of complexity and depth that is seldom experienced in a cigar. The profile smacks of clove and cedar with sublime undertones of bread and salt. At the back of the palate the true champion of this smoke emerges as thundering cannon blasts of pepper and wood come through and provide a strong backdrop to the front of the profile. The draw remains nearly perfect and the burn holds the ash to nearly the half way point.
The final half, yet again, shifts into a more well rounded cigar experience. The core profile segues into a nice presentation of leather and earth with shots of pepper. At the back of the palate there is soft underlay of cinnamon and light coffee that is as pleasing as the day is long. The draw and burn maintain a near flawless disposition throughout.
The finish is a shame, in that the cigar is now done and I only have two others. If you can get your hands on some you absolutely must!
Appearance- 88 kind of plain, but solid
Taste- 94 an excellent smoke, the only drawback was some early harshness
Construction- 100 they don't perform any better that this one did
Strength- 91 a very nice full that was too overwhelming early
Overall- 94.5 a superb smoking experience
Showing posts with label Don Pepin Garcia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Don Pepin Garcia. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Don Pepin Garcia My Father Robusto
This is a cigar that I have reviewed before and that has scored well with me in the past. I have had this particular smoke in my humidor for over a year and it has visibly changed in that time losing some of the rich brown color that it once had, and is fading in hue to a more medium brown presentation. The construction appears to be excellent as I detect no issues in the cigar when I inspect it. The pre light aroma is of a fragrant nutty quality and there are some hints of spice. The pre light draw shows some notes of light coffee and there are some interesting notes of wood present as well.
The cigar opens with a core profile of spice and light wood notes that lace across the palate in a way that is unexpected, there is almost a cat and mouse quality to the work that is required to isolate the notes of wood that are present. At the back of the palate there are some notes of pepper and light coffee that are out of place against the core profile. The depth is not what I would like and the complexity could be there, but the flavors are not mingling well. The draw is a little tight, but I am not laboring to this point. The burn is strong and produces a nice ash.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a core profile of spice, there are still some fleeting hints of light wood but they are more and more difficult to identify. At the back of the palate some spates of pepper still present, but there are more coffee notes than anything else. I am shocked by how this cigar has mellowed with some humidor aging and I wish I had not lain it down for so long. The draw is still passable, but tighter than I would like. The burn continues to perform well and is not showing any sign of slowing down.
The final half of the smoke progresses some, but not in any way that I would identify as being anything but average. There are some notes of spice and wood continuing in the foreground of the profile, but they are joined by a strange dark chocolate note that is unexpected and, thankfully, fleeting as I believe that flavor would have become cloying. At the back of the palate an earthy presentation has taken over and there are no other discernible flavors in the mix. The draw stays tight, and the burn continues to perform well.
The finish was nice and smooth and showed some lingering flavors of wood.
Appearance- 88 a nice smoke, but not as flashy after some aging
Taste- 88 some complexity and depth issues, but it was above average
Construction- 87 some tightness in the draw, but other than that no issues
Strength- 89 aging significantly mellows the smoke, but not to it's detriment
Overall- 87.75 an above average experience, but not as good as my last review
The cigar opens with a core profile of spice and light wood notes that lace across the palate in a way that is unexpected, there is almost a cat and mouse quality to the work that is required to isolate the notes of wood that are present. At the back of the palate there are some notes of pepper and light coffee that are out of place against the core profile. The depth is not what I would like and the complexity could be there, but the flavors are not mingling well. The draw is a little tight, but I am not laboring to this point. The burn is strong and produces a nice ash.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a core profile of spice, there are still some fleeting hints of light wood but they are more and more difficult to identify. At the back of the palate some spates of pepper still present, but there are more coffee notes than anything else. I am shocked by how this cigar has mellowed with some humidor aging and I wish I had not lain it down for so long. The draw is still passable, but tighter than I would like. The burn continues to perform well and is not showing any sign of slowing down.
The final half of the smoke progresses some, but not in any way that I would identify as being anything but average. There are some notes of spice and wood continuing in the foreground of the profile, but they are joined by a strange dark chocolate note that is unexpected and, thankfully, fleeting as I believe that flavor would have become cloying. At the back of the palate an earthy presentation has taken over and there are no other discernible flavors in the mix. The draw stays tight, and the burn continues to perform well.
The finish was nice and smooth and showed some lingering flavors of wood.
Appearance- 88 a nice smoke, but not as flashy after some aging
Taste- 88 some complexity and depth issues, but it was above average
Construction- 87 some tightness in the draw, but other than that no issues
Strength- 89 aging significantly mellows the smoke, but not to it's detriment
Overall- 87.75 an above average experience, but not as good as my last review
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Don Pepin Series JJ Maduro Selecto
I had not smoked one of these is quite some time, and this cigar is one that appeared in my Top 5 from 2008. I have always found these to be most flavorful and quite strong in profile. This particular one has over one year of humidor age on it and I am interested to see what the aging has done to the cigar and am anxious to see if there is any further refinement in the smoke. It presents well with no flaws and my examination leads me to believe that there will be no issues with the smoke. The pre light aroma has intense spice and coffee influences. The pre light draw is earth and shows a nice coffee character.
The cigar opens with a very deep and complex profile that shows notes of coffee, earth and very refined tobacco flavors. The strength is exactly as I remember it and immediately puts the palate on notice. At the back of the palate there are some very nice pepper notes that offset some of the sweetness presented by the coffee flavors in the front of the profile. The draw is nearly perfect for me, imparting copious amounts of smoke with very little effort on my part. The burn is sharp and produces a bright white ash that is sturdy and firm.
The first half of the smoke continues to develop and show some unexpected nuance. Like hearing a fine piece of music or viewing a piece of art there is some work involved in enjoying this smoke for all that it is showing. The profile is full of coffee and pepper flavors that coat the palate in a pleasing array of firework like intensity. At the back of the palate there are some excellent notes of earth and some sweet spice notes that come through as well. The draw continues to be very impressive and the burn is consistent and issue free.
The final half of the cigar transitions into a more in your face presentation of flavors and strength. The balance of this cigar is second to none as flavors transition very easily, but with subtlety. The profile continues to show some slight hints of coffee, but peppery tobacco flavors have taken over the core profile at this point. At the back of the palate there are still deep, rich flavors of earth and spice that are countering the core profile in a very satisfying way. The burn and draw stay consistent throughout.
The finish is long and full of peppery flavors that linger. This is a cigar that lets you know it is there.
Appearance- 92 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 94 a very balanced and intense flavor experience
Construction- 97 a nearly flawless performance that was very impressive
Strength- 93 a very complimentary performance when considered against the profile
Overall- 94.5 an excellent smoke, that is only enhanced with age
The cigar opens with a very deep and complex profile that shows notes of coffee, earth and very refined tobacco flavors. The strength is exactly as I remember it and immediately puts the palate on notice. At the back of the palate there are some very nice pepper notes that offset some of the sweetness presented by the coffee flavors in the front of the profile. The draw is nearly perfect for me, imparting copious amounts of smoke with very little effort on my part. The burn is sharp and produces a bright white ash that is sturdy and firm.
The first half of the smoke continues to develop and show some unexpected nuance. Like hearing a fine piece of music or viewing a piece of art there is some work involved in enjoying this smoke for all that it is showing. The profile is full of coffee and pepper flavors that coat the palate in a pleasing array of firework like intensity. At the back of the palate there are some excellent notes of earth and some sweet spice notes that come through as well. The draw continues to be very impressive and the burn is consistent and issue free.
The final half of the cigar transitions into a more in your face presentation of flavors and strength. The balance of this cigar is second to none as flavors transition very easily, but with subtlety. The profile continues to show some slight hints of coffee, but peppery tobacco flavors have taken over the core profile at this point. At the back of the palate there are still deep, rich flavors of earth and spice that are countering the core profile in a very satisfying way. The burn and draw stay consistent throughout.
The finish is long and full of peppery flavors that linger. This is a cigar that lets you know it is there.
Appearance- 92 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 94 a very balanced and intense flavor experience
Construction- 97 a nearly flawless performance that was very impressive
Strength- 93 a very complimentary performance when considered against the profile
Overall- 94.5 an excellent smoke, that is only enhanced with age
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ Natural Sublime
This is a big, toro plus sized cigar. It presents well with a nice medium brown wrapper that is expertly applied. There are no veins or flaws to speak of and the simple packaging makes for smooth viewing experience. An inspection of the cigar yields no areas of concern and I am ready to put it to the test. The pre light aroma is leather and spice. The pre light draw shows some shallow notes of pepper and strong hints of leather and tobacco.
The cigar opens with a profile of leather, leather and more leather. I have noted these as being very close to a Cuban Bolivar in the past and I stand by the assessment. At the back of the palate there are some notes of spice and a nice tobacco flavor compliments the experience. The draw is very easy and produces volumes of light white smoke that drifts lazily away. The burn is excellent and produces a solid medium gray ash.
The first third of the cigar holds together nicely. The profile continues to show a core of leathery notes with some hints of spice and tobacco at the back of the palate. The draw continues to be exceptional and the burn has maintained it level of excellence as well.
The middle third of the cigar picks up some steam in the strength department. It is now a nearly full bodied smoke that is still gathering power for a further assault. The profile shows nice leathery notes, but some more spice and tobacco flavors have leveled out the profile into a nice mix of elements. The draw is still performing well. The burn, however, is beginning to fatigue slightly. There is a small runner that is showing some stubbornness at the end of the middle third and into the final third of the smoke.
The final third really assaults the senses strength wise and gives a full kick to the palate. There are notes of leather, tobacco and spice. The profile never really showed any complexity, but it did have some nice depth as it progressed. The draw and burn maintain a high level of quality throughout.
Appearance- 90 a nice, simple, yet elegant cigar
Taste- 89 a nice profile that could use more complexity
Construction- 90 excellent with the exception of one runner
Strength- 94 an excellent full bodied experience
Overall- 90.25 an above average smoke that performed very well
The cigar opens with a profile of leather, leather and more leather. I have noted these as being very close to a Cuban Bolivar in the past and I stand by the assessment. At the back of the palate there are some notes of spice and a nice tobacco flavor compliments the experience. The draw is very easy and produces volumes of light white smoke that drifts lazily away. The burn is excellent and produces a solid medium gray ash.
The first third of the cigar holds together nicely. The profile continues to show a core of leathery notes with some hints of spice and tobacco at the back of the palate. The draw continues to be exceptional and the burn has maintained it level of excellence as well.
The middle third of the cigar picks up some steam in the strength department. It is now a nearly full bodied smoke that is still gathering power for a further assault. The profile shows nice leathery notes, but some more spice and tobacco flavors have leveled out the profile into a nice mix of elements. The draw is still performing well. The burn, however, is beginning to fatigue slightly. There is a small runner that is showing some stubbornness at the end of the middle third and into the final third of the smoke.
The final third really assaults the senses strength wise and gives a full kick to the palate. There are notes of leather, tobacco and spice. The profile never really showed any complexity, but it did have some nice depth as it progressed. The draw and burn maintain a high level of quality throughout.
Appearance- 90 a nice, simple, yet elegant cigar
Taste- 89 a nice profile that could use more complexity
Construction- 90 excellent with the exception of one runner
Strength- 94 an excellent full bodied experience
Overall- 90.25 an above average smoke that performed very well
Don Pepin Garcia Special Edition
This is a hand rolled cigar from a Pepin event I attended in July of 2009. Don Pepin told me that is a Blue Label blend with a standard Cabaiguan wrapper and that it should encompass the best traits of both of those cigars. It presents well with a tawny brown wrapper that is smooth and pleasing to the eye. There are minimal veins, but there are some identifiable flaws. A quick examination of the construction leaves me with no concerns. The pre light aroma is of cedar and spice. The pre light draw shows sweet floral notes and some light tobacco and earth flavors.
The cigar begins with a profile of cedar and light tobacco flavors. At the back of the palate I notice some sweet floral essence with some woody undertones that are interesting. The draw is exceptionally smooth and easy and provides excellent amounts of savory smoke. The burn is off from the beginning, but not causing any issues to this point.
The first third of the cigar progresses with a profile of light, toasty tobacco flavors with notes of some cedar and other light wood. At the back of the palate the floral sweetness has given way to a nice light earth flavor that is adding complexity to the smoke. The draw is still above average, but the burn is showing signs of deterioration and the wrapper is beginning to lift ever so slightly at the halfway point of the cigar.
The middle third continues to show a nice profile development. I am picking up excellent toasty tobacco notes accompanied by a light spice element. The back of the palate continues to show some notes of light earth. The draw is still nearly flawless and the smoke is a joy. The burn on the other hand has canoed and the wrapper is unraveling quickly. I make efforts to save the construction, but it is for naught, I have an ACME cigar on my hands and it quickly looks like something the Roadrunner would give the coyote. Disappointing, but I press on.
The final third of the cigar continues to show a nice profile of toasty tobacco and light spice. At the back of the palate there are still some nice notes of light earth and light wood flavors. The draw worked well right to the finish, but the burn was a disaster and by the time I am finished the cigar looks like it never was a cigar at all.
The finish is smooth, but a bit short. It showed notes of tobacco, earth and light spice.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking cigar with some minor flaws
Taste- 91 a very nice profile with some complexity and depth
Construction- 75 a disaster
Strength- 87 a nice medium/full
Overall- 84.5 construction killed this cigar
The cigar begins with a profile of cedar and light tobacco flavors. At the back of the palate I notice some sweet floral essence with some woody undertones that are interesting. The draw is exceptionally smooth and easy and provides excellent amounts of savory smoke. The burn is off from the beginning, but not causing any issues to this point.
The first third of the cigar progresses with a profile of light, toasty tobacco flavors with notes of some cedar and other light wood. At the back of the palate the floral sweetness has given way to a nice light earth flavor that is adding complexity to the smoke. The draw is still above average, but the burn is showing signs of deterioration and the wrapper is beginning to lift ever so slightly at the halfway point of the cigar.
The middle third continues to show a nice profile development. I am picking up excellent toasty tobacco notes accompanied by a light spice element. The back of the palate continues to show some notes of light earth. The draw is still nearly flawless and the smoke is a joy. The burn on the other hand has canoed and the wrapper is unraveling quickly. I make efforts to save the construction, but it is for naught, I have an ACME cigar on my hands and it quickly looks like something the Roadrunner would give the coyote. Disappointing, but I press on.
The final third of the cigar continues to show a nice profile of toasty tobacco and light spice. At the back of the palate there are still some nice notes of light earth and light wood flavors. The draw worked well right to the finish, but the burn was a disaster and by the time I am finished the cigar looks like it never was a cigar at all.
The finish is smooth, but a bit short. It showed notes of tobacco, earth and light spice.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking cigar with some minor flaws
Taste- 91 a very nice profile with some complexity and depth
Construction- 75 a disaster
Strength- 87 a nice medium/full
Overall- 84.5 construction killed this cigar
Monday, January 4, 2010
Don Pepin Garcia Black Edition 1977 Corona
This is one of my favorite cigars from 2009. It presents in a very beautifully done traditional corona size that is finished with a whimsical pigtail cap. The wrapper is a beautiful medium brown that is applied expertly and shows little veining. The roll seems to be a little tight, but I have come to expect that attribute from small Pepin cigars. The pre light aroma is a fantastic mix of leather, tobacco and light spice. The pre light draw shows strong notes of leather and some mild peppery flavors.
The cigar opens with an in your face profile of strength, strength and more strength. The smoke shows notes of leather and pepper and the flavor is deep and meaningful. At the back of the palate there rich tobacco and wood flavors. The draw for this cigar is exceptional, I am stunned by the amount of smoke produced from a such a small vitola. The burn is even and the ash is a crisp white.
The first half of the cigar continues to be a strength extravaganza. The profile shows a strong core of leather and pepper. At the back of the palate there are notes of roasted wood and rich tobacco. This is one of the more complex cigars you can find on the market today. The draw and burn continue to be exceptional.
The final half of the cigar shows notes of leather, pepper and wood. At the back of the palate there are still notes of very rich tobacco. The burn is exceptional and continues to perform in an above average fashion. The draw tightens slightly, but does not cause heat or any reductions in the overall pleasure of the experience.
The finish is long and very strong. The core is of pepper and leather.
Appearance- 95 an extremely well presented smoke
Taste- 96 a fantastic taste experience with rich, complex flavors
Construction- 92 some draw tightening at the end hurts the score slightly
Strength- 88 a bit too strong in such a small cigar, very full bodied
Overall- 93.25 an excellent experience
The cigar opens with an in your face profile of strength, strength and more strength. The smoke shows notes of leather and pepper and the flavor is deep and meaningful. At the back of the palate there rich tobacco and wood flavors. The draw for this cigar is exceptional, I am stunned by the amount of smoke produced from a such a small vitola. The burn is even and the ash is a crisp white.
The first half of the cigar continues to be a strength extravaganza. The profile shows a strong core of leather and pepper. At the back of the palate there are notes of roasted wood and rich tobacco. This is one of the more complex cigars you can find on the market today. The draw and burn continue to be exceptional.
The final half of the cigar shows notes of leather, pepper and wood. At the back of the palate there are still notes of very rich tobacco. The burn is exceptional and continues to perform in an above average fashion. The draw tightens slightly, but does not cause heat or any reductions in the overall pleasure of the experience.
The finish is long and very strong. The core is of pepper and leather.
Appearance- 95 an extremely well presented smoke
Taste- 96 a fantastic taste experience with rich, complex flavors
Construction- 92 some draw tightening at the end hurts the score slightly
Strength- 88 a bit too strong in such a small cigar, very full bodied
Overall- 93.25 an excellent experience
Friday, October 23, 2009
Don Pepin Garcia My Father Le Bijou 1922
This is the new offering in the My Father line, it is a pricier cigar with an $11+ retail. The cigar is beautiful to look at as it is draped in a nice oscuro wrapper that has some prominent veining, but it appears to be well made. The roll seems firm, but supple and the cigar has a nice oily gleam. The pre light aroma has light notes of spice, candy and fruit. The pre light draw has notes of tobacco, earth and spice.
The cigar opens with more strength than I expected. The profile is deep and has flavors of earth, rich tobacco and a sweet candy note at the back of the palate. The burn is a bit slow, but the draw is smooth and easy producing plenty of smoke.
At the one third mark the profile has opened up. There are notes of caramel, spice, tobacco and wood and at the back of the palate a coffee note has presented as well. The burn has become lopsided and I am starting to experience a runner. The draw has stayed smooth and bountiful.
At the halfway point the runner has developed into a full blown canoe, I am still attempting to persevere as I do not want to char the excellent profile of the cigar. The profile is showing notes of earth, tobacco, wood and coffee. The draw has stayed consistent.
With about a third of the cigar left I opt to knock off the canoe instead of relighting. This can be a rather neanderthal approach, but I sometimes go to this move to save the profile. Satisfied that I am past it I refocus. The profile has maintained notes of earth and tobacco, but the caramel notes return in the last third. The draw has stayed easy throughout.
The finish is long and smooth. It showed notes of earth, coffee and tobacco.
Appearance- 90 veining hurt the score
Taste- 94 an excellent, complex profile
Construction- 82 the canoe severely detracts from the score
Strength- 88 stronger than I thought and at times in the way of a wonderfully complex profile
Overall- 88.5 construction hurt the score, but the taste was excellent
The cigar opens with more strength than I expected. The profile is deep and has flavors of earth, rich tobacco and a sweet candy note at the back of the palate. The burn is a bit slow, but the draw is smooth and easy producing plenty of smoke.
At the one third mark the profile has opened up. There are notes of caramel, spice, tobacco and wood and at the back of the palate a coffee note has presented as well. The burn has become lopsided and I am starting to experience a runner. The draw has stayed smooth and bountiful.
At the halfway point the runner has developed into a full blown canoe, I am still attempting to persevere as I do not want to char the excellent profile of the cigar. The profile is showing notes of earth, tobacco, wood and coffee. The draw has stayed consistent.
With about a third of the cigar left I opt to knock off the canoe instead of relighting. This can be a rather neanderthal approach, but I sometimes go to this move to save the profile. Satisfied that I am past it I refocus. The profile has maintained notes of earth and tobacco, but the caramel notes return in the last third. The draw has stayed easy throughout.
The finish is long and smooth. It showed notes of earth, coffee and tobacco.
Appearance- 90 veining hurt the score
Taste- 94 an excellent, complex profile
Construction- 82 the canoe severely detracts from the score
Strength- 88 stronger than I thought and at times in the way of a wonderfully complex profile
Overall- 88.5 construction hurt the score, but the taste was excellent
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Benchmade for Ashton (by Pepin Garcia) Robusto
A new affordable offering from Ashton that is made by the biggest name in the business right now. The cigar presents with a mottled wrapper that seems a bit wet, but the cigar is finished with a short pigtail cap at the head that is an interesting twist. The pre light aroma is of earth and tobacco. The pre light draw had traces of tobacco, but spice and pepper are prominent.
The cigar begins with a slightly off putting sweetness that is accompanied by notes of mushrooms. The cigar does seem to be a bit wet as I also detect a moist bitterness in the smoke. The burn is passable and the draw is fine. The cigar develops a big bite of pepper about an inch in.
At the half way point the pepper notes have taken over, but there is still a note of mushrooms and vegetation at the back of the palate. The burn has remained consistent and the draw is still above average. There is ample smoke and some of the early moist, bitter notes have subsided.
The final half of the cigar takes on a sweeter character with a slightly floral essence, however the notes of mushroom continue to show through. The burn and draw have performed well throughout the smoke. I am finding this to be milder than a usual Pepin offering.
The finish is a bit short with notes of pepper, mushroom and sweet floral essence.
Appearance- 86 an OK appearance despite the mottled, leprous wrapper
Taste- 82 the profile was a bit weird and did not compliment all of the flavors well
Construction- 86 this was OK, but the draw was passable not exceptional
Strength- 85 a nice medium bodied smoke, but there was not enough oomph
Overall- 84.75 this was just OK, I will age some and review again at a later date
The cigar begins with a slightly off putting sweetness that is accompanied by notes of mushrooms. The cigar does seem to be a bit wet as I also detect a moist bitterness in the smoke. The burn is passable and the draw is fine. The cigar develops a big bite of pepper about an inch in.
At the half way point the pepper notes have taken over, but there is still a note of mushrooms and vegetation at the back of the palate. The burn has remained consistent and the draw is still above average. There is ample smoke and some of the early moist, bitter notes have subsided.
The final half of the cigar takes on a sweeter character with a slightly floral essence, however the notes of mushroom continue to show through. The burn and draw have performed well throughout the smoke. I am finding this to be milder than a usual Pepin offering.
The finish is a bit short with notes of pepper, mushroom and sweet floral essence.
Appearance- 86 an OK appearance despite the mottled, leprous wrapper
Taste- 82 the profile was a bit weird and did not compliment all of the flavors well
Construction- 86 this was OK, but the draw was passable not exceptional
Strength- 85 a nice medium bodied smoke, but there was not enough oomph
Overall- 84.75 this was just OK, I will age some and review again at a later date
Friday, September 11, 2009
Don Pepin Garcia My Father Robusto
This is a smart looking cigar with an oily, rich looking wrapper the hue of chestnuts. An inspection reveals that the construction should be near perfect, no soft spots or firm areas can be detected. The pre light aroma is rich and full of spice and tobacco notes. The pre light draw is a bit loose, but there are detectable traces of floral notes and a profile of tobacco.
The cigar opens with a profile of tobacco and light coffee, there is a floral undertone that offsets some of the early strength with some herbal sweetness. The burn is crisp and the smoke is voluminous as a result of the easy draw. The first third progresses in much the same way.
At just past the one third point the cigar takes on the character of a prize fighter, doling out blows of flavor and strength. There are rich tobacco notes with some essence of roasted coffee. There is a distinct nicotine tingle on the tongue. The construction is excellent and the loose draw is not detracting from the smoke.
The final half of the cigar is much the same. The construction is consistent and the strength is considerable.
The finish is smooth and has tobacco and coffee notes.
Appearance- 92 an above average looking smoke
Taste- 88 could use some more depth and complexity, but the simple profile has an elegant charm
Construction- 93 the draw was loose, but the cigar performed well
Strength- 90 a nice full smoke that compliments the profile well
Overall- 90.75
The cigar opens with a profile of tobacco and light coffee, there is a floral undertone that offsets some of the early strength with some herbal sweetness. The burn is crisp and the smoke is voluminous as a result of the easy draw. The first third progresses in much the same way.
At just past the one third point the cigar takes on the character of a prize fighter, doling out blows of flavor and strength. There are rich tobacco notes with some essence of roasted coffee. There is a distinct nicotine tingle on the tongue. The construction is excellent and the loose draw is not detracting from the smoke.
The final half of the cigar is much the same. The construction is consistent and the strength is considerable.
The finish is smooth and has tobacco and coffee notes.
Appearance- 92 an above average looking smoke
Taste- 88 could use some more depth and complexity, but the simple profile has an elegant charm
Construction- 93 the draw was loose, but the cigar performed well
Strength- 90 a nice full smoke that compliments the profile well
Overall- 90.75
Monday, September 7, 2009
Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ Maduro Selecto
I reviewed the natural version of this vitola a couple of weeks ago and found that cigar to be excellent, reminiscent of a Cuban Bolivar. This cigar is the darker cousin in the Maduro format, it is also darker in character, the Jekyll to the previous cigar's Hyde. The cigar is pleasant to look at with a flawless triple seam construction. The wrapper is dark and rich, with a toothy quality. The construction feels firm, but I detect no issues upon examination. The pre light aroma is a melange of tobacco and woody notes. The pre light draw hints of spice and is well laced with a preview of nicotine.
The cigar begins with notes of cocoa and rich tobacco flavors, these are direct flavors and I do not labor to detect them. The burn is sharp and firm and the smoke is lacing the tongue with a nicotine tingle. The first two inches progress well and the cigar's performance is rock solid.
At just before the halfway mark a profile shift is afoot. There are notes of coffee, rich tobacco and exotic spice on the palate. The power of this cigar is sneaky and I can feel it creeping up on me, almost as if it is trying to be unnoticed. The burn stays solid and the cigar continues to deserve performance accolades.
The final third of this cigar shows all the character of a late round puncher. The are jabs of coffee, earth and tobacco with the uppercuts of nicotine. The burn has stayed true and the cigar is showing all sorts of character and poise.
The finish is excellent and the palate is sated with nicotine, coffee and tobacco flavors.
Appearance- 92 an attractive cigar
Taste- 90 well balanced and maintained, but could use some more depth
Construction- 96 nearly flawless
Strength- 92 an excellent, sneaky full bodied offering that could benefit with less punch in the finish
Overall- 92.5 another Pepin home run
The cigar begins with notes of cocoa and rich tobacco flavors, these are direct flavors and I do not labor to detect them. The burn is sharp and firm and the smoke is lacing the tongue with a nicotine tingle. The first two inches progress well and the cigar's performance is rock solid.
At just before the halfway mark a profile shift is afoot. There are notes of coffee, rich tobacco and exotic spice on the palate. The power of this cigar is sneaky and I can feel it creeping up on me, almost as if it is trying to be unnoticed. The burn stays solid and the cigar continues to deserve performance accolades.
The final third of this cigar shows all the character of a late round puncher. The are jabs of coffee, earth and tobacco with the uppercuts of nicotine. The burn has stayed true and the cigar is showing all sorts of character and poise.
The finish is excellent and the palate is sated with nicotine, coffee and tobacco flavors.
Appearance- 92 an attractive cigar
Taste- 90 well balanced and maintained, but could use some more depth
Construction- 96 nearly flawless
Strength- 92 an excellent, sneaky full bodied offering that could benefit with less punch in the finish
Overall- 92.5 another Pepin home run
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ Robusto
This has always been the lesser of the two JJ's, in my mind, as I have always thought the maduro version to be superior. The cigar presents with a dark natural wrapper with few veins. The wrapper is well applied, but the cigar feels a little tight in a couple of spots. The pre light aroma is of tobacco and light spice. The pre light draw has peppery notes with an undertone of spice.
The cigar begins with full blasts of pepper, almost as if it is on a quest to prove that it is equal to it's darker cousin. The smoke booms out and the burn is sharp. The draw is smooth and fulfilling. The first inch is a real pepper bomb and I don't remember this cigar showing that much character before. After the first inch the peppery core settles down and some tobacco and leather notes appear.
At just past a third of the way into the smoke the core is of leather, there is a fabulous undertone of ginger and spice that has appeared at the back of the palate. The complexity of this cigar so early in the smoke has me inspired about the rest of it. The burn has stayed nice, maybe a bit lopsided, but not detracting from the experience.
The final half of this cigar maintains a leathery core, reminiscent of cuban Bolivars, but there are complex notes of ginger, spice, tobacco and earth in the background. The level of flavor here is astounding! I encounter only one burn flaw with about one third of the cigar remaining, but I am able to smoke through it.
The finish is long and excellent. There are notes of leather, earth, spice, ginger and tobacco. This JJ can certainly stand on it's own. A superior smoke.
Appearance- 90 the wrapper lacks some oils detracting from the appeal
Taste- 95 an excellent complex smoke with depth and character
Construction- 91 a little tight in the roll, one burn flaw
Strength- 91 and excellent medium/full smoke almost perfectly balanced with the character of the cigar. It could have used some more kick.
Overall- 91.75 excellent, a must smoke
The cigar begins with full blasts of pepper, almost as if it is on a quest to prove that it is equal to it's darker cousin. The smoke booms out and the burn is sharp. The draw is smooth and fulfilling. The first inch is a real pepper bomb and I don't remember this cigar showing that much character before. After the first inch the peppery core settles down and some tobacco and leather notes appear.
At just past a third of the way into the smoke the core is of leather, there is a fabulous undertone of ginger and spice that has appeared at the back of the palate. The complexity of this cigar so early in the smoke has me inspired about the rest of it. The burn has stayed nice, maybe a bit lopsided, but not detracting from the experience.
The final half of this cigar maintains a leathery core, reminiscent of cuban Bolivars, but there are complex notes of ginger, spice, tobacco and earth in the background. The level of flavor here is astounding! I encounter only one burn flaw with about one third of the cigar remaining, but I am able to smoke through it.
The finish is long and excellent. There are notes of leather, earth, spice, ginger and tobacco. This JJ can certainly stand on it's own. A superior smoke.
Appearance- 90 the wrapper lacks some oils detracting from the appeal
Taste- 95 an excellent complex smoke with depth and character
Construction- 91 a little tight in the roll, one burn flaw
Strength- 91 and excellent medium/full smoke almost perfectly balanced with the character of the cigar. It could have used some more kick.
Overall- 91.75 excellent, a must smoke
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Tobacos Baez Famosos by Pepin Garcia
This robusto sized cigar has a light brown wrapper and is lighter than standard Pepin offerings, with the exception of Cabaiguan. There is a prominent vein near the head of the cigar that could be an issue, but rolling the cigar quickly through my fingers tells me that this cigar has no undue firmness or discernible plugs. The pre light aroma is light and woody. The pre light draw has notes of light wood and light tobacco.
The cigar begins with mellow wood notes and a vegetal undertone. It is not unpleasant at this point, but is not yet pleasing either. I have smoked several examples of this and they almost always begin in the same way.
At the one third point the cigar develops a slight burn flaw, but as is my wont I smoke through it and it evens out. (A word of advice on this particular issue. Always attempt to smoke through a flaw in the burn. I see many smokers immediately put them to the torch to even them out and the result is they char the cigar and thus pick up a burnt or charred note for the rest of the smoke.) Getting back to the cigar, it has developed a creamy vanilla tone and maintains the light wood flavors in the background. There is also some evidence of light pepper at the back of the palate that is starting to assert itself.
At the half way point the peppery notes have come on stronger, but are not overwhelming. There is still a sweet mellow note of wood and cream in the mix at this point as well. The burn has returned to a sharp edge and the cigar is holding up well.
The final half of the cigar develops another small burn issue, but smoking through it pays off yet again. The peppery notes have faded away and the notes of light cream and wood have taken center stage, there is a vegetal undertone threatening to weaken the experience.
The finish is flat with a definite vegetal undertone. Some notes of pepper have resurfaced, but it is hurt by the flat vegetal flavors that the finish is presenting.
Appearance- 88 a beautiful wrapper that was hurt by the prominent vein at the head
Taste- 83 this cigar was hurt by the vegetal notes that surfaced in various stages of the smoke
Construction- 86 this score was hurt by the two burn flaws that were encountered during the experience
Strength- 88 this is a fine example of a medium bodied cigar
Overall- 86.25 this is a cigar with some potential but the flaws noted hurt the score
The cigar begins with mellow wood notes and a vegetal undertone. It is not unpleasant at this point, but is not yet pleasing either. I have smoked several examples of this and they almost always begin in the same way.
At the one third point the cigar develops a slight burn flaw, but as is my wont I smoke through it and it evens out. (A word of advice on this particular issue. Always attempt to smoke through a flaw in the burn. I see many smokers immediately put them to the torch to even them out and the result is they char the cigar and thus pick up a burnt or charred note for the rest of the smoke.) Getting back to the cigar, it has developed a creamy vanilla tone and maintains the light wood flavors in the background. There is also some evidence of light pepper at the back of the palate that is starting to assert itself.
At the half way point the peppery notes have come on stronger, but are not overwhelming. There is still a sweet mellow note of wood and cream in the mix at this point as well. The burn has returned to a sharp edge and the cigar is holding up well.
The final half of the cigar develops another small burn issue, but smoking through it pays off yet again. The peppery notes have faded away and the notes of light cream and wood have taken center stage, there is a vegetal undertone threatening to weaken the experience.
The finish is flat with a definite vegetal undertone. Some notes of pepper have resurfaced, but it is hurt by the flat vegetal flavors that the finish is presenting.
Appearance- 88 a beautiful wrapper that was hurt by the prominent vein at the head
Taste- 83 this cigar was hurt by the vegetal notes that surfaced in various stages of the smoke
Construction- 86 this score was hurt by the two burn flaws that were encountered during the experience
Strength- 88 this is a fine example of a medium bodied cigar
Overall- 86.25 this is a cigar with some potential but the flaws noted hurt the score
Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic Corona
This is a beautiful cigar. In the true corona size of Cuban influence, this cigar has the added flourish of a pigtail cap that is visually stimulating. The pre light aroma has strong influences of leather and cedar. The pre light draw is excellent and reveals more leather and cedar flavors.
The first 2 inches of the cigar are more mellow than I recall from previous smokes of this same vintage. The leathery flavors are almost overwhelming and this cigar delivers plenty of smoke for such a small vitola.
At the half way point this smoke really picks up steam. The leathery core is still prominent, but notes of roasted nuts have joined in as well. The strength comes out in full force and this little cigar is turning into what I remember, a classic closing cigar for any day of smoking pleasure.
The burn stays even and true throughout and the construction is flawless. The finish is a blast of rich tobacco and nicotine and leaves my palate almost exhausted from the experience. This cigar is a true finisher and is not for the feint of heart. If you like a powerhouse small cigar, this is the smoke for you.
Appearance- 95
Taste- 92
Construction- 96
Strength- 92
Overall- 93.75
The first 2 inches of the cigar are more mellow than I recall from previous smokes of this same vintage. The leathery flavors are almost overwhelming and this cigar delivers plenty of smoke for such a small vitola.
At the half way point this smoke really picks up steam. The leathery core is still prominent, but notes of roasted nuts have joined in as well. The strength comes out in full force and this little cigar is turning into what I remember, a classic closing cigar for any day of smoking pleasure.
The burn stays even and true throughout and the construction is flawless. The finish is a blast of rich tobacco and nicotine and leaves my palate almost exhausted from the experience. This cigar is a true finisher and is not for the feint of heart. If you like a powerhouse small cigar, this is the smoke for you.
Appearance- 95
Taste- 92
Construction- 96
Strength- 92
Overall- 93.75
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