Don Pepin Garcia Blue Invictos

This is the robusto size in the Blue line of smokes from Pepin. I have smoked this as an everyday for smoke for nearly two years and find it to be excellent. This is the first review though and I am often more critical of the smokes I review. It presents well with a medium brown wrapper that has little veining and some prominent tooth. A quick inspection shows a cigar that may be a little loose and soft in some spots. The pre light aroma is of nice spice and earth. The pre light draw shows some light pepper and cedar notes.

The cigar begins with a nice profile of cedar and some light spice and pepper. At the back of the palate there is an earthy leather flavor that adds to some early complexity that is enticing and unexpected. The strength is medium bodied and not overwhelming. The draw is loose and the smoke booms out of this cigar and encircles my head with visions of smoky illusion. The burn is a bit lopsided, but it is not causing any issue.

The first half of the cigar is sneaky. The power taps you ever so lightly at the back of the palate as it develops into what will become a strong cigar. The profile continues to show notes of cedar and spice, but there are some nice rich tobacco notes present as well. At the back of the palate the strength soldiers are lining up for their assault on the rest of the palate and they are leaving nice tones of leather and earth as they march undaunted. There is some hear coming through in the draw at the halfway point, so I slow it down and settle in for the second half.

The final half of the smoke is not subtle. There are blasts of cedar, spice, tobacco, leather and earth coating the entire palate. The burn is still slightly off, but it is still not causing any issues. The draw is getting hotter and hotter and that is really the only disappointing part of this cigar.

The finish is charred, but leaves notes of cedar and tobacco mustered on the palate.

Appearance- 90 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 92 the final charred notes hurt this score
Construction- 83 most of the cigar performed well, but the final flaw was nearly fatal
Strength- 88 a nice full flavored cigar, but I prefer a more even strength presentation
Overall- 88 a nice cigar that was hurt by poor construction in the end

Don Pepin Garcia Blue Demi Tasse

I have smoked several of this offering, but had never reviewed one before. It is typically a smoke I choose when time is short and I do not want to sacrifice quality for expedience. It is a small cigar and presents with a light to medium brown wrapper. The appearance is rough, but I expect that from a small vitola. The pre light aroma is of light tobacco and a floral note is present. The pre light draw is also of light tobacco, and is a little tight.

The cigar opens with notes of light tobacco and has more strength than one would expect from a cigar of this size. There is a slightly acidic note that is present, but it is not prominent or overwhelming.

Due to the size this cigar does not develop a flavor profile, but is consistantly presenting light tobacco flavors with acidic undertones. The burn is slightly off and the draw stays tight, at points there is some labor involved to generate some smoke.

I am disappointed with this as compared to other samples of the same cigar that I smoked in the past. The finish is short and metallic and the cigar burns hot toward the last third, though that is not uncommon for small cigars.

Appearance- 84
Taste- 81
Construction- 87 this was fairly decent for a small cigar despite the tight draw which I expect from small smokes
Strength- 83 somewhere between medium and full, but it was difficult to discern with the muddled notes on the finish
Overall- 83.75

Don Pepin Garcia Blue Robusto

This is a beautiful visual experience. The cigar has a deep uniform brown color and the wrapper has no flaws. The pre light aroma is of rich tobacco and earth and puts the senses on notice that an exprience is on the way. The pre light draw has a floral edge to it and is unique to this cigar which I have smoked frequently.

The first several draws offer a blast of tobacco flavors and a little bitterness that I am not accustomed to. This is the first of these cigars that I have smoked in the new darker incarnation with the new band, and the usually timid start has been replaced with something stronger and more full than I am used to. The bitterness persists for the first quarter of the cigar and detracts from the usual experience.

At the one third point the bitterness disappears and the cigar begins to develop as the Blues of old always have. There are rich tobacco notes and hints of coffee and wood in the background. The cigar booms smoke and each draw brings forth more. The development of the smoke is satisfying and rewarding at this point in the cigar.

At the half way point the cigar is still holding it's ash, an indicator of superlative construction. The smoke continues with deep rich tobacco notes and a hint of cocoa has been added to the mix. The cigar has lost all signs of early bitterness and has settled into a nice robust medium/full adventure.

The last half of the cigar maintained a strong, rich tobacco character. The burn and draw were consistant and superior. Some bitterness resurfaced on the finish which was replete with rich tobacco and cocoa notes.

Appearance- 92
Taste- 87 this score was hurt by the bouts of bitterness
Construction- 93
Strength- 88
Overall- 90