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Don Pepin Garcia Original TAA Exclusive 2019 Review

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If you’ve been reading our reviews for the last six months, you’ve noticed we haven’t reviewed that many new cigars in 2019. That’s partially because we have a huge backlog of other cigars to get through, and also because the lion’s share of new cigars are released at or after IPCPR, the largest annual cigar tradeshow in North America (going on as I write this, in fact).

All that to say, I’m excited to finally be digging in to some of the new 2019 product, starting with the Don Pepin Garcia Original TAA Exclusive 2019. As you can see, it’s a beautiful cigar and carries all the hallmarks of Don Pepin Garcia branding.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Don Pepin Garcia Original TAA Exclusive 2019
  • Wrapper: Nicaragua
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: 6 x 54 Toro Extra
  • Price: ~$10

Appearance & Construction

The first thing that strikes me about this cigar, besides the ornate blue and gold banding, is just how soft the cigar is. It seems packed sufficiently, but has a lot more give than I’m used to, with the most discernible soft spot under the secondary band.

The cigar is wrapped in a beautiful, nearly flawless wrapper that has just a few very minor tears that shouldn’t cause any problems in the smoking experience. Off of the foot, I take a whiff and pick up bright, nearly sneeze-inducing aromas of cedar, barnyard, and savory grilling spices. Very typical for what I know from other experiences with the Don Pepin Garcia Original.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Don Pepin Garcia Original TAA Exclusive 2019 opens up with copious amounts of sandy textured, medium bodied smoke. It’s got a bit of pepper kick off the bat, but not as much as I’ve expect from other Don Pepin blends—in this case that’s a good thing. 

For the most part, in the first third the flavors of the Don Pepin Garcia TAA 2019 are balanced between savory notes of grilling spices, cedar, and pepper, and sweeter notes of berries and a light vanilla. The retrohale is a mix of pepper and wood, thankfully not overwhelming. The ash that develops is solid and holds strong for about an inch and a half. 

As the ember nears the second third, notes of leather, white and red pepper begin to emerge, though they don’t manage to unseat the now dominant notes of espresso and black pepper. Construction remains mostly good on the burn though it does stray from time to time. So far, an enjoyable experience, but nothing groundbreaking (which let’s be honest, probably isn’t the point for this cigar). 

The next real change in pace for the Don Pepin Garcia TAA 2019 comes at the final third mark, and they are significant changes. First, the strength and body of the smoke climb to medium-full. Second, most of the sweetness that balanced the cigar out dissipates, leaving a mix of black pepper and grilling spices vying for center stage and mostly hitting the tip of the tongue. The retrohale on the other hand loses its peppery edge, leaving smooth charcoal and light toast to define the experience.

Overall, the final third is probably the least enjoyable part of the overall experience, which is too bad because I love cigars that conclude better than they begin. 

Conclusion 

I haven’t smoked the Don Pepin Original in quite a while so I’m not sure how this limited edition blend compares, but I do think I enjoyed this cigar more. Its certainly got more complexity than its regular production sibling. That said, complexity isn’t everything and the overall profile doesn’t land it at top tier status. 

Final Rating: 87

La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Reserva Maximo Review

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la aroma de cuba mi amor reserva maximo review

Pepin Garcia has been created legendary blends for others as well as himself for quite some time now. When the La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor came on the scene sporting a Mexican San Andres wrapper that showed many what flavors quality Mexican wrapper can deliver, the cigar was met with praise and became a staple in the Pepin Profile. The La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Reserva Maximo sports a Mexican Oscuro wrapper which gives something extra to this blend and the line. I was able to smoke the Maximo last week and these are my thoughts. Enjoy!

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Reserva Maximo
  • Wrapper:  Mexican Oscuro
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Size:  5 1/2 x 54

Appearance and Construction

The La Aroma de Cuba has a gorgeous dark chocolate wrapper with the classic La Aroma De Cuba band in elegant gold, yellows and blue with the female portrait resting in the middle. There is a secondary band “Mi Amor Reserva” in red, white and surrounded by gold leaf noting the new line. The cigar is slightly firm to the touch and full of tobacco. There are some veins to this wrapper which doesn’t detract from the quality of the roll.

la aroma de cuba mi amor reserva maximo review 2

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Lighting the La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Reserva Maximo, you get smokiness and toast at first. As the flavor builds a bit of spice and lush tobacco draws full into the mouthfeel. The spice upfront yields to graham cracker on the finish. In the next few puffs, nougat and cedar are coming forward big time. The cigar is already starting to show its complexity in the first third.

The second half of the La Aroma turns savory with tobacco, meat and leather.  The spice soon returns along with earth and cocoa powder. The flavors are really pronounced at this point, with earth dominating. The richness of the tobacco complimented by toasted wood and leather gets the palate salivating.

The final third brings milk chocolate followed by smokiness much like the beginning of the cigar. Earth and a core of pepper emerge that kicks up the profile and enlivens the senses. As the cigar comes to its conclusion spice, earth and toast intermingle creating a long finish.

A top notch smoke.

Conclusion

Don Pepin has hit the mark many times in his lines and with other peoples cigars that he’s blended. One could argue he has been overextended as some smokes don’t always deliver in terms of lasting flavor. I will say after meeting the man and picking him up at the airport once with his partner: he is a man that knows how to care for tobacco and the quality is always evident. The La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Reserva shows you how wonderful different types of Mexican leaf can be when blended and cared for properly. I felt this cigar is a masterful blend.

You should be smoking and buying a box for your humidor!

Don Pepin Garcia 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Toro Review

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Don Pepin Garcia 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Toro Review

Up for review today is a limited edition blend from Don Pepin Garcia, the Don Pepin Garcia 15th Anniversary toro. This cigar is one of many limited edition cigars released by the company over the last few years. The LE 2018 cigar commemorates the opening of Garcia’s factory in Miami, and comes at a price of $20 for the robusto and $24 for the toro. Certainly not cheap cigars, with the price reflected in the 3-year aging of the cigar’s tobaccos and the impressive unboxing experience that comes with each cigar being sold in individual coffins.

Product Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Don Pepin Garcia 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Toro
  • Wrapper: Nicaragua (Habano)
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: Toro (6 1/2 x 52)

Appearance & Construction

The Habano leaf on the Don Pepin Garcia 15th Anniversary toro is a rich, marbled brown, with no major veins or cracks. It has very little texture, but quite a lot of oil covering it.  The branding is, as you can see, pretty spectacular. The cigar comes in individual coffins and sports one large, gold, red, and blue band. If the goal was for the cigar to look celebratory (and it undoubtedly was), then the team got it right.

Taking a whiff off the foot, I pick up notes of dry cedar and coffee beans. The pre light draw is extremely flavorful, with lots of fine ground white pepper, sweet granola, and earth.

Don Pepin Garcia 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Toro Review 2

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The Don Pepin Garcia 15th Anniversary Limited Edition opens with a refined and moderately toasty medium bodied flavor profile. The cigar produces ample smoke, with primary notes of dark chocolate, almonds, dry cedar, floral, and a creamy finish. There’s also a lot of white pepper on the palate and on the retrohale. By the end of the first third, I’m really enjoying the cigar. Strength-wise, it’s definitely well below what I had assumed would be a full bodied knock em/sock em profile.

As the cigar progresses to the end of the first third, the burn becomes a bit wavy, with a mostly white ash. Strength and body drop down a touch to the bottom reaches of medium bodied.

In the second third, like clockwork, the strength ramps up a bit, and the profile shifts markedly. The dry cedar note shifts to a softer, more concentrated oak. Alongside that is a dark, fruity note kind of like cherry. Construction remains great, and smoke production increases as well, making for an enjoyable smoking experience.

As the cigar burns through the final third, body and strength increase to full. Unfortunately, the flavor profile doesn’t maintain balance, particularly the spice and pepper notes which are overwhelming. A few minutes later in the final inch, the smoke heats up quite a bit, providing a good opportunity to set the cigar down.

Conclusion

The Don Pepin Garcia 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Toro is a good limited edition cigar to pursue, particularly if you are a fan of Don Pepin blends. For most of the smoking experience, it performs with finesse and complexity, but can’t seem to maintain consistent balance. The final third left much to be desired in this respect.

For that reason, though I can recommend purchasing this cigar as a piece of cigar history, this blend doesn’t capture a stellar rating.

Final Score: 88

Cigar Review: Don Pepin Blue Label Generoso

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Unless you have been living under a rock for all of your cigar smoking life then the name José Garcia a.k.a. “Don Pepin” should ring bells. His cigar blends have reached cult status throughout the industry and throughout the world.  That being said, this stick has been on my “get to” list for some time now I was eager to get my hands on some, especially in the Generoso(Toro)  vitola.

Blend Specifics:
Toro(6×50)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

Apperance & Construction

First look at this stick and I must say it just looks classy.  The band was well  balanced and elegant. The wrapper was clean, satin and chocolate in color, very smooth with a slight tooth with no visible imperfections

One classy band, even through the cellophane

Taste & Smoking Characteristics

First third: Consistent with Don Pepin cigars, this stick starts off zesty, with spice just dominating the palate and  rich creaminess, wood and leather in the background.  If your anything like me, you love to see great amounts of smoke and this stick proved to be very visually pleasing. As I progressed the burn was razor sharp and the bright white ash proof of excellent tobacco.  Close to end of the first third the spice starts slowly  to diminish leading into the second third.

Second Third: There was a slow transition from a zesty spice to a rich creamy flavor which I must admit I found delicious and entertaining. As I  proceeded the flavor would ever so slightly change between creaminess, wood, leather and a subtle tease of spice in the finish.

Final Third: The last third was a continuation of the second except that this time the flavor profiles were present for a longer amount of time as to give me there last hurrah or final appearance.   In the following order I bid farewell to the rich and creamy, the smooth leather and the shy zesty spice that was lingering ever so slightly in the background. Following this great show the cigar lost its energy and while never getting harsh, it did get woody and dry and due to respect I layed her down and watched another good stick turn to dust in the wind.

 Conclusion:

Overall, this stick was just shy of being full flavor and full strength. There was plenty of  complexity for those willing to pay attention and while the changes were subtle I believe they were enough to satisfy even a picky snob such as myself especially at the price point of  $10-12.  I absolutely recommend.

Final Grade: A-

Cheers,

Kelvin Batista

Mr.KelvinBatsita@gmail.com