The Light Up:
Don Pepin Garcia released the My Father Le Bijou 1922 cigars at the IPCPR show in New Orleans. The original My Father line was created by Jaime Garcia as a tribute to his father, likewise the Le Bijou which means “the jewel” in French was created by Don Pepin to honor his father who was born in 1922. The Habano Oscuro wrapper was thick and had a beautiful shimmer to it. Using all Nicaraguan tobacco and bearing a new secondary band, this cigar looked more appealing than the original My Father line. Now to the good stuff. Sitting on my back porch, I had in my hand another treat, the My Father Le Bijou 1922 by Don Pepin Garcia. This 6″ x 52 toro was dark and rich. The wrapper had a intriguing scent, like cream or vanilla. The construction was hearty with lots of tobacco packed tightly and wound into perfection by the skilled hands of tobacco artisans. At first puff, the blend was missing the customary Pepin spiciness. I expected there to be more strength like the original, but it lacked in that department a little as well.

The Mid-Stick:
Passing the quarter marker, the cigar began to lose some flavor. The spiciness still remained and was almost unpleasant. The spiciness caught you right in the back of your throat. Some coffee and mocha undertones were present but overpowered. Some hints of sweetness were present and the ash and burn were consistent. I was sitting there contemplating the differences and realized there was no comparison. The original had outdone the current version.

The Finish:
Although the construction was flawless and appearance was gorgeous, I was a little disappointed. I had expected the follow up to blow the original My Father line out of the water. Maybe I got a lemon, who knows. I’ll have to revisit this cigar after aging a few and see what changes occur. The price point didn’t help either. At nearly $12.00 a stick these puppies failed to impress, hey you don’t until you’ve tried them all, right?. We’ll see how it compares the next go around, an 89 in my opinion.

Happy Smoking!
Jorgie

The Light Up:
I attended the My Father event here in Orlando briefly and was able to snag a few of these beauty’s. I had the honor of seeing Ms. Janny Garcia and what a beauty she was! The cigars were beautiful as well. I purchased two of the No.1′s and a No.2 which qualified me to received a free Cuban Classic cigar by Don Pepin. I’ll smoke and review all of these soon. The My Father line was created by Jaime Garcia to honor his father José Pepin Garcia. He secretly worked on the line until someone in the factory leaked the little secret and Pepin found out and obviously approved! The Nicaraguan filler and binder were grown at the Garcia farms in Nicaragua, while the wrapper was acquired from Oliva. I lit the No.1 up which happened to be a robusto, and right away the cigar was slightly peppery. Although a little spice is a Pepin signature, it wasn’t overpowering. Instead I received an earthiness similar to sweet feed or hay. The cigar had lots of smoke and great body with hints of cocoa and coffee lingering around my palate. I’d lean more to the fuller side of the spectrum rather than medium bodied. With smoke in the air and a fully belly from Carlos’N Charlie’s, I proceeded.

The Mid-Stick:
Heading towards the middle of the cigar, it’s heartiness emerged. The spice had returned and the new taste of caramel touched my tongue and gave it a jolt of satisfaction. This was another addition to the Garcia family masterpieces. The cigar burned exceptionally well, despite the windy conditions. I never once had to relight or retouch the cigar, signifying a perfect construction, a characteristic of the Garcia’s quality and knowledge of cigar making. Heading towards the home stretch, I wondered what else this secret would unveil.

The Finish:
Nearing the band, I realized there were no more secrets. She has left it all on the table and the evidence was plentiful. Grey ash laid scattered in the ashtray. The end was near, could this be that there were no more surprises left? I didn’t care, I ventured on past the band and enjoyed every inch. I understand why Cigar Aficionado announced this as their No.3 cigar of the 2009. It lays out everything in front of you and all that’s left for you to do is sit back and enjoy, no need for secrets! Would I smoke it again? Definitely! Verdict: Find one and enjoy! Decently priced at $10.00 and 5.2″ x 52. A strong 92!

Happy Smoking!
Jorgie