The Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic hasn’t been in production for sometime, and when it was they were available as part of a lancero sampler from My Father Cigars, and also in 50 count boxes via New England sales representatives, The Cigar Agency. Site sponsor 2GuysCigars.com has them available as part of a sampler pack. In fact, these cigars might be the last 100 available.
When I first reviewed the cigar as part of my old website back in 2009, I called it the best lancero on the market. These cigars have been aging since then, so let’s take a look at how they stand up over the test of time.
Cigar: Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic
Size: Lancero (6.75 x 42)
Wrapper: Habano Rosado
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium Plus
The Look: An oily looking wrapper that is rolled to perfection with a pigtail cap. The Cuban Classic is sometimes referred to as the Don Pepin Garcia Black Label and has a nice roll that is virtually seamless. The dual bands are black with gold and red accents. In the hand there are no soft spots and an average weight for the size.
The Notes: The foot of the cigar has a sweetness to it and a touch of paprika. The cold draw of the cigar is incredibly sweet with notes of milk chocolate and earth. You can definitely tell this cigar has aged considerable from when it was first released which is also evident by the yellow cello that held the cigar.
Once the cigar is lit there are notes of cedar and chocolate with a minimal amount of spice that is only evident through the nose. As we continue through the first third the notes continue down the same road with the addition a subtle coffee note thrown into the mix.
The second third of the cigar notes of nuts and coffee take charge of the Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic Lancero with some continued spice through the nose.
In the last third of this exceptional lancero there is a note that reminds me of the crust on a peach cobbler with a nutty finish.
The Burn: Lancero, say that size and you worry about going through an entire canister of butane. My experience has been that lancero smokes just don’t stay lit if you don’t work on them. Not the case here, as I only needed one relight after a phone call. The marble ash held for close to a third at a time and the draw was exceptional all the way through.
The Finish: A cigar that is rare and hard to find, this is a cigar that is deserving of humidor space if you are a collector. Long gone, but available via a sampler pack at 2GuysCigars.com the smoke delivers a truly exceptional lancero experience and provides a good look on how well a cigar can age.
Score: 91
Price: $9.99
Edit: These are from the original release in 2008-2009. While the cigar is still made the current version is different in size.
Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Lancero Foot
Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Lancero Burn
