A cigar I have smoked a hundred times, but shockingly never reviewed until today as Jeremy Soares stopped by The Cigar Authority for a quick visit. La Duena is blended by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame.
According to the My Father webpage, “For many years Janny Garcia has worked side by side with her father Don Pepin Garcia and her brother Jaime Garcia in building the family company. : After honoring Don Pepin with the My Father Cigar and Jaime with the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial, the time has come for La Duena (meaning female owner) to receive her own tribute. This cigar, blended by Jaime Garcia and Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars, is the perfect representation of Janny.”
The cigar was originally released in 2012 and at times seems to get lost in the My Father portfolio, but the question is, is this deserved?
Cigar: La Duena
Size: 5 x 50 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf & Nicaragua (Dual)
Filler: Connecticut Broadleaf, Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Source: My Father Cigars S.A.
The Look: One issue I have always had with La Duena is the ban, its plain and dull which Janny is anything but. The cameo like band would have been better off with some sculpturing to it to give it depth, instead its flat. But enough of what you can’t smoke. The cigar has a flawless looking dark chocolate in color broadleaf wrapper which is rolled to perfection. In the hand the cigar is firm with a slightly spongy foot.
The Notes: The cold draw of the cigar takes me back to Nicaragua and the aroma of the curing barns. Is the cigar a little young, I don’t think so but the earth notes remind me of the smell of the farms in Esteli. There is also some raisin and mocha present as well. Meanwhile the aroma off the foot of the cigar is a little sweet and has some raisin notes as well.
Once the cigar is toasted the initial notes are a muted My Father/Pepin spice that doesn’t overpower and allows for the quick development of coffee, leather and a very faint dark chocolate note. On the retrohale there is some black pepper that fades as the cigar progresses.
In the second third of the cigar some of the complexity that was evident in the first third isn’t available on this portion of the cigar. The notes of earth and leather become dominant and stomp out the other flavors. The retrohale continues to offer a subdued pepper that also become noticeable on the palate around the half way point.
In the final third of the La Duena some brown sugar is introduced the flavor profile. Earth and leather both remain but are toned down considerably from the second third of the cigar. The pepper on the palate is gone but remains through the nostrils. Despite the darker flavor profile, the cigar remains medium in strength, as well as body.
The Burn: The La Duena from My Father has a draw that serves up a bit of resistance but not to the point where it is annoying or effects the cigar. If you read this blog on a regular basis you know I like a cigar that is constructed that way. The combustion line is razor-thin and the light color ash holds on for the first half of the smoke before dropping. The cigar remained lit throughout and needed no touchups.
Overall: I’ve heard stories where the cigar was blended to be a bit milder than typical My Father cigars so Janny could enjoy them on a regular basis, but the La Duena has a similar strength to the Series JJ Maduro or Centurion. Sadly the cigar is often overlooked but it has a flavor profile and a price point that sit well and deserves a spot in the humidor or to be put on your regular rotation.
Score: 90
Price: $7.69
