15 years ago, Don Pepin Garcia opened his cigar factory in Little Havana, a section of Miami that is home to a large Cuban population. From his small storefront he would begin the steps at building an empire for him and his family. To celebrate, the company that is now based in Doral, another section of Miami with a factory in Nicaragua has released a cigar that is limited to just 2,000 boxes of 14.
Available as both a Toro and Robusto, today we never the later.
Cigar Review: Don Pepin Garcia 15th Anniversary Limited Edition
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Rosado Oscuro (Aged 3 Years)
Binder: Nicaragua (Aged 3 Years)
Filler: Nicaragua (Including Pelo de Oro) (Aged 3 Years)
Length: 5.5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Size: Robusto
The Look: Packaged in an exquisite looking cabinet style box featuring a latch closure, the appearance before opening the box lives up to the hype. Inside the box, is 2 rows of 7 coffins each containing a cigar with an ornate, yet busy looking band featuring gold foil, blue and red with a gold foil on taupe foot ribbon. As far as the cigar, despite being the wrapper being called Oscuro it has a medium brown hue to it with some noticeable veins and oils to it while feeling coarse under the fingers. It’s rolled to perfection with no soft spots and a well packed foot.
The Notes: Once we clip the cap the cold draw serves up notes of mocha and cedar with a tanginess that I equate to the presence of Pelo de Oro, my personal favorite tobacco. The aroma off the foot of the cigar has a subtle cocoa to it, with a presence of cedar as well. Once the cigar is toasted, the initial that classic Pepin spice that quickly subsides.
Moving into the first third of the cigar, the complexity shows itself rather quickly with and influx of nuts, coffee, chocolate and leather. The primary note about a quarter-inch into the cigar becomes roasted coffee beans with pepper on and cedar on the retrohale. The dark ash of the cigar holds solid for as we move into the second third.
As the cigar approached the halfway point some dark chocolate notes begin to develop, but coffee notes remain the focal point. The retrohale sees the addition of nuts, specifically pecans with black pepper as the finish of the cigar grows in intensity.
The las third sees the spice grow as notes of black and red pepper dominant. There is also a subtle peach like sweetness in the background over a base note of continued coffee.
The Finish: At $20.00 a cigar this isn’t a cheap date, but if Nicaraguan cigars are your thing as they are mine then this is a cigar that lives up to the price tag. It’s rich and flavorful with a lot going on and the strength creeps up on you as it progresses to the nub. The 14 count box is a gorgeous presentation and is a worthy addition to any humidor. While one cannot predict the future of aging, this is a cigar that should age exceptionally well.
Score: 94
Price: $19.99 / $251.99
Don Pepin Garcia 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Robusto
Don Pepin Garcia 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Robusto Foot
Don Pepin Garcia 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Robusto Burn
