Don Pepin Garcia 1979 Black

I first encountered the Don Pepin Garcia's Black line while visiting a friend in Boston.  Our timing was fortunate because he had just received a "groupon" for half of $50 of sticks at Cigar Masters, a tobacconist in the vicinity of the Prudential Center, and on a recommendation from a friend picked up a pair of these beautiful cigars.  My first experience was so nice I had to have a box of them, and coughed up $124 for a box of 20 as a treat to myself.

After removing this robusto cigar from its cellophane blanket, I found it well constructed, with no noticeable soft spots or deformities.  The corojo wrapper was well rolled and there were no large veins.  There are two bands on this cigar, a larger one which bears the Don Pepin name and a smaller one which reads "Cuban Classic."  The large band was interesting in that it had four small circles surrounding the main logo in which there were on the left an American flag and a picture of the statue of liberty, and on the right a Cuban flag and what I can only assume is a family crest.  These labels give the cigar a nice appearance, but does the quality of the band reflect the quality of the cigar?

In a word: yes.  The pre-light aromas smell of fine tobacco, cedar and a sort of exotic bouquet which is difficult to describe.  Upon lighting the cigar, it was rather remarkable that there was no bitterness which sometimes accompanies the process of lighting, but rather a smooth cool smoke which was quite pleasant.  The thick white smoke had a creamy mouth-feel but was not overly heavy.  The first third of the cigar had a subtle spiciness which was accompanied by hints of what I can only describe as honeysuckle: a rather unexpected but not unwelcome flavor. This taste faded and was replaced by notes of espresso and an increase in peppery spice notes which blossomed beautifully as the cigar entered the second third. At this point there were also woody notes of cedar, and which I found balanced the spiciness nicely.  This combination of flavors finished out the stick, which I could scarcely put down and smoked to a nub, although it is to be noted that the stick did develop some sharpness of flavor as it approached the tips of my finger.  The finish is a long one, which some may view as a negative, although I did not find it to be unpleasant.

Having smoked almost three quarters of the box I have found that these sticks are consistent in terms of flavor, but less so with regard to an even burn.  This particular cigar was one of the ones which required some tending to burn evenly, although some require little to no effort at all.  The draw on these tends to be somewhat firm, and very occasionally I have had a heavy one, and as such I recommend a wedge cut to ensure proper airflow.  The ash on this cigar is a nice white color and the head tends to fall off after about two inches or so, but this particular head lasted a bit longer than that as can be seen in the accompanying pictures.

As for what to pair with this cigar, I would recommend a robust coffee.  Such a pairing can help to balance the woody and spicy notes and can bring out different aspects of the cigar depending on how you take your coffee.  Another option I have tried with this cigar is a glass of dark rum on the rocks.  The molasses in the rum tends to accentuate the cedar notes well, and what better to accompany your tobacco than a drink that originates in the same area of the world.


Overall, this cigar is one which I would recommend to those who are looking to expand their tastes into heavier cigars, as it is full of rich, complex flavors without knocking you out.  While it is a fine blend, I would be hesitant to hand one to a friend who had never smoked before, as typically new smokers like lighter tobacco and these robust gems are anything but. Needless to say, this full flavored medium to full bodied cigar is one which will have a place in my private stash for years to come.