El Rey de los Habanos

Torpedo 6 1/8 x 52   Wrapper: Corojo Rosado Claro Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua $8.00

Here is a Pepin that I haven't tried yet and thought it would make a good Thanksgiving cigar.  It turned out that Pepin has yet to disappoint...  This is a great cigar!  Enjoyed this smoke yesterday afternoon on the patio with a fire blazing and it turned out to be a great November day in Kansas City.  

This is a medium smoke that produces tons of creamy smoke and has a rich taste that went well after a big turkey dinner.  The wrapper was very delicate had a sweet taste to it.  This is a Nicaraguan puro since it is made entirely of tobacco from Nicaragua.  

The El Rey de los Habanos is the first brand of premium cigars to be created by José "Pepin" Garcia after his arrival in the United States and is manufactured at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in Little Havana, Miami, Florida. It was released to national distribution in 2005.

Cabaiguan Guapo

 5 5/8x 54 $9.00

Wrapper: Connecticut Seed Shade Grown Ecuadorian Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua

The Guapo is the only “Sun Grown” size offered.  This is a great looking cigar.  It is a lightly veined Ecuadorian wrapper that is velvety smooth.  This looks like it will be a mild cigar because of the light color--that is not the case.  This is a medium to full bodied smoke.  Loads of creamy smoke with sweet notes and hints of pepper.  This is a complex smoke that reminds me of a true Cuban cigar. Cigars are rolled in classic Cuban tradition by Master Rollers in Little Havana Miami headed by Jose Garcia.

My Father by Don Pepin Garcia

No. 2 5.2 x 54 Nicaragua $11.00

This is a great cigar and a welcomed addition to the Pepin line. This is velvety smooth cigar that is full bodied. This cigar was a treat and I would have to compare that its difference from the Cuban Black Label is similar to a Fuente and Opus X. This is a top quality cigar that burned even and ended up being a finger burner! If you enjoy Pepin as much as I do...you need to try this cigar!

This is what Cigar International said about My Father...

The crème de la crème of Pepin.

"Jose ‘Don Pepin’ Garcia and his son Jaime are currently crafting some of the world’s finest and most heavily sought cigars. Within just a few short years, this father-son duo has created a long list of tasty and top-rated morsels for us to savor, including Cuban Classic, Serie JJ, Tatuaje, 5 Vegas Miami, and so much more. Behold, My Father....an ultra-premium that just might be their finest creation to date.

My Father is enchanting from head to toe. The traditional Cuban packaging and vitolas represents the roots of Pepin’s family, while the blend combines the very best of Nicaragua with a Havana twist. Each leaf in this blend has been hand-selected for optimum aesthetics and flavor. First, you’ll notice the pristine wrapper. A Habano-Rosado leaf grown in the misty valleys of Ecuador – a departure for Pepin-made cigars. Beautiful and dark in color with an oily sheen and pre-light aroma that’ll make you froth at the mouth, this wrapper conceals a bold, full-bodied mixture of aged Nicaraguan long-fillers grown from Cuban-seed in Esteli. The smoke is robust, yet elegant, offering heavy notes of pepper on the palate and through the nose complemented by a touch of nuts and dark espresso. My Father is a complex, medium to full-bodied smoke that’s surprisingly smooth, creamy at times, and ultimately satisfying."

Rocky Patel x-outs

Here is something that is a steal of a deal.  Cigar International has Rocky Patel x-outs of their big brands for nickels on the dollar.  These are RP cigars that just didn't cut the mustard with the final inspection.  They may have a sunspot or slight discoloration...remember that everything in nature doesn't come out perfect.  In a recent Cigar Aficionado article with Rocky Patel, I learned that around 40% of the cigars produced for him do not make the grade.  He only wants the best looking product to bear his name.  The good news is that RP makes awesome cigars...and his commitment  to quality means that even his x-outs are amazing.  This "Liga C" is an Old Worlde Reserve kick.  Compare $50 for 15 with no band to $12 a stick...  That's an economic stimulus package I can live with!