Cigar Reveal #112

If you're of a certain age, you'll remember when Goodfellas came out in theaters (also, it's time probably to go get your prostate checked). It was from an already established star filmmaker, and this was his masterpiece. An instant classic still loved to this day. When My Father Le Bijou 1922 came out in 2009, Pepin Garcia was already a famous cigar maker. With El Centurion, the original My Father line and Tatuaje, Pepin was on a roll, but the Le Bijou was his masterpiece. In 2015 it was named the #1 Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado. And 6+ years later, it's still a beautiful blend, perfectly crafted box-pressed torpedo and as CA said, "an ideal combination of power and finess." As the original My Father line was created by Pepin's son Jaime for his father, the 1922 is the year Pepin's father was born (Le Bijou is French for 'The Jewel'. No wonder it was this cigar that would be his masterpiece.

It takes a profound understanding of cigar tobaccos to create a smoke that conveys uncanny impressions of dark chocolate-covered raisins, savory leather and a sweet-and-salty finish that resonates on the palate.This cigar has an ideal combination of power and finesse to make it No. 1. It's the second Cigar of the Year for the Garcias.

I’ve read reviews that make note of pepper, but I don’t really get much of it. To me, there was more light spice than pepper. And the flavors I found tended to be darker and richer, with a sweetness in the second half and some floral notes throughout. I thought the strength was in the upper-medium level, with a lot of thick, rich smoke. Overall, this is an enjoyable cigar. The length allows it to develop and display complexity along the way.