(Robusto Size - #7 Cigar of 2017) Made by the Garcia family in Nicaragua, My Father's The Judge Grand Robusto can be an imposing cigar, just by way of its girth. This is certainly a powerful smoke, but it isn't just strong for the sake of being strong. There's a purpose to its strength, and plenty of interesting flavor to justify the high-octane tobacco inside.

It starts with an Ecuadoran Sumatra-seed wrapper, two Nicaraguan binders (Corojo and Criollo) and filler from three of the Garcia family farms. My Father The Judge was intended to be a more full-bodied offshoot of the first My Father, and that's saying a lot—the original is no mild blend.My Father The Judge debuted in 2016 with two chunky sizes. The Grand Robusto is the shorter, fatter of the two—and a reflection of today's smokers who have a large appetite for thick, strong cigars.

If high volumes of heavy smoke are what you want, this cigar delivers, with satisfying notes of chocolate and gingersnap driven by an underlying red pepper spice and plenty of nutty character. It burns slow and cool, and while the blend doesn't show much restraint, The Judge has an unforgettable beauty to its brashness.

If you want a cigar that is strong and earthy, My Father's The Judge Corona Gorda is certainly something you should try. If you aren't into strong cigars or aren't excited about tasting something overly earthy, this seems like something to pass on as that's what you are going to find, and in spades. As is oftentimes the case with strong cigars, the burn wasn't the best. I'd be curious to smoke this cigar in a few months to see if new flavors emerge when the cigar isn't dominated by the earthiness but otherwise I feel pretty confident about what The Judge Corona Gorda is going to be.

My Father The Judge continues in the footsteps of the cigar that started the MF name back in 2008, using a similar blend but crafted in larger formats and amped up with a fuller body. The cigar kicks off with a somewhat firm draw and dry flavors bordering on harsh. Both attributes later improve, bringing notes of white pepper, clove, caramel, mineral, and nuts. The smoking texture is dry and sometimes bitter, providing an airy smoke that doesn't lend much complexity, unfortunately. The profile ranges from the light side of medium to medium-plus, eventually landing dead in the middle. This was a bit of a disappointment, as the body was billed as one of the cigar's selling points. Ultimately, there are highs and lows, but the smoke never really hits its stride.