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After getting done a little early with work I came back to the hotel and decided to have a Don Pepin Blue. I fell in love with this cigar the first time I smoked it and try to always have a couple in one of my humidors. These are a spicy full-bodied cigar that can knock you on your ass if your not ready for it. This cigar is not for the new smoker.
Don Pepin is one of the most recognizable names in the cigar industry right now. Being responsible for many top line cigars as Tatuaje, Padilla Miami 8&11 not to mention the Don Pepin JJ, Black and more. With that name comes big responsibility to delivering cigars that are worthy of the Pepin name.
Here is a little of what wikipedia says about it.
These are full-bodied cigars and are not recommended for a beginning smoker. The wrapper is an oily Nicaraguan Corojo leaf, described as cinnamon in color. The cigars come packed 25 to a cedar box, uncelloed. The band is blue with gold lettering. The center has “Don Pepin Garcia” in gold on a blue field inside a round red and gold border, with Don Pepín’s signature (reduced) below the name. Each wing has the U. S. and Cuban flags within roundels, overlapping.
My most fond memory with this cigar was after a steak dinner. Sitting outside on the deck watching the deer and sipping on some lager with no noise.
Country: Nicaragua
Length/Ring: 5 x 50
Shape: Robusto
Wrapper: Corojo Oscuro
Binder: Criollo
Filler: Criollo and Corojo
Strength: Full
Price: $148.95 (Buy Now)
Pre-light: One thing that I really like about the band is the two flags it has on it. The Cuban flag and an American flag. Why it is like this I do not know but it made me think of how lucky we really are to live in such a rich country and being able to vote (even though half the country doesn’t think that voting is a good reason to get out of bed). The dark leather looking wrapper has a oily sheen to it and has some medium sized veins running throughout. The triple cap looks good with the top being a little small. On the cigar I’m smoking now I feel one small soft spot and the cigar is a little bumpy. The wrapper itself has a smooth feel to it but the bumps are there. This cigar seems very solid with not much give to it. With a good cut the cold draw is very giving with a spicy dry hay.
The burn: This last cigar had a very giving draw but the others I have had I remember it being a little more firm. I personally like a little firmness to the draw. The burn line was never perfect on this one either, in fact it needed a couple small touch-ups. I also remember this being almost perfect from the others I had. I have been reading on cigar sites that the quality might have taken a hit the past couple months and others have noticed burn issues also. I sure hope this is not the case (have you noticed a quality difference the past couple months?) I can’t blame bad humidor life for this one, I have had it in my humidor for a couple months now staying at around 68%. You get a good amount of pleasant smoke with the white ash dropping on demand. Now that you think this cigar burns like shit let me say this, being that the other cigars have burned fine with a great draw I can’t hold it against this one cigar. When I do reviews I comment on the cigar I’m smoking and note any differences from others I have had if any. I may change this in the future.
The taste: This cigar bursts with power from the first puff and has a long finish that you can feel in the back of your throat. The initial flavor I got was of freshly ground pepper mellowing to more of a sweet spice soon after. By the first third mark it turns to the medium side with flavors of oak (maybe) and some bitter sweetness. It goes back and forth from a bitter sweetness and spice/pepper for the remainder of the smoke.
Over all: This is the kind of cigar that makes this hobby so fun. A spice/pepper bomb that can kick your ass if you are not ready. Make sure to have a good dinner and have some water at the least with you while smoking. I would not recommend this cigar for a new smoker or if you don’t like spice. If you like all the above you should love the Don Pepin Blue. At around $6.50 each I feel the robusto size is the size to smoke. I think anything bigger would have been to much for me.
What others say about the Don Pepin Blue Label:
on Apr 5th, 2008 at 7:35 am
[...] over at Cigar Beat Blog enjoyed it, but does warn that will take you off guard if you aren’t [...]