Cigar Review: Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ

Cigar Nutrition
Wrapper: Corojo
Binder: Criollo
Filler: Nicaraguan
Made In: Miami, FL
Size: Selecto 5×50
Price: MSRP$191.40 for a box. $7-$8 per single. Can be had for about $130 per box online.

Cigar Backround: This blend from Pepin is made in his El Rey de Los Habanos Factory (The King of Havana) in Miami and is a blend that was made by both Pepin and is son Jamie. Pepin’s real name is Jose Garcia and they got the “JJ” from the first letters of their names, Jose and Jamie.

Initial thoughts/ Pre-light: This cigar is well made with no noticeable defects which is to be expected in a cigar that is made in Miami. This wrapper does not have a lot of viens and should smoke just fine. The cigar cut great and on the cold draw I didn’t get much. The draw seems good so with that said, let’s fire up this cigar.

Flavors: As I took the first puff of this cigar I was completely surprised that I did not get the traditional heat that most Pepin cigars have. In fact I’ve burned through roughly a dozen of these guys and got the “Pepin Blast” with all of them. This one however is the first of a box that I purchased about 2 months ago so things may have changed. The cigar has a cedar core with a background of Cocoa, coffee, and slight leather. The cigar is not sweet, but it’s not dry on the palate either. It has a nice smooth balance of flavors that are not very rich but very enjoyable. This cigar is on the low end of the medium body spectrum but I would definitely say it is not mild.

I have not smoked a lot of Cubans in my time but of the ones I have had, this is definitely similar in profile and has that smooth crisp profile of a good Cuban cigar. One non-cuban cigar that this does remind me of is the El Titan de Bronze Redemtion that I had about 2 weeks ago.
Smoking Characteristics: The draw of this cigar is pretty free and because of that it started to get a little harsh towards the last inch of the cigar. The burn is off and is pretty waivy even though I had to touch it up here and there. The ash is a very light gray color and is very attractive however it did get a bit flaky at times and got a little messy.

Final Thoughts: I can’t think of a cigar Pepin makes that I don’t like. This is a great cigar and definitely has a place in my rotation when I am looking for a something smooth and light. It is definitely not a bold cigar by any means but it is very flavorful. The burn of the cigar was slightly disappointing to me considering it is made in Miami, but as you guys know I am not very big on the way a cigar burns.

Worth a Try: Yes but don’t expect bold rich flavors.
Buy it again: Got me box!
Nubaliity: With a few purges at the end, this cigar does have good flavor past the band so I am going to say it ranks high in the department.

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