Stogie Reviews: Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic Robusto
29 Aug 2007
Yesterday you got an idea of how many people it takes to make a single cigar. And if you were paying careful attention, you would have seen the care and skill that goes into making each Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic cigar.
Commonly called the Don Pepin Garcia “Black†Label to differentiate it from the Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label, this puro is made in Don Pepin’s factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. With classic five inch by 50 ring gauge robusto proportions, this cigar can be had for around $6 per stick.
The Cuban Classic’s looks were similar to the Blue Label, though just a bit darker with fewer veins. The Corojo wrapper is a lovely caramel color.
Power-packed with plenty of slightly salty ligero tobacco, this cigar starts out very spicy but soon it becomes creamier. The robusto is not as complex or balanced as the Blue Label, but it still has a pleasing, full-bodied flavor profile. As the cigar progresses, the spice fades all together, but the buzz-inducing warm tobacco taste remains. Additionally, the finish is noticeably dry and a touch bitter.
Construction was excellent with an even burn and perfect draw. The cigar was a little soft to the touch, but that didn’t seem to result in any ill effects. (Like most cigars utilizing a heavy blend of ligero tobacco, this cigar might benefit from being kept at a slightly lower humidity that usual.)
Overall, this is a quality smoke – as you would expect from Pepin – but I don’t think it is as good as many of his other lines. Still, there is a lot to like in the Cuban Classic Robusto if you enjoy full-flavored cigars.
Additionally, I think there is some serious aging potential with this stick, and I should note that the samples that made up this review were only aged for a few months. Perhaps an additional six months or a year of humidor time and this cigar would score even better.
In the end, for its full flavor and excellent construction, the Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic Robusto earns a rating of three and 1/2 out of five stogies.
[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]
Tags: cigars
Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
Patrick Semmens
Co-Founder & Publisher
George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
I have not had a chance to try the Black yet and my local shop doesn't carry them. I need to break down and just buy a 5-pack from somewhere.
Yup, you do. I happen to think they’re damn good.
I tried my first black today, perla size … it was one of the best cigars I've ever smoked.
Question… Are you sure their is Ligero in this blend? I hear a lot of times Pepin subs some special volado instead of Ligero… I remember reading some of the Tatuajes have no ligero.
The wrapper on this cigar is not Corojo.
I find that the 1950 6X52 Toro is the best in the line. I am having a 5X50 Robusto at this time and I enjoy the Toro much more. I really enjoy the barnyard flavor of these babies. Rich tobacco and lots of delicious smoke.The Black Label is by far my fav right now.
I tried my first Pepin Black last night, the robusto has been resting in my humidor for only about 2 months, and i was really looking forward to it considering all the great things i've heard. Including my boss who texted me to tell me how much he was enjoying it at the time he was smoking it, and how he wished it never ended.
I must have gotten a bad stick. And to make sure i wasn't nuts had my brother try some at various points in my smoke.
The only flavor i got from this cigar was pepper, and not even a very good pepper. There was nothing else, just a medium bodied stick of pepper. When i got into the final third it also picked up some sort of chemically taste.
I thought i was in for an hour+ of great (but not too complex) enjoyment, and instead I got about 40 mins of uninteresting not very tasty pepper, that never developed into anything else.
I am determined to give this cigar a second shot, and I guess we'll see what happens. I'm hoping i just got a bad cigar. It happens i suppose.
Having one of these right now…..Excellent
It's a beautiful cigar! I'm enjoying one now! It's been aged a couple months!