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Stogie Reviews: 5 Vegas Miami Torpedo

10 Feb 2009

Dubbed 5 Vegas’ “most elusive” creation, the Miami line is handmade by Don Pepin Garcia’s El Rey de los Habanos company. Five of the sizes, including this Torpedo, are made in Pepin’s Tabacalera Cubana S.A. factory in Estelí, while the sixth shape—a thick Toro with a shaggy foot—is made at the company’s factory in Little Miami. But like my colleague pointed out in his review of the Churchill vitola, 5 Vegas oddly makes no mention of Pepin on their website.

5 Vegas Miami TorpedoThis is curious, obviously, because you’d think 5 Vegas would want to highlight any connection to Pepin given the famed cigar maker’s superstar status in the industry. As it turns out, the Garcia most involved with the production of the Miami is actually Don Pepin’s daughter, Janny.

At any rate, the Miami blend’s six vitolas feature Cuban-seed fillers, Nicaraguan binders, and Nicaraguan corojo wrappers. The flavor is touted as “Cuban-esque” in various marketing materials.

With the arrival of prelight hints of dark chocolate and earth out of the cellophane, the Torpedo (6.1 x 52) has the look, smell, and feel of a real winner. The toothy wrapper’s scant veins and virtually invisible seams showcase craftsmanship and care.

In what has almost become cliché to write, read, and smoke, the taste begins with Pepin’s trademark burst of black pepper spice. Not much nuance; just heavy-handed, simple, and predictable.

The flavor undergoes a welcome transition into notes of coffee, onion, and leather after the first inch. While more balanced and less aggressive than the beginning, this new combination isn’t exactly complex or unique. It is, however, significantly more agreeable than the overly bitter taste that dominates the final third of this $6-8 cigar.

Construction across the two Torpedos I smoked for this review wasn’t a problem. The draw is easy, the cut clean, and the burn never requires any touch-ups. I just wish the ash were a little less flakey.

With or without Pepin’s name, this 90-minute smoke is decent but not memorable. Some distinct flavor characteristics or added complexity would have gone a long way towards improving the 5 Vegas Miami Torpedo’s rating of three stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

8 Responses to “Stogie Reviews: 5 Vegas Miami Torpedo”

  1. Padronnie Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 7:19 am #

    Anyone tried the Miami that is actually made in Miami? Besides the shaggy foot, does it actually taste different/better?

  2. CWS Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 7:23 am #

    Interesting – The Stogie Review ripped apart the 5 Miami Knuckle. I've steered clear of the Miami but I love the 5 Vegas Serie A.

  3. Patrick A Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 8:06 am #

    If you ask me, when it comes to 5 Vegas, Series A is where it's at. The Miami is more expensive and definitely not as good.

  4. John Werner Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 6:22 pm #

    Actually…This may be my least favorite 5 Vegas, burning wood comes to mind???

  5. booker Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 5:20 pm #

    Thanks for this knowledgeable review. I've considered looking around for some of these, but now I might stick to the Series A (which I thoroughly enjoy) and the Classic, which I think is a great smoke while out on the golf course, or to enjoy with others in a casual cigar smoking session. I am by no means an expert, perhaps an advanced beginner? So $4-8.50 range cigars that give me plenty to ponder, explore, and think about, but are still easy to smoke and enjoy without thinking about, are right up my alley.

Trackbacks and Pingbacks

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