State of the Brand: My Father Cigars

For the meantime, I guess we can make this a weekly segment? While Raíces Cubanas is arguably (at least for me), the hottest factory of 2010; no one was more influential in the past decade than José García (Don Pepín.) Still, for the most part, kept news from the company is limited, a sharp contrast to Pepín’s famed partner, Pete Johnson.

Don Pepin Garcia (Blue Label)
A new extension… Technically known as “Don Pepin Garcia”, the Blue Label gets a 6 x 56 Toro Gordo in boxes of 18 with a MSRP of $126 or $7 a stick. The Nicaraguan Corojo Oscuro wrapped cigars are on shelves now.

Jaime Garcia
For those that are unaware, Jaime García, Pepín’s son introduced a line bearing his name last year. Now, the first extension: a Super Gordo (5 3/4 x 66) should be out in a few weeks. In addition, at the show (July), the world should be graced with the first Jaime Garcia Limited Edition… think Broadleaf.

La Reloba
As we previously reported, the more affordable My Father line was getting the addition of a San Andreas wrapper joining the Habano and Sumatra that was released when announced last summer. No new sizes, so expect the Robusto, Toro and Torpedo with a Mexican San Andreas wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler. MSRP is $5-$7 before local taxes.

My Father Limited Edition 2011
The big news… Last year at the show My Father Cigars showed off the My Father Limited Edition 2010, now comes the newest edition. Much is the same, but there are some noticeable differences, big changes. The Details…

• Name: My Father Limited Edition 2011 
• Vitola: Toro 
• Size: 6 1/2 x 52 
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan 
• Binder: Nicaraguan 
• Filler: Nicaraguan 
• Country: Nicaragua
• MSRP: $20 (Boxes of 12) 
• Expected Release Date: Late April
• Production Number: 60.000 CIgars

The first question anyone has… are these rolled by Pepín, bunched by Jaime like the My Father Limited Edition 2010? No, these are NOT rolled by Pepín/bunched by Jaime. John Gonzales, now officially in charge of international sales for My Father Cigars, told me that they have selected the “creme of the crop” when it comes to who will roll the cigar. I couldn’t pry any information regarding the blend, other than it is all Nicaraguan, including Pelo de Oro. Unlike the 2010, these cigars will not be packaged in coffins, although they will be sold in boxes of twelve, like the original. Production increases (5,000 boxes instead of the original 2,000) mean that Pepín is simply unable to roll that many cigars and keep up with all his other duties. These won’t be out until (late) April, I’m not sure if that’s going to be the normal time the My Father Limited Edition is released each year, but it is said to be an annual item.

My Father Bats & Cuban Pipes
Perhaps the most interesting announcement from the My Father Cigars booth at the 2010 IPCPR show, that and the orange uniforms. The Bats and Cuban Pipes, signature custom cigars that Pepín is famous for rolling, have been released to retailers that want them and are apparently available year-round. In the meantime, here are some pictures… Cheapest I’ve seen is $20ish a piece.

There it is… I thank John Gonzales for taking a few minutes out of his day to go over the new releases. That seems like it will cover all of the Pepín release before the IPCPR show (July), but things happen. Unlike in 2010 when Pepín showed off essentially no new product outside of the Limited Edition; 2011 seems like there will at least be some new things in Vegas. — el niño diablo.

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.