Don Pepín García 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Humidor Corojo

Many, many years ago, my cigar journey began in a way that is probably very similar to what some of you reading this review may have experienced: I purchased various cigars from companies I had never heard of—some recommended by a retailer, some that I purchased from catalogs, some that I just liked the bands or packaging—and started smoking. It has been a long time since then, but I do still remember a few of the cigars that stood out to me, even back when I had no idea what I was doing or what I liked.

One of those cigars that I enjoyed quite a bit was the original Don Pepín García Blue Label—now known as the Don Pepín García Original line—a cigar I picked up after a retailer told me it hit a number of different points I was looking for: it was flavorful but not too strong, it was not prohibitively expensive, and it was made by a company that was known for producing cigars with great construction. At the time, I knew virtually nothing of José “Pepín” García or his history in cigars—that would change around 2008 or so, when I met him for the first time—but because of how much I enjoyed those Blue Label cigars compared to most of the other cigars I was smoking at the time, the Blue Label blend has always held a special place in my mind.

Last August, My Father started shipping the first of three cigars that were created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of My Father’s Don Pepín García brand, which debuted in 2003. Carrying the name Don Pepín García 20th Anniversary Limited Edition, the 6 1/2 x 52 toro extra is made with a Nicaraguan habano 2000 wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos sourced from Nicaragua, including pelo de oro tobacco. Only 5,000 boxes of 20 cigars were released—3,900 boxes for the U.S. market and 1,100 boxes for international markets—and each cigar has an MSRP of $40.

In addition to the Don Pepín García 20th Anniversary Limited Edition, My Father commissioned Elie Bleu, the French humidor maker, to create 75 special humidors housing a duo of new blends that were also created to celebrate the anniversary. The humidors include 100 cigars, 50 each of the two different creations—once again in the 6 1/2 x 52 toro extra vitola—both of which have been described as variations of the original Don Pepín García Blue Label blend.

The Don Pepín García 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Humidor Connecticut is made with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper and Nicaraguan tobacco in the binder and filler, while the Don Pepín García 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Humidor Corojo incorporates a Nicaraguan corojo 99 wrapper over a binder and filler blend from Nicaragua. In addition, both versions include pelo de oro tobacco in the filler. Pelo de oro—Spanish for golden hair—is a type of tobacco that has been banned in Cuba due to its propensity to develop mold. The García family has grown the tobacco in limited quantities in Nicaragua, and pelo de oro has been used for various releases, regularly making appearances in the company’s limited edition releases.

• Cigar Reviewed: Don Pepín García 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Humidor Corojo
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
• Wrapper: Nicaragua (Corojo 99)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 6 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 54
• Shape: Round
• Est. Price: $130 (Humidor of 100, $13,000)*
• Release Date: 2024
• Number of Cigars Released: 75 Humidors of 50 Cigars (3,750 Total Cigars)*
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

*Each humidor comes with 50 Connecticut and 50 Corojo cigars.

Covered in dark brown wrappers that are relatively smooth to the touch, the Don Pepín García 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Humidor Corojo cigars are nicely spongy when squeezed. While there are some noticeable veins present on each of the cigars, none of them protrude outwards all that much, but I find small soft spots on two of the cigars just above the foot bands. The first odor I smell on the wrapper of all three cigars reminds me instantly of a firecracker before you light the fuse, a strong gunpowder scent that almost makes me sneeze. However, there are other scents emanating from the wrappers as well, including wet earth, barnyard, generic nuttiness and leather tack. Interestingly, that gunpowder scent is almost totally absent from aromas wafting from the foot of the first cigar, and the feet of all three cigars feature similar notes of sweet cedar, tobacco leaves, coffee beans, pita bread and nutmeg. After the caps are punched, cold draws include flavors of creamy almonds, generic meatiness, sawdust, dark chocolate and light fudge sweetness.

While the first few puffs I take of the cigars bring flavors of salted peanuts and black pepper, the profile quickly shifts as a combination of plain oatmeal and roasted peanuts becomes the main note. Secondary flavors of creamy cedar, cocoa nibs, leather tack, earth, salted pretzel bread and light cinnamon show up at various points, while a combination of maple and bready sweetness—not unlike a maple glazed donut—is present on the retrohale, along with some significant black pepper. The flavor ends the first third at medium-full, while the body and strength are both at a solid medium. Construction-wise, one cigar needs a quick burn correction early on, but other than that, there are no issues at all.

Just after the second third of the cigars begins, the main flavors shift in a significant way, as flavors of jalapeño and cedar take over the top spots. Interestingly, my third cigar has quite a bit more of the jalapeño flavor—its present on the finish as well—while the other two are a bit more subdued in that regard. Additional flavors include cinnamon, creamy leather, charred meat, plain rice, sawdust and roasted peanuts. The black pepper note continues to be aggressive on the retrohale at about the same level as it was in the first third, but the sweetness has shifted as well, this time to a distinct dark brown sugar note. Flavor in the first two cigars is at medium-full—the final cigar easily hits full—while both the body and strength increase to points just over medium and medium-plus, respectively. Once again, one cigar needs some attention from my lighter to stay on track—albeit a different one than the one that had issues in the first third—but the draws continue to be excellent, and the smoke production remains copious.

The main flavors in the profile of all three cigars meet up again during the final third as a combination of charred meat and sourdough bread takes over, followed by secondary flavors that include gritty earth, cinnamon, dry hay, chalk and peanut butter. A mineral saltiness shows up on my lips at different points for all three cigars, but it is never strong enough to really impact the flavor in any major way. Interestingly, the amount of black pepper on the retrohale has receded quite a bit, allowing more of the dark brown sugar sweetness to emerge. The flavor is at full, the body is at medium-plus and the strength reaches medium-full. Unfortunately, two cigars run into burn issues—one needs a single touch-up while the other needs two—but there are no problems at all with the draws or amount of smoke emanating from the feet of the cigars until I am finished with them.

Final Notes

• As a reminder, we do not factor price into scores.
• This is not the first time that My Father Cigars has created an anniversary cigar to be sold in an Elie Bleu humidor: in 2021, the company released the My Father Humidor Deluxe to celebrate the 70th birthday of company and family patriarch José “Pepín” Garcia.
• Speaking of humidors, I would also be remiss if I did not mention the two La Union humidors, a two-part release between My Father Cigars and Tatuaje that will eventually span four different blends. The first two blends shipped in a black humidor in early February, while the red humidor version will come out in early 2025. These are not Elie Bleu humidors.
• My Father never replied to emails seeking confirmation about when this release shipped or its MSRP. Based on listings from various retailers, the humidors began shipping in May or early June and are typically priced at $13,000.

• These cigars are listed at 6 1/2 x 54. One other quirk: the Connecticut version was 4.3g heavier on average compared to the Corojo.
• Cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time averaged two hours and six minutes for all three cigars.
• Site sponsor Atlantic Cigar Co. has the Don Pepín García 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Humidor Corojo in stock on its website.

Update (Aug. 23, 2024) — The thickness of this cigar was originally listed at 52 ring gauge, it is 54 ring gauge.