Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Figurado

In December 2009, My Father Cigars, Inc. released a new line that was blended entirely by Jaime García, son of cigar legend José “Don Pepín” García. Carrying the name Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial, the line debuted with a singular 6 x 56 toro gordo during an event at Cigar Inn in New York City.

Since that first release, the line has grown to include nine different vitolas, everything from exclusive creations to limited editions.

During the 2023 PCA Convention & Trade Show, My Father introduced three new vitolas for the original Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial line:

• Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Corona Grande (6 1/4 x 48) — $9.30 (Box of 20, $186)
• Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Figurado (5 x 48/52) — $10.50 (Box of 20, $210)
• Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Gordo Extra (7 x 70) — $12.40 (Box of 14, $173.60)

Like the rest of the line, the figurado is composed of a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper covering a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos grown on the García family’s farms.

The regular production release is priced at $10.50 each and it is packaged in boxes of 20, which started shipping to retailers in July.

• Cigar Reviewed: Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Figurado
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
• Wrapper: U.S.A. (Broadleaf)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 5 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 48/52
• Vitola: Figurado
• MSRP: $10.50 (Box of 20, $210)
• Release Date: July 2023
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Visually, the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Figurado is quite similar to what I remember from past vitolas in the line, covered in a dark espresso brown wrapper that has a small but noticeable tinge of red to it. All three cigars are extremely rough to the touch and have very little give when squeezed, but a physical inspection reveals that my first cigar has a small soft spot just under the main band on the front. Aromas from the wrappers include a strong, dank earthiness followed by cloves, barnyard, coffee beans, generic nuttiness, creamy sweetness and a light vegetal note. Due to the nipple foot, the scents from the feet are not much different, but they do have a bit more woodiness that now reminds me of cedar. Finally, after straight cuts, the cold draws on all three bring flavors of sweet cedar, gritty earth, cocoa nibs, hay, brewed coffee, almonds and vanilla bean sweetness.

Unlike what I have experienced from most cigars that are rolled with a nipple foot, these cigars light up almost immediately and have a great draw from pretty much the first puff. The profile starts off with espresso beans and a massive amount of black pepper—along with some significant spice on my tongue—but soon moves to include main flavors of gritty earth and leather tack. Secondary notes of generic nuts, dry straw, cedar, cocoa nibs and salted pretzel bread flit in and out at various points, and while there is a copious amount of black pepper on the retrohale, I find some light caramel sweetness as well. Flavor starts off at a solid medium, while both the body and strength hit a point just over the medium mark by the end of the first third. In terms of construction, all three cigars feature excellent draws and massive amounts of smoke off of their feet, but each cigar needs a couple of minor corrections with my lighter to stay on track.

There are some changes in the profile during the second third of the Reserva Especial Figurado, starting with a creamier profile overall and main flavors that have now morphed into a combination of almonds and dark chocolate. Additional flavors include gritty earth, hay, cedar, dark chocolate, and sourdough bread along with a slight mineral saltiness. In addition, while there is still an almost overwhelming amount of black pepper on the retrohale, the amount of caramel sweetness has increased slightly when compared to the first third. Flavor bumps up to medium-plus, and while the body remains at a point just over the medium mark, the strength has increased to medium-plus. Draws and smoke production continue along their wonderful paths, but once again, the burn on all three cigars has issues that necessitate a couple of quick corrections.

Gritty earth returns as a main flavor during the final third of the cigar, where it is joined by an aromatic cedar note. Secondary flavors of coffee beans, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, leather tack and almonds flit in and out at various points, but the amount of black pepper and caramel sweetness has not changed a bit. Flavor ends the cigar at medium-full, while the body and strength increase again to land at medium-plus and medium-full, respectively. While the flavor profile had some changes, the construction is a different thing altogether, including the same burn issues—with each cigar needing two touch-ups each—but the draws and smoke production are excellent until I put the nubs down with an inch left.

Final Notes

• This is the first figurado vitola in the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial line.
• In addition, the 7 x 70 Gordo Extra is the first 70-ring gauge cigar in the My Father portfolio.
• I really do love the look of this perfecto vitola that is made with both a nipple foot and a pointed cap.
• Each of the three cigars I smoked for this review needed regular burn corrections, at least one in each third. They were all minor in nature, but I was a little surprised considering how good the construction has been on most My Father products I have smoked in the past.
• Along with the above, the nipple cap ash fell off on two of the three cigars I smoked within the first 1/2 inch, which is certainly not the case with most cigars of this ring gauge.
• The cigars smoked for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time averaged an almost shocking two hours and eight minutes for all three cigars.
• If you would like to purchase any of the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Figurado cigars, site sponsors Atlantic Cigar Co., Corona Cigar Co., Famous Smoke Shop and JR Cigar have them for sale on their respective websites.