Jaime Garcia Up Down 10/50

A few weeks ago, Up Down Cigar of Chicago, Ill. received two different anniversary cigars from the My Father Cigars S.A. factory. One was the Fausto 10/50, a Lonsdale from Pete Johnson’s Havana Cellars, Inc., the other was from My Father proper, a Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial.

The Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Up Down 10/50 is hardly just any JG Reserva Especial, it features the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper similar in style to that which adorned the sought-after versions of the Jaime Garcia Limited Edition 2011 and 2012 releases.

Interestingly, while the cigars for each release are different, the details regarding the Fausto and Jaime Garcia are identical: 6 3/8 x 43 Lonsdale, $10.50 per cigar and 200 boxes of 20 cigars.

There have been lots of special releases from My Father with the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, but this is just the seventh to use the wrapper and wear the Jaime Garcia band following the two aforementioned limited editions and the four sizes of the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Connecticut that went to stores in New England last year.

The cigars were released at a party on October 3. José Ortega, vp of sales for My Father, posted the following picture of both cigars:

The two releases from October 3 are the third and fourth 50th anniversary cigars for the Chicago store. As of now, the list includes:

• Davidoff Up Down 50th Anniversary (6 x 50) — November 1, 2012 — 500 Boxes of 10 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
• La Aurora 100 Años Up Down 50th Anniversary Corona (5 3/4 x 43) — November 6, 2012 — n/a
• Fausto Up Down 10/50 (6 3/8 x 43) — October 3, 2013 — 200 Boxes of 20 Cigars (4,000 Total Cigars)
• Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Up Down 10/50 (6 3/8 x 43) — October 3, 2013 — 200 Boxes of 20 Cigars (4,000 Total Cigars)

• Cigar Reviewed: Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Up Down 10/50
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Size:  6 3/8 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 43
• Vitola: Lonsdale
• MSRP: $10.50 (Boxes of 20, $210.00)
• Date Released: October 3, 2013
• Number of Cigars Released: 200 Boxes of 20 Cigars (4,000 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper is loved by manufacturers for its beauty, and My Father uses some of the prettiest we see on the market. It doesn’t hurt that the cigar is rolled incredibly well and I actually think the lack of pigtail actually helps the appearance in this case. There’s a pretty sweet aroma from the Jaime Garcia Up Down 10/50 with notes of sugary caramel, vanilla, cocoa and touches of leather. I cut a little, producing a predictably tight cold draw, with a big cedar note, some sweetness and a decent black pepper. On two of the samples I also got some (non-alcoholic) apple cider, which was a new experience and reminded me it’s been a while since I’ve had some of the fall classic. 

There’s actually very little sweetness to start the cigar, at best the cedar note is somewhat sweet, but it’s a stark contrast to the tobacco aroma and cold draw. Once the cigar gets going, the cedar remains the core with additional flavors of earthiness and a more bitter creaminess while finding hints of butterscotch and dried fruits elsewhere. The pepper is light, but present on both the tongue and through the nose. While not at Quesada Jalapa levels, the burn line on all three samples is incredible in the first third, as straight as any. 

As the second third nears, I find myself enjoying the Up Down 10/50 a lot more. The profile isn’t going through a 180-degree makeover, but it advances with much more creaminess and details. Outside of that, the sweetness becomes more developed and the fruitiness a consistent staple of the finish, where it was lacking earlier. Strength-wise, the cigar is medium and not really any different from the first third. 

This a cigar that builds, not one that changes and the final third is no different. There’s a floral note that becomes a bit part of the profile. I actually get the floral note quite a bit from most of the Connecticut-wrapped My Father’s I’ve had, although I wouldn’t say it’s exclusive to the final third. There sweet woodiness slowly fades and eventually it’s largely an earthy core with the consistent pepper notes and a nice lemon zing. Despite my proclamations about lacking dramatic shifts, there’s very little of the typical Connecticut profile left by the end.

Final Notes: 

• While it will no doubt happen, I actually think the strength of the cigar has little to do with the wrapper and more to do with the fact that the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial is normally not a full-strength cigar.
• The Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial is of course named after Jaime Garcia, president of My Father Cigars and son of José “Don Pepín” García. The cigars debuted at an event in 2009 and were released the following year.
• There’s been an abundance of press regarding the myriad of Flor de las Antillas exclusive, but the Jaime Garcia has had its fair share of special releases as well. There were the two Limited Edition releases, four Connecticuts, three Sur Oeste, the TAA, Lancero made for Hawaii and the Up Down 10/50.
• The Lonsdale size is becoming a favorite for special releases. I think this is partially-inspired by the disproportionate amount of Lanceros from the past few years. Whatever the case, I suspect we will continue to see this trend. 
• Carlos “Carlito” Fuente Jr. tells me that the Lonsdale was once the most popular size in America.
• I am not sure if I would consider this a “new Connecticut.” Flavor-wise it most certainly is there for the majority of the profile, but it’s definitely a tick stronger than most of the other cigars we put in that category.
• We actually witnessed a brief meeting between Pete Johnson and Diane Silvius, the legendary owner of Up Down Cigar, at the 2011 IPCPR trade show and convention. Johnson told us he was working on a cigar for her 50th anniversary. 
• There is actually a Diana Silvius cigar made by Fuente.
• Up Down cigar has had parties for each of the 50th anniversary releases so far.
• Final smoking time was one hour and 45 minutes on average.
• You can purchase the cigars from Up Down Cigar either via their website or by calling them (800.587.3696). Don’t forget to tell them halfwheel sent you.