Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial
660 Toro Gordo
I
Looks like it tastes. Performs in a slight curvature to burn, and pleasant 'nuff resistance to draw. Invisible seams give no guff. Ponderous semi-sweet/baking chocolate and ever-toasting hardwood primary notes. Viscous molasses high-up middling along-side baking spice, muffled black pepper, and floral/anise lilt. Under-belly is leathery compost/manure.
II
Butter'd blackberry fruit curd (no, really) gets chased back as doth chocolates by ever-toasting hardwood notes. Draw tightens and burn wonks-some. Fruit re-emerges in a tangy driving fashion, thinning body. Grittiness leaves mouth-feel. Ash grows in a dry stack a' dimes, pale with paler tooth-flecks. Balance remains a bit off.
III
Double/triple puffing a sixty is positively laborious. Hats off to the gold diggers out there -- no, I won't 'splain -- too layered. A re-touch fixes curvature. Tangy fruit and hardwoods lead with a new semi-sweet chocolate close behind. Vague nutty-coffee bean. Under-belly is all manure, perchance hints a' dark grains.
FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59
WRAPPER: USA Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
BINDER: Ecuadorian
FILLER: Nicaraguan
STRENGTH: Medium-Full
ORIGIN: My Father Cigars S.A., Nicaragua
IN ADDITION:
"This brand made its first appearance in NYC during a special event on December 2009. The cigar, which at that time did not have a specific name, was made in only one size for that event. It was so well received that Jaime Garcia decided to incorporate into regular production using his own name for the brand, called after that night 'Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial.'" - My Father company site.
FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59
WRAPPER: USA Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
BINDER: Ecuadorian
FILLER: Nicaraguan
STRENGTH: Medium-Full
ORIGIN: My Father Cigars S.A., Nicaragua
"This brand made its first appearance in NYC during a special event on December 2009. The cigar, which at that time did not have a specific name, was made in only one size for that event. It was so well received that Jaime Garcia decided to incorporate into regular production using his own name for the brand, called after that night 'Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial.'" - My Father company site.
The above is canon, if ya will. Lore from outside the inside tells how Jaime blended this offering in homage to his legendary father and all he taught him. In turn, continues the lore, Don Pepin made the decision to go full production, naming it after his son.
Cigar Aficionado, via their Cigar Insider, rated this offering an 87 stating: "This dark, very thick cigar has a blistery burn and firm draw. The first puffs are bold and spicy, and the smoke takes on red pepper notes and a woody flavor."