Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic 1979

At just 11 years old in 1961, Cuban-born Jose “Pepin” Garcia sat down at his first rolling table; since then, he’s taken the cigar industry by storm with his lifelong passion. In 2003, he immigrated to Little Havana, Miami, and set up his humble little cigar factory. His passion and drive has made him one of the most recognized names in the industry and his cigars reflect that passion with copious amounts of highly rated and well-distinguished brands. For his Cuban Classic line, each size represents the birth year of a member of his family; the 1979 is in honor of his daughter Janny, who also works alongside him. The Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic 1979 hails from the fertile soils of Nicaragua and features a Nicaraguan Corojo and Cuban-seed blend of long-fillers and binder. Known as one of his stronger smokes, this medium to full bodied stogie will lend notes of nuts, earth, black pepper and toasted wood. This smoke not only received a 92 rating by Cigar Aficionado but was awarded a spot in the Top 25 of 2007. Enjoy this smoke with a white Russian.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.