Cigar Review: Vegas Cubanas by Don Pepin Garcia Imperiales

Image provided by Stogie Fresh

I had heard good things about this little known cigar that also happens to bear the name of the ever-so-popular Don Pepin, so the other day when they caught my eye at a local B&M I had to pick a couple up. Of course, the torpedo being one of my favorites, I went for the Imperiales which is 6 1/8×52. The blend of criollo and corojo making up the binder and filler, wrapped by a beautiful Nicaraguan corojo leaf really had me curious.

Appearance: Just looking at this cigar got my mouth watering. The reddish-brown wrapper was smooth with few veins and well made. The tip was beautiful. I like the band on this cigar too as it’s not your typical cigar band. It’s classy with a down-to-earth feel to it. This is a good looking cigar.

Taste: Unfortunately, this is where I had to part ways with my initial expectations. Now, the two samples I had are probably not an indicator of this whole line, but these did not impress. First, after lighting, this cigar hit me with a spice bomb. My lips were tingling from the amount of peppery spiciness that inundated my palate before it settled. The first half inch indicated that this cigar was going to take me for a full-bodied ride. After that first half inch, I was let down into a bland mildness that did not suit me. I love criollo and corojo, and in these samples, the distinct flavors of neither showed through. All I got was a dull woodiness that lasted throughout the smoke. After the first half some pepper re-appeared and livened it up a tad, but not enough.

Aroma: Holding this cigar to my nose before lighting really got me excited. A rich, peppery spice over a good tobacco foundation gave me high hopes. The smoke itself was also mild and neither pleasant or unpleasant.

Construction: Feeling this cigar between my fingers showed that this was a solid cigar. After cutting, my pre-light draw was quite tight and it really never loosened. The burn was erratic at best, and it was a chore to produce any decent volume of smoke. Half way through the cigar I was able to get a bit more smoke, but the draw remained tight and the burn was helpless.

Overall: I’m going to revisit this cigar again. I’m apt to think that I got the only bad sticks (which if you knew me would be par for the course as I am the poster child for bad luck), but the pairing of criollo and corojo still has me wondering. As it stands, I can’t give this cigar much credence and for the price tag of around $6.00 have to say there are better sticks to purchase in this range.

Cigar Rating:

No related posts.

1. 

   cigarfan says:

   March 11, 2008 at 10:47 pm

   Gotta tell ya, I don’t think you got bad sticks. The way you describe it is pretty much my experience as well. The only difference is that I like the way this cigar mellows — but I get a lot more cocoa and not so much of a woody flavor. I hope you’ll try it again, maybe as a morning smoke if you’re more of a full-body guy.
2. 

   Ricky says:

   March 12, 2008 at 7:26 am

   @ cigarfan – I’ll revisit these again, I’m sure. My disappointment was in the fact that once it mellowed, there was nothing but bland, dull woody flavor. It wasn’t flavorful at all. I don’t mind a mild smoke now and again, but it should at least have some flavor to it. I’ll pick some more up and see if I can get the cocoa you’ve tasted.