Cigar:            Don Pepin Cuban Classic Robusto 1979

Size:             52 x 5.00"

Country:          Nic

Wrapper:          Nic, Corojo '99

Binder:          

Filler:           Nic, Corojo, Criollo

Flavor Strength:  Full

NicotineStrength: Medium-Full

Date Received:    2007-06-12

Suspected Age:    NA

Vendor/Price:     Gift, Maytagman, CCF, ASC - Thanks!

Hype:             The Cuban Classic is made in Pepin’s new Nicaraguan factory and like the Don Pepin Blue label and the Don Pepin Serie JJ, it has an all Nicaraguan blend using Pepin’s famous Corojo 99 wrapper. The cigar is full-bodied, carrying that new classic Pepin flavor that is well know in the cigar world, surprisingly he always manages to get very different flavor profiles using all Nicaraguan tobacco from each of his blends.  This line has wonderful flavors of strong coffee with plenty of spice and cedar with a refined undertone of bittersweet chocolate.

Beverage(s):      Water, Deschutes Black Butte Porter

Smoke time:       1:15

Date:             2007-07-27

Posted to ASC:    2007-07-27

Posted to CCF:    2007-07-27

Overall score:    4.0 / 5.0

Sock color:       None

Hat:              None

Overall:    With all the good press, here and elsewhere, a cigar I was anticipating.  A winner.  Surprisingly the hype is pretty accurate.  Starts leathery with some coffee, coffee evolves to wood, and the wood evolves to strong sweet cedar at about the halfway point.  Cedar builds until the nub when a brief fruitiness appeared, then at about 1" bittered up.  Long, sweet, cedary finish.  Reminds me of the best examples of the Cusano Corojo '97.  Bigger than most cigars I smoke.  I have a perla in the humi to which I am greatly looking forward.  Fragile wrapper, not something to massage.  Pretty good burn.  Voluminous smoke volume.  Would be a box purchase if it was a bit smaller. 

Ambiance:   Beautiful Friday evening in the GPNW, 75F, with a cloudless blue sky.  Rain expected on Sunday.  The Little Woman has left town to minister to an ill relative.  Smoking in the livingroom while watching the Mariners versus Oakland. 

Appearance: 1/4" of foot damage.  Looks like the foot swelled from a humidity spike.  Black and gold double band, both easily removed.  Small veined, slightly furry, seemingly thin milk chocolate colored wrapper.  Slight give along length.  Triple cap.

Cut & Prelight:   Nice, sweet, barnyardy aroma.  Cut well yielding a wide open draw with a sweet floral draw flavor and considerable lip and palate tingle. 

First third:      Lit readily, though I find the open draw annoying.  Initially smooth and leathery with voluminous smoke production.  Foot damage no factor.  Some bright coffee.  Dry after.  Leather and coffee with a dry after.  Open draw is requiring a gentle double stoking to get good smoke production.  Full bodied.  Long sweet finish.  Mellowing further - the coffee note has lost its brightness.  Soft ash held to an inch. 

Second third:     Fragile wrapper - not a stick to massage.  Still leathery, but the coffee has evolved to woody.  Flavor is ramping up.  Woodiness is resolving to cedary.  Sweet after. 

Third third:      All cedar mow, with a sweet after.  Nic buzz starting.  As the nub is approached some sharp fruitiness.  Pretty solid nic buzz.  Sweet, cedary after.  Abandoned at 1" due to entering bitterness.