La Duena

When asked what is my favorite cigar vitola, I usually answer with belicoso. Coming in at 5 ½ x 52-54 this vitola is the same length as a corona but thicker, very similar to a torpedo but without a pointy tip and technically a figurado.

La Duena means female owner and this cigar was blended in part by Janny Garcia daughter of Cigar superstar Don Pepin in conjunction with Pete Johnson (Tatuaje Cigars). For her cigar blending debut Janny chose an interesting marriage of Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and Connecticut and Nicaraguan Binder and filler. Her brother Jaime Garcia handles production and in like fashion, La Duena joins the My Father family of cigars.

Blend Specifics

• Size: 5.5 x 54
• Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan

Appearance & Construction

Satin matte wrapper leaf with long blotchy discolorations. Some visible veins and very toothy. Not a pretty stick. Simple white and red no frills band gives little information. Pretty straight forward

I use a straight cut, and the pre-light test has a perfect draw which tastes peppery at the tip of the tongue. Rich Nicaraguan tobacco aroma at the foot of the cigar.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

This cigar opens with dry cedar taste at the first draw, earthy,musty, sulfur and it progressively gets spicier. Chili Pepper sneaks in and overtakes the palate. At about halfway, flavors are settling with a medium body, rich woody retrohale. I can tell this cigar has a white and razor sharp burn, with ash falling right on the second third mark

By the second third all the flavors come together in harmony. It balances very well with a buttery texture and every taste mentioned in the first still dancing around beautifully. The body becomes richer, with flavor and strength lingering around medium and full for a long finish.

In the final third, the sulfur flavor picks up. Although its not a flavor I enjoy, my cigar burns excellent, which is a sign of good tobacco and great construction. Pepper taste still hanging around but be careful not to pull too hard or the pesky sulfur reveals itself.

Conclusion

Janny’s efforts did not go unnoticed in her debut as a blender even if she did get a little help from Pete Johnson. This cigar is complex with flavors that work together in a package to deliver a tasty treat. My favorite is the second half by far where the flavors mend and flow well. I hope this cigar will be a stepping stone for Janny Garcia and I expect many good things to come in the future from her especially having the bloodline for producing some excellent sticks. Cheers to the future!

Final Grade: B+