Siboney Reserve (Don Pepin, under $4)

[OHRD]

Size: 5×50, Robusto

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Rosado

Binder: Nicaraguan (Criollo ’98) and Honduran Habano

Filler: Nicaraguan (Jalapa and Condega Corojo)

Strength: Medium to Full

Price: Box of 20, $79.99

Grade: 8.9

The Siboney Reserve is produced for Famous Smoke Shop by the Don Pepin Garcia family at their My Father cigar factory in Esteli. This full bodied cigar employs some well-aged tobacco and is sold at a reasonable price. Don Pepin continues to blend cigars for just about anyone who asks, or so it seems. It is however nice to begin seeing some nicer priced DPG smokes, such as the Benchmade, a couple house blends from Holt’s, and today’s Siboney Reserve.

Gary over at Famous Smoke Shop sent us the Siboney Reserve Test Flight, which comes with 2 cigars from each of the three sizes: Robusto, Torpedo, and Churchill. You can check it out here.

For those of you that love Don Pepin Garcia’s blending style, this is a good cigar to take a look at.

Now, let’s get on with the toast!

Pre-light, 1.7:
The light to medium brown wrapper on the Siboney Reserve was in decent shape with a little tooth to the touch. There were a few noticeable veins and a patch that deterred from the aesthetics of the smoke, but the triple cap was constructed perfectly at the head. The weight was spot on but the tobacco was not as firm as I anticipated based on the appearance and weight. The pre-light aroma was barnyard toward the head with a sweet note toward the foot. The Robusto produced a blast of spice on the cold draw that nearly caused my eyes water.

Burn, 1.7:
Toasted and lit, the cigar produced mouthfuls of smoke with an excellent draw. The burn was very even at the beginning. The ash did not hold much past a half inch but was layered well until the middle of the second third, when it started to flower a bit. I would recommend that you not let the cigar rest too long between puffs; I am a slow smoker and I almost let the Robusto go out a few times. The last third continued with mouthfuls of smoke and an excellent draw.

Flavor, 2.7
The first third of this cigar produced notes of tobacco and cedar coupled with a spicy finish. The second third found the spice subdued with a smoother flavor profile and finish. The final third was woody, airy at times, and had a medium finish. The flavor profile was pleasing to the palate and, while somewhat spicy, it was never overbearing or uncomfortable.

Overall, 2.8:
This Don Pepin blend is nice – not super complex but not a bore either. The price per box makes this a decent smoke at a great price. Just like the band on the shoulder, simple but solid, the Siboney Reserve is a good smoke.

(Total: 8.9)