Brand: Don Pepin Garcia
Line: Vegas Cubanas
Vitola: Coronas 5 1/2 x 44
Country: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan Criollo
Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo and Corojo
Price: $116 (Box of 25)
Description: This cigar was completely off the radar for me, I had never even heard of it. This was shock seeing that it had arguably the greatest cigar maker of our time’s name attached to it. The wrapper and the foot had a strong tobacco scent. It was a bit toothy with small veins throughout. Pre-light draw was a little tight, but produced a straight forward woody tobacco taste. The cigar seemed to have that typical rock solid Pepin construction going for it.
Once I had the cigar lit it offered up a sweet corojo taste with that signature Pepin spice to boot. The ash was a little flaky, but the light grey color with traces of goose bumps from the wrapper made up for that. The cigar’s draw had that same resistance from pre-light, which was more than I like. However, it did not stop me from get good amounts of smoke from the cigar. In the second third that criollo and corojo taste got really bold with an undertone of sweetness and spice.
As I was entering the final third of the cigar the wrapper started to crack on me. The final third got really spicy and the burn that was even throughout got crooked. I blame the uneven burn on the cracked wrapper, not a cigar flaw really, cracked wrappers just happen. The label saved the cigar from opening the whole way. The cigar ended with a really tasty blend of corojo and rich tobacco flavors.
Verdict: I would smoke the Vegas Cubana again. I really love transitions of this stick. It had similar flavors throughout, but the various intensities made it very enjoyable. Even after a decent size crack the cigar burn line corrected itself. Another hit from Mr. Garcia.
Check the review index for reviews of other cigars by Don Pepin Garcia.
Popularity: 19% [?]
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I smoked one of the torps a while back, although the band was completely different. Not sure what’s up there. He must have changed them at some point. I really wasn’t overly impressed with this smoke. it was one of the first Pepin smokes that thought “eh, it’s ok but kinda boring”. I also thought for what it was, the price was a little too high. With so many great sticks from him, I have no plans to ever revisit this one. Your review tells quite a different story though. Maybe I had a bum stick. You got me thinking I should perhaps give it at least one more shot.
Thanks for you comment Matt. Your response is completely understandable. In some ways your completely right. Pepin does make better smokes, the Cuban Classic being my personal favorite. The Vegas Cubanas and the Cuban Classic are worlds apart. So I don’t plan on buying a box of the Vegas Cubanas … But I will buy a five pack sit them in the bottom of my humidor and see how there change over time. Over a few months to a years as I make my way through them I may discover added qualities in this cigar that I like … or not.
Wow……..are there any recent corojo releases Don Pepin isn’t involved in? He and Rocky Patel must put the Energizer bunny to shame! The Series 601 Red label is still my favorite.
Camacho is probably better known for corojo, I’m not sure how many of Pepin’s Blends contain corojo, I don’t believe the EO Brands do.
The Tatuajes and DPGs use Corojo. Pepin does make good use of it, but the Eiroa’s (Camacho) are the only ones with authentic Corojo to my knowledge.
I am a bit confused on the 601 series wrappers as I see it reported that the wrapper is corojo on the general description on many sites but, when you look at the individual descriptions of each cigar, you don’t see corojo listed. However, the 5 Vegas Miami, Cigar.com Corojo Label, Cuban Classic, JJ series, Legends from CI, Don Pepin Blue Label, Padilla Miami, Old Henry and others are ALL corojo and all made by Don Pepin. Yes, I know that Camacho claims to have the only authentic corojo tobacco in the world. Balderdash! That’s a marketing ploy. After all, if you really want to get picky, the only authentic corojo tobacco in the world grows in Cuba and Cuba only.
Cuba no longer uses Corojo, but a hybrid of it. If a seed came from a Corojo plant it doesn’t matter where it grows it is still a Corojo plant.
That’s like saying grapes from California make Champagne. They just don’t and corojo grown anywhere else is not corojo.
Holy crap Jesse. Looks like we’re both wrong!!!! Check out this link:
Cigar Envy
Real authentic corojo (and I don’t accept that anything grown outside of the original farm in Cuba is authentic corojo) no longer exists!!!!!!!
Another link about corojo. This article describes why I believe authentic corojo can only be from Cuba and real Champagne can only be from France. That doesn’t mean Cuban seed corojo tobacco isn’t great(it is) and California makes great sparkling wine they call champagne but, neither is the authentic product which must be a combination of plant and soil.
Cigar Aficionado
Ug.
Some guy behind the counter of a B&M told me these were the closest thing to a “real cuban” and who on the internet had a special. I oredered a box and am still regretting it. Am letting them “rest”, but don’t look forward to revisiting them again.
Jack and I are usually in agreement in taste, I was quite surprised by this review.
These are milder than what you typically get from Pepin so some people don’t really like these.
Marcian actually reviewed this cigar not me.
They are not a bad smoke, but I like some of the other stuff by Pepin better than these.
The Garcia Vegas Cubanas was a good smoke. I would not say it was the “closest thing to a real cuban”. Sounds like the guy just wanted to make a sale, and it work. Its a good smoke, but not my favorite DPG smoke. I would prefer the bolder flavors of the Cuban Classic (Black Label). Palates differ … I would never buy anything over a five pack based on a review alone. Buy a stick or two then you make the call.
I’m smoking a Vegas Cubanas right now. It’s a Generoso. It has a lot of good smoke that rolls out of the mouth leaving a taste of cream and coffee at about 2/3′s down. Yum. Congratulations Mr. Pepin. A good tasting cigar and not bad for the money. This single cost me $7.50. I’m a Pepin Black fan. I got a couple of boxes of his cuban classic in my humidors. Sitting there and marinading. I bought a sampler made up of 7 of Pepin’s cigars. 2 of each same size. They been stabalizing for about 4 months, so I am just now beginning to taste them.
This cigar is outstanding, from start to finish. Allot of sweet and smooth notes. Magnates size, and very tasty. Very flaky ash though. Box was $75, not a bad deal. Thanks for allowing myself to comment.
I remember when these first came out the shop I managed was the first to have them and exclusive in brooklyn ny. I caught hell from the owners for ordering an unknown product. When they smoked it they changed there tune though. We had to stop carrying them as every box we had unraveled on the shelves.
A few weeks ago I was at an event and was gift one my the rep to go along with some stuff I bought.
I was shocked to see them still around. Anyway I smoked it this morning as the snow fell and when I post the review on my site you will see we got the same experience (minus the splitting)
I think Jesse hit the nail on the head. I’m smoking my first one now (and love all the other DPG stuff – blue label probably my favorite), and I think the lack of strength in this one is what causes it not to have the ‘wow’ factor. I’m only 1/3 into it right now, but the more I smoke it, the more I’m beginning to really appreciate this cigar. I’d definitely keep a few of these around for when you want a lighter smoke (then again I can’t recall the price tag on it, so possibly it might over-priced for what you’re getting – but for a buck or two more than some others, I’d probably stick with this. Ha.. brand loyalty I guess:)
Nice dry smoke. Good finish. I see the flaky
ash thing but it doesn’t bother me. Like it
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