In 2022, My Father Cigars released the Le Bijou 100 Anos to celebrate what would have been the 100th birthday of the late Jose García Alayon, the father of José “Pepín” García. Now in 2024 with much fanfare like the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Sucesor the company has once again gone back into the archives to re-release the 100 Anos.
The cigar is limited to two sizes like the original release; a Corona Extra (5.5 x 48) and a Corona Especial (6.5 x 44). It is limited to 1,922 boxes of 22 per size. All the tobacco used for this release are grown on the My Father Cigars farms in Nicaragua.
Cigar Review: My Father Le Bijou 100 Anos
Size: 6.5 x 44 (Corona Especial)
Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars
Release Date: November 2024
Box Count: 22
The Cigar: Call the Le Bijou 100 Anos what you want, but this is a Lonsdale. However I guess Corona Especial is more attractive in a marketing sense. The My Father Le Bijou features the elaborate multi color primary My Father band with a secondary band denoting Le Bijou 1922. A orange ribbon at the foot denotes 100 Anos. The cigar is beautifully rolled with a pigtail cap and the wrapper is loaded with oils. In the hand the cigar is firm and heavy in the hand especially around the bands which has me worried about a potential knot.
The Taste: The cold draw has a carbonated feel to it with notes of cedar, fig, lemon and lime. The foot of the cigar meanwhile is non-descript with a subtle pepper. Once the cigar is lit there is that burst of what I have always called that classic Pepin spice that is synonymous with the brand My Father. The burst is short lived as the cigar opens up rather quickly with an exceptional draw.
As we smoke the first third notes of black and red pepper slide into the background like a wallflower at a party. Notes of rich chocolate, figs and cashews dominate the palate with a balance that creates a smooth experience. The retrohale sees the pepper notes step up a bit with the introduction of cedar and some earth.
The second third of the My Father Le Bijou 100 Anos continues to showcase notes of chocolate however they begin to fade as the cedar from the retrohale makes it’s way to the palate where it begins to dominate with a touch of earth and cashes on the short but enjoyable finish. The retrohale serves up some continued pepper, graham crackers and a hint of nutmeg.
As we move into the final third of this enjoyable smoke notes of earth become dominant and the cigar is drying to the palate so be sure to have a libation handy. I had some Old Bardstown Estate Bottled handy which paired nicely. The bourbon helped bring out some vanilla notes which were hidden until paired with the bourbon. The retrohale sees notes of wheat, black pepper and cedar to round things out and as things come to a close the finish is long and enjoyable.
Conclusion: The cigar industry has never met an anniversary they didn’t like to memorialize with a cigar. It’s also not the first cigar to have the name 100 Anos as La Aurora released a cigar in 2003 called Cien Anos. The two companies; La Aurora & My Father collaborated in a sense for Miami Cigar & Company when they convinced Jose “Pepin” Garcia to create the Nestor Miranda Dominicano utilizing tobacco from La Aurora.
The My Father Le Bijou 100 Anos would be a regular purchase if it was a regular production cigar but alas it isn’t. It’s a classic My Father cigar with a profile that is Nicaraguan through and through. It’s not overly complex and it is not too strong coming in a medium-full at most but it is thoroughly enjoyable and worthy of a purchase should you come across them.
Score: 91
Price: $13.00 (Before any local or state taxes)
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