Not very impressed with the My Father line

[zirotti]

I've only been smoking for about 3 months, so I'm still developing my palate. Picked up my first Pepin stick to try out. Heard lots of good things about the My Father line.

While I'm totally impressed with the appearance and construction, I'm pretty underwhelmed by the flavor. First third was pretty harsh. Second third seems to have mellowed out a lot but I'm having a hard time really picking up any notes. Also noticing the wrapped isn't burning as fast as the filler. Maybe it's too wet?

What are your guys thoughts?

 

[StocktonJohn]

The MF line is strong, with big spicy flavors that vary throughout the burn. Construction and combustion are always good as well in my experience.

Harshness and poor combustion are usually due to the stick being too wet.

 

[JDog]

My experience with My Fathers has been good and I find them very enjoyable. It's more on the full on the body spectrum. And you typically get the initial strong spice blast with a lot of their lines. You said you only been smoking for about 3 months. What do you normally smoke? Some smokers need to work their way up to stronger cigars. I'm not sure if that's the case with you though... just curious.

 

[zirotti]

The burn issues and harshness have def cleared up in the last 3rd. I am sure it was too wet at this point. Draw is perfect. Love the construction and probably had tightest ash I've seen so far.

(just lost the ash here)

To me, it's more of a medium smoke. I started off with Montecristo White, Fonseca 5-50, Oliva Connecticut Reserve, etc. Today I find myself enjoying more full cigars. Big fan of the Liga Undercrown, Padron 64, etc.

 

[danthebugman]

If you're underwhelmed with flavor from a My Father something has gone wrong somewhere. I would tend to agree with John that the cigar may have been too wet. What temp/humidity was it at?

Dan

 

[zirotti]

Also getting a bit of sweetness near the end.

Sorry for the random musings. Tried to explain to the wife but she couldn't care less

 

[KcJason1]

I agree too wet.. Muted flavored are usually a result of a to humid stick...

If you can find the lancero try those.. They are fantastic!

 

[zirotti]

Dan, approx 70/70. I'm in process of moving to a wine cooler and hoping to get RH down to 65ish.

 

[gibbleguts]

Nothing wrong with not liking the My Father line. I find the more I get past the hype of cigars the less I like them. I am not a fan of very many Pepin made cigars (including tats) when they are young. That said after 3 to 5 years I am a huge fan. The big pepper spice kick that most pepins start out with is not what I associate with a cigar cigar made from well aged well cured tobacco. I almost find them worse then Cubans as at least with cc's I want to try the fresh ones where as not so much with Pepin made stuff. I have bought a ton of Pepin stuff over the years but mostly for aging. Now I have also accepted that what I think is not what most will think so if you enjoy them smoke them if not find something you do like

 

[jimmypa]

Another thats on my list right before I joined, and another that ive read mixed reviews on but mostly positive. Have so many Cigars to try right now though sitting in the cabi this one will have to wait especially after my noob purchase from goingpostal that rocked and some tat and liga purchasea brw im drunk

 

[GoingPostal]

Yeah you should definately get pepper with my father. 70/70 is good just find an old cigar box to dry box for a day should help the flavor issue, that being said may just be that the My father line isn't your cup of tea.

 

[Craig Mac]

I think at 3 months in your palette is still developing. Hell, it can take years to develop really. I think Aaron summed it up pretty good regarding the age of the tobacco and how it smokes. Aged Pepin's tend to be less "in your face" and more balanced even when a full bodied smoke. Just keep trying stuff and you'll learn what you like and what fits your personal profile.

 

[njstone]

The burn issues are probably because the stick was too wet, that would explain the harshness as well. Also, these are medium-bodied cigars, not full. The are full-flavored though, with some age at least.

To the original question there are four answers:
Age

Age

Age

Vitola

The original My Father line becomes MUCH better with age. Try to trade foe a couple with over a year of age, preferably even 2 years. The difference is amazing.

Also, the lancero vitola is different than the rest of the line, spicier and more flavorful (better, imvho). The two "Cedros" vitolas are also different.

 

[Zedman05]

I definitely think you are on the same path that I started on with the big black pepper spice inherant through most of the My Father line. I really wasnt a big fan for the first year or so, but after trying a bunch of stuff, I have found that my palate has reached a point where that pepper is actually a nice change from most sticks if you are looking for a kick. Age does help these sticks, no doubt. Your previous selection seems to be leaning more towards medium strength sticks so far, which these are not.
One thing they do have is an insane ability to hold an ash though. I won a long ash contest with a Toro one night, and a guy who started late had his all the way to the nub and held the damned thing sideways. It was an impressive showing since he had to tap it off even when held sideways to get it to fall.

 

[smelvis]

Three months is not long if you are like me my tastes change over the years. I also didn't like them at first but they were a favorite of my nephews so he kept having me try again after a year or so I did develop a taste for them and now enjoy them from time to time. I have smoked for going on 20 years and my buds are still changing I expect always will.

 

[cartisdm]

I've been smoking for a few years and my palate is still developing. Until a few weeks ago I rarely could identify what notes I was detecting in my cigars besides cedar, pepper, and the occasional sweetness. Then I lit up my first My Father cigar and I swear I was smoking a chocolate infused cigar. The notes of cocoa were fantastic and they mellowed out into other flavors throughout the smoke. Not everyone likes the same thing, but if you were thinking it's more of a mild/medium stick, then it was likely too wet

 

[RaschNuts]

I personally love the My Father line. I don't think there is a My Father cigar I don't like. How ever thats the beauty of this hobby everyone has their own flavors they enjoy and everyone's palette is different.

When I first started I smoked a lot of Rocky Patel cigars. I don't remember the last time I actually smoked one now. I tend to stick with LP, Tat, and My Father for everyday smokes.

Like everyone said if you don't like it, find something else you do.

Life is to short to smoke cigars you don't like.

 

[Nacho Daddy]

Never,never,judge a brand by one stick.You are likely to get different tastes from different boxes,let alone different seasons' blends.
Different conditions affecting what you smoke are going to be a variable as well,age,moisture,etc.

 

[MReschke0626]

I would suggest buying a couple Le Bijou 1922s, putting them in your humi for about the same amount of time you've been smoking, and then pull them out and try them. Speaking of the humi, I'd lower the RH a bit. I prefer my sticks at about 63-67%. Not that I'm picky, that's just the range I shoot for. Less than 70, but above the "lower 60s". I somewhat agree with you, I've tasted up and down the My Father line-up and nothing has ever blown me away and made me fall in love like some other Don Pepin Garcia sticks have. That being said, I do LOVE the prior mentioned Le Bijou 1922 and the Jaime Garcia 2011 LE after they both have had about 3-6months to sit in a humidor (out of the box) to age and breath a little. They are some of my favorite smokes right now. The Le Bijou is no beginners stick though, it can be a bit much if your palette is fairly inexperienced still. My suggestion for you is to try some Habano wrapper sticks from MF/DPG/Tatuaje first, to get more acquainted with the pepper their sticks typically have without a real robust wrapper adding any extra kick.


Matthew Reschke
matthew_reschke@yahoo.com
Restaurant Supervisor & Sommelier
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant

 

[zirotti]

Thanks for all the feedback gents. I have a couple more of these and also a couple Le Bijou that I will let sit for about 90 days.