My Father Cigars Garcia & Garcia Toro Deluxe - Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

Who's your daddy? Is it My Father? Wait, what? I'm confused now. The naming convention here requires a flowchart to navigate - it's My Father Cigars making a Garcia & Garcia line named after José "Pepin" Garcia and his son Jaime Garcia, who are also the My Father behind My Father Cigars. Corporate branding meets family tree meets existential crisis. Released in 2016 as their "rarest creation to date" and "most elegant cigar the family has ever produced," this limited production blend features the notoriously difficult-to-grow Pelo de Oro tobacco. Pelo de Oro translates to "hair of gold" and represents one of the most finicky tobacco varietals in existence - it's the high-maintenance supermodel of the tobacco world, requiring perfect conditions and constant attention. At $35-45 per stick, this occupies premium territory where every inch counts and disappointing thirds feel like financial crimes.

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🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Garcia & Garcia Toro Deluxe

Master Blender: José "Pepin" Garcia and Jaime Garcia - Father-son blending duo who named a cigar line after themselves because apparently "My Father" wasn't meta enough

Size: Toro 6 3/4 x 54

Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Estelí)

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Rosado

Binder: Nicaraguan Criollo 98

Filler: Nicaraguan including rare Pelo de Oro

Price: $35-45 per stick (mortgage optional, dignity negotiable)

Aging: Several years on the tobacco blend

🚀 WE ARE LIT!🚀

Draw: Excellent throughout

Burn: Consistent and even

Smoke Output: Above average clouds

Ash: Spectacular formation and hold

Construction is flawless across every metric - perfect draw, razor-sharp burn, impressive ash that holds like it's got separation anxiety about leaving the cigar. The Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper shows a reddish-brown hue with silky texture and visible oil content, looking exactly like premium tobacco should. Made at My Father Cigars S.A. factory in Estelí, this demonstrates what happens when a family operation with decades of expertise decides to pull out all the stops on a limited production run. The inclusion of Pelo de Oro filler tobacco justifies some of the premium pricing - this varietal is notoriously difficult to cultivate and rarely used because it's basically the agricultural equivalent of a drama queen that refuses to cooperate unless conditions are perfect.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: PEPPER ASSAULT THEN PROMISE

fermented tobacco, white pepper, vanilla, cedar

Fermented tobacco and aggressive white pepper dominate the opening alongside vanilla and cedar notes that struggle to compete. The first inch is way too peppery - like someone forgot to calibrate the spice levels and just committed to the mistake. After that rough start settles down, vanilla sweetness emerges properly and cedar provides woody backbone. This opening requires patience and faith that things improve, which at $35 per stick feels like paying premium prices to beta test someone's blend before they dialed it in.

SECOND THIRD: REDEMPTION ARC

cream, Tobacco Sweetness, cedar, citrus

Cream takes center stage as tobacco sweetness develops nicely alongside cedar that maintains presence. Citrus appears unexpectedly, adding brightness that elevates the profile beyond typical Nicaraguan power cigar territory. This section delivers on the premium pricing promise - complex, balanced, refined. The pepper calms completely, proving the aggressive opening was temporary rather than permanent character flaw.

FINAL THIRD: FULL CIRCLE COMPLEXITY

charred cedar, edar, white pepper, light cream, leather

Charred cedar dominates while white pepper returns alongside light cream and leather that provide classic cigar character. The finish brings things full circle to where they started but with refinement rather than aggression. Cedar intensifies throughout, maintaining consistency while the pepper plays supporting role instead of lead bully.

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🏆 THE VERDICT🏆

A- TIER

Flavor: A

Construction: A

Availability: B+

Price: B

Final Rating:

What an interesting stick. The first inch nearly derailed everything with excessive pepper, but once settled, a beauty emerged that justifies most of the premium pricing. Construction is perfect, flavors transition thoughtfully, and the rare Pelo de Oro tobacco adds genuine complexity. At $35-45, it's expensive but delivers quality that mostly matches the cost.

📊 BOTTOM LINE

The Garcia & Garcia Toro Deluxe proves that My Father Cigars can deliver premium experiences when pulling out rare tobacco and limiting production. That aggressive first inch of pepper nearly ruins the investment - at $35 per stick, every inch counts and starting poorly feels like robbery. Once the pepper settles, the blend reveals cream, tobacco sweetness, citrus, and refined complexity worthy of the price tag. The Pelo de Oro filler adds unique character that separates this from standard Nicaraguan power cigars, while the Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper provides silky smoothness. Perfect construction across draw, burn, and ash formation shows factory expertise. Limited production keeps availability moderate without being impossible. The A- tier rating reflects exceptional quality hampered by that rough opening - starts like a C-tier pepper bomb before transforming into an A-tier experience that makes you forget the initial assault.

TLDR: Expensive father-son blend featuring rare Pelo de Oro tobacco that starts with excessive pepper before revealing refined complexity - at $35+ per stick, that rough first inch feels like paying full price for beta testing.

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Caldwell Lost and Found Antique Line - Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

Well well well. Here we are again with Caldwell. A brand that has unmemorable naming schemes and even more forgettable blends. But can their best of the worst be good? Let's find out!! The Lost and Found concept operates on treasure hunter logic: Robert Caldwell travels around discovering old forgotten stock in manufacturers' warehouses, slaps new bands on them, and sells them as premium finds. The Antique Line supposedly represents his personal aging project - "the caviar of what we do with Lost & Found" according to the man himself. This 2006 vintage has been sitting in some anonymous Dominican factory for nearly 20 years, aging like a fine wine or spoiling like milk depending on how this smoke goes. The manufacturer stays anonymous because either it's an impressive industry name who doesn't want association with Caldwell's rebrand game, or it's someone forgettable who benefits from the mystery. Proceeds support his GAF (Give a F@ck) Program for inner-city education, which means at least your disappointment funds literacy.

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🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Lost and Found Antique Line 2006

Master Blender: Unknown (manufactured by anonymous Dominican factory, discovered and rebranded by Robert Caldwell)

Size: Robusto 5 x 50

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Dominican Colorado (multiple wrapper varieties available in 2006 line)

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican Mejorado

Price: Mid-range for aged limited stock

Aging: Rolled in 2006, nearly 20 years of aging

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Draw: Slightly loose - more airflow than ideal

Burn: Consistent

Smoke Output: Above average production

Ash: Nice white ash formation

Slightly loose draw provides more airflow than you'd want, though the above average smoke production makes up for it somewhat. The white ash looks pristine and holds respectably before surrendering. Construction is decent considering this is "discovered" old stock from an anonymous manufacturer rather than quality-controlled regular production. The Colorado wrapper shows honest medium brown coloring with visible veins - it looks like aged tobacco rather than Instagram-ready cosmetic perfection, which tracks for cigars that have been sitting forgotten in a warehouse since the iPhone was still a year away from existing.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: HONEY HAY SWEETNESS

honey, hay, light leather

Honey dominates the opening with hay providing grassy earthiness. Light leather adds subtle tannin character without overwhelming the sweeter notes. This started with a strong bang - very sweet and honey forward - creating an opening that promises more than it ultimately delivers. The profile is approachable and pleasant, showing what nearly 20 years of aging can do for mellowing tobacco.

SECOND THIRD: DECLINING TRAJECTORY

hay, leather, light honey, graham cracker

Hay takes center stage as leather becomes more prominent. Light honey persists but diminishes noticeably from the opening. Graham cracker sweetness arrives but can't maintain the momentum established in the first third. The longer you smoke it, the worse it gets - flavors fade rather than develop, transitioning from promising to pedestrian.

FINAL THIRD: MINERAL EARTH FINISH

charred cedar, earth, minerals

Charred cedar dominates the closing act alongside earth notes that ground the profile. Minerals appear unexpectedly, adding a chalky character that's neither pleasant nor offensive. The finish is clean but unremarkable, ending without bitterness but also without leaving any lasting impression worth remembering - like that coworker whose name you can never quite recall despite seeing them daily for three years.

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🏆 THE VERDICT

B- TIER

Flavor: B

Construction: B-

Availability: C+

Price: B-

Final Rating:

The Caldwell Lost and Found Antique Line 2006 starts strong with honey-forward sweetness but declines steadily as the smoke progresses. The concept of aged "discovered" tobacco is intriguing, but execution doesn't justify the mystique. At mid-range pricing for limited old stock, it's neither a bargain nor a rip-off.

📊 BOTTOM LINE

Nearly 20 years of aging creates smoothness but can't salvage declining flavors that fade rather than develop. The honey-forward opening shows promise that the cigar fails to maintain, transitioning from sweet and engaging to earthy and forgettable. The slightly loose draw and above average smoke production create decent mechanics, but construction alone doesn't save mediocre tobacco. Limited availability (C+ rating) reflects genuine scarcity of old stock rather than artificial allocation - once these are gone, they're gone. The mystery manufacturer angle is either charming or frustrating depending on your preference for transparency. Proceeds supporting inner-city education through Caldwell's GAF Program adds feel-good factor that doesn't improve smoking quality but might ease buyer's remorse. For Caldwell's supposed "caviar" of the Lost & Found lineup, this delivers more like canned tuna - edible and functional but not remotely luxurious. The B- tier rating reflects accurate mediocrity: starts decent, finishes forgettable, proves that aging alone can't fix average tobacco.

TLDR: Nearly 20 years of aging on mystery Dominican stock that starts honey-sweet but fades into forgettable earth tones - Caldwell's "caviar" tastes more like grocery store sushi left out too long.

Cuba Aliados Torpedo by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo - Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

Can't say I know anything about this cigar other than Ernesto Perez-Carrillo for some reason leaves his best blends for other brands. EPC labeled stuff are his worst. Fight me. This Cuba Aliados release proves the point - it's a limited edition collaboration made for Oliva Cigar Company after they acquired the historic Honduran brand from the late Rolando Reyes Sr.'s family in 2021. The backstory is actually touching: Reyes mentored a young Perez-Carrillo after meeting him in Miami's Calle Ocho, essentially teaching him everything about tobacco. Decades later, EPC returns the favor by crafting this tribute blend limited to just 10,000 boxes across all vitolas. Released at the 2022 PCA Trade Show, this uses a 5-year aged Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper over Dominican and Nicaraguan guts, all rolled at Tabacalera La Alianza in the Dominican Republic where Perez-Carrillo does his best work - which is apparently everything except his own brand.

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🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Cuba Aliados Torpedo

Master Blender: Ernesto Perez-Carrillo - The man who makes better cigars for everyone else's brands than his own EPC line, according to people with functioning taste buds

Size: Torpedo 6 x 54

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra (aged 5 years)

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan

Price: Mid-range pricing (limited edition)

Aging: Minimum 3 years on tobacco, some leaves aged up to 5 years

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Draw: Great - smooth and effortless

Burn: Good with minor corrections needed

Smoke Output: Below average - not billowing clouds but functional

Ash: Solid formation

Great draw and good construction throughout. The torpedo tip has moderate tapering that converges nicely, showing proper rolling technique from Tabacalera La Alianza. The Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper has a medium brown reddish tint with noticeable mottling and oil content - it looks rustic and honest rather than cosmetically perfect. Below average smoke production is the main construction criticism, though it doesn't impact flavor delivery. The band features gold and red foil highlights that are either elegantly ornate or visually overwhelming depending on your tolerance for decorative excess. Limited to 10,000 boxes for the entire line across five vitolas (Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, Re-Gordo, Churchill), this represents genuine scarcity rather than artificial allocation theater designed to create FOMO among collectors who need validation through unobtainable cigars.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: BUTTER HONEY SWEETNESS

pepper, cream, espresso, oak

Butter cream dominates immediately with sweet leather providing smooth tannin character. Honey adds natural sweetness that elevates the profile beyond basic tobacco notes. The opening is refined and approachable, delivering complexity without requiring a flavor thesaurus to describe - it's good without needing to compare it to obscure fruits you've never actually tasted or woodsy notes that sound like a Yankee Candle catalog.

SECOND THIRD: NUTTY EARTH TRANSITION

dark chocolate, smooth pepper, oak

Diminishing cream gives way to leather that becomes the primary force. Roasted nuts emerge with earth notes grounding the profile in classic cigar territory. The sweetness fades but the profile maintains balance rather than just becoming flat and boring. This section shows restraint and development, proving that flavor progression doesn't require dramatic mood swings between thirds.

FINAL THIRD: GRAHAM CRACKER FINISH

charred oak, pepper, espresso, earth

Leather persists as graham cracker sweetness arrives unexpectedly. Earth continues throughout while charred nuts provide roasted complexity to the closing act. The finish is composed and clean, ending without bitterness or harshness - this cigar knows how to exit gracefully rather than limping to the finish line like a marathon runner who overtrained and refused to listen to their knees.

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🏆 THE VERDICT

B TIER

Flavor: B

Construction: A-

Availability: B-

Price: B

Final Rating:

The Cuba Aliados by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Torpedo delivers a solid, refined smoking experience that showcases what EPC can do when working with aged tobacco and someone else's brand name. The 5-year aged Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper provides smoothness and complexity, while the Dominican-Nicaraguan filler blend creates balanced character. Limited production (10,000 boxes) keeps availability moderate without being impossibly rare.

📊 BOTTOM LINE

This Cuba Aliados release represents Ernesto Perez-Carrillo paying tribute to his mentor Rolando Reyes Sr., who took a young EPC under his wing in Miami's Calle Ocho and taught him the tobacco trade. Released at the 2022 PCA Trade Show, availability has remained moderate since launch - not sitting on every shelf but not impossible to acquire either. The B- availability rating reflects this middle ground. Pricing is reasonable for a limited edition tribute blend with aged tobacco and EPC pedigree - you're not paying allocated secondary market premiums or mortgage-level pricing. The historical context adds value beyond just tobacco quality - knowing this represents EPC honoring his mentor makes it more than just another limited release cash grab. If the thesis holds that Perez-Carrillo saves his best work for other brands (La Gloria Cubana, Inch, this Cuba Aliados), then this torpedo provides evidence for that argument. The refinement and balance here exceeds much of what the actual EPC brand line delivers, which raises questions about brand strategy or perhaps just proves that nostalgia and obligation produce better results than corporate portfolio management. For medium-bodied smokers who appreciate refined flavors and historical significance, the Cuba Aliados by EPC delivers solid value and enjoyment. Just don't expect massive smoke clouds or aggressive strength - this is sophisticated rather than bombastic.

TLDR: Pretty good. Get it on sale.