My Father The Judge Toro Staff Review
Let’s get ready to smoke! My current selection is My Father The Judge in a chunky box-pressed Toro produced by the world-renowned Garcia family. Master cigar-maker Jose ‘Pepin’ Garcia, his son, Jaime Garcia, and daughter, Janny Garcia, left Cuba in the late 1990s and began a journey that would culminate in what is considered one of today’s foremost brands of premium cigars, My Father.
The Garcias built My Father Cigars from the ground up through sheer hard work, dedication, and an unmatched passion for premium tobacco. From a humble cigar factory in Miami, the Garcias produced cigars that caught the attention of critics and consumers alike. The family has collected many prestigious awards, including two ‘#1 Cigar of the Year’ titles from Cigar Aficionado, as well as countless cigar ratings over 90 points throughout the well-known portfolio of brands they produce. Today, their modern My Father factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, is home to other top-rated brands, including La Aroma de Cuba, San Cristobal, and Tatuaje.
Because the Garcias are seasoned tobacco farmers, as well as blenders and cigar-makers, they can create cigars with a remarkable degree of authenticity. The family’s farms and manufacturing facilities have grown in accordance with their success. Much of it is owed to the family patriarch – known by most simply as Pepin – who has mentored his offspring with a lifetime of wisdom in cultivating, fermenting, and blending the tobaccos that go into exceptional cigars like The Judge.
When you first pick up The Judge, its cinnamon-hued Ecuador Sumatra wrapper catches the eye. It is hearty, velvety, and lustrous. The brawny 6 x 56 Toro shows a few veins and a bit of color variance. Its blocky dimensions give off a vibe that a full-bodied smoking experience awaits. From the foot, I am greeted with an aroma of cedar and gingersnap cookies prior to lighting up. As I clip the cap clean off and take a few cold draws, I know I’m in for a treat.
Upon lighting, The Judge engulfs my patio with voluptuous clouds of creamy smoke. The first third of the cigar easily meets my expectations. Generous amounts of spice combine nicely with softer hints of chocolate ganache and almonds. Construction-wise, the Toro draws perfectly and is easy to appreciate in its thick box-pressed shape. The Judge offers a cool and pleasant burn while a clean, tight ash develops evenly.
As I reach the midway point, the blend exhibits remarkable balance. The Judge is crafted with beefy Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos that deliver loads of rich and refined flavor. The Garcias have a knack for blending cigars that are robust, sophisticated, and suave. Flavors of fine leather and cocoa mingle with peppery spices, café con leche, and nuts. The final third reveals an earthy character with notes of wood and espresso beans.
Roughly seventy-five blissful minutes have escaped as I zero in on the final one to two inches. The cigar’s performance hasn’t wavered at all from the ideal burn and draw it began with. The Judge tingles across my lips with Pepin’s trademark Nicaraguan zest in an ultra-smooth and completely satisfying finale. I couldn’t be happier. In my opinion, if you haven’t smoked The Judge yet, you’re missing out on one of the top My Father Cigars. Order it and get it into your rotation without delay. Hands down, The Judge is a flawless mix of power and finesse you won’t regret relaxing with. Enjoy!
