Let's talk about this Nicaraguan torpedo that's been making waves since its 2020 release. The My Father Fonseca Belicoso comes in boxes of 20 with that signature tapered head we all love in a belicoso. At 5.5" x54, it's got enough girth to promise a solid 90-minute smoke. Priced around $10/stick, it's straddling that line between daily driver and special occasion smoke.
The cold draw gives that earthy Nicaraguan soil note - you know the one. Initial light brings white pepper that'll clear your sinuses, mellowing into roasted nuts after about 10 puffs. Watch for that oily wrapper keeping the burn line razor-straight.
Here's where the Garcia family's blending magic shows up. The pepper backs off and suddenly you're getting espresso bean mixed with unsweetened cocoa. Retrohale reveals a sneaky cinnamon note that'll make you check the band again to confirm this isn't a flavored stick.
Last third goes full Nicaraguan on you - leather and dark chocolate with just enough sweetness to balance the strength. Smoke output increases noticeably, but watch the nub - that corojo wrapper can turn bitter if you push it past the 1.5" mark.
That earthy core comes straight from Estelí volcanic soil. While the Fonseca name nods to Cuban heritage, every leaf here is Nicaraguan - from the corojo wrapper to the double binder. The Garcias use a rare shade-grown technique on their Jalapa farms, explaining that smooth combustion even at 54 ring gauge.
