Let's talk about the My Father No.3 Crema - this 6x49 parejo comes in boxes of 23 sticks priced at $262.89. Jaime Garcia's tribute to his father Pepin rolls Nicaraguan fire under an Ecuador Habano wrapper. Triple-capped and rolled in Esteli, these torpedoes earned a 94-rating from Cigar Aficionado, but don't let the medium-full strength scare you off. That oily Habano-Rosado leaf glistens like a fresh coat of car wax.
First third: Straightforward cedar and black pepper open the show. The draw's tighter than a new humidor seal - needs some coaxing. Creaminess peeks through at the inch mark like dawn breaking over Esteli tobacco fields.
Mid-section: Baking spices crash the party - cinnamon rolls dunked in coffee. There's this earthy undertone that reminds me of walking into their Jalapa valley curing barns. Retrohale? That's where the nutmeg lives.
Final stretch: Leather and dark chocolate muscles in around the last third. The nicotine hits like a Nicaraguan sunrise - gradual but undeniable. Pro tip: pair with a Cafe Bustelo cortado to match its rhythm.
These get the full Garcia treatment - triple caps tighter than Cuban baseball caps. The box-press shows through after about 30 minutes, like a sleeping bag rolling up. Burn line stays straighter than Pepin's legendary rolling table. Pro tip: dry-box for 12 hours if you want that draw to sing.
That Esteli-Jalapa-Ometepe trifecta in the filler keeps things interesting - like three brothers arguing at a family BBQ. The Habano wrapper adds just enough sweetness to balance the Nicaraguan pepper. Aging potential? These could go 3-5 years easy, but good luck keeping your hands off them.
