Cigar Review: My Father Le Bijou 1922 Limited Edition 2016

Vitola: Toro
Size: 6.5″ x 52 ring gauge
Price $20.99
Obtained From SmallBatchCigar.com as a review sample

Background

While it definitely isn’t the first limited edition for the company I think this is the first time a Le Bijou 1922 cigar comes in a coffin.  This cigar started showing up at cigar shops around the country last week.  They use the same blend as the normal Le Bijou; Nicaraguan filler and binder with an Ecuadorian habano oscuro wrapper.  They come packed 14 coffins to a box and they are limited to 4000 boxes.  This review sample was my first experience with the cigar.

Prelight

The wrapper on this sample was extremely dark, almost black in color.  It did have some hints of gold and red scattered throughout though.  The top band was the normal band with the second band denoting that is a limited edition.  You also had the ribbon on the bottom telling you that as well.  When I gave it a squeeze there was a slight amount of give without any soft spots.  The wrapper was slightly oily and slightly velvety to the touch.  Putting my nose to the wrapper I got a strong aroma of barnyard with the same coming from the foot.  After clipping it and taking a cold draw I noted chocolate and leather flavors with an ok draw.

Flavor

It starts off with flavors of chocolate, leather and a good amount of red pepper spice.  After taking a few more puffs I started to note some earth, coffee and cinnamon flavors as well.  The cigar starts off at medium full strength.  As it moved into the second third the spice did mellow out a bit, especially on the retrohale.  The flavors changed slightly to chocolate, earth, coffee, cinnamon and hints of anise.  It definitely moved to full strength during this third.  The spice started to come back during the final third with my tongue beginning to tingle.  The flavors changed slightly again to chocolate, leather, coffee, earth, cinnamon and cola.  It definitely finished off full strength.

Construction

The draw was a little tight to begin with but by the end of the first third it had opened up.  In the middle of the first third a burn whole developed in the wrapper.  Luckily it didn’t screw up the draw,  but it did need some correction after I burned passed it.  After that the burn was only slightly wavy.

Value

I know it is a limited edition, but it just didn’t wow me as that different than the regular Le Bijou.

Conclusions

While it was an enjoyable cigar, It didn’t taste that different than the regular Le Bijou.  It definitely was stronger and wouldn’t be for the timid; I would recommend eating beforehand.  Also a cigar of this price shouldn’t have had that construction issue.  Although it is a little overpriced I’ll probably pick up a couple to put away as some of the limited editions from My Father have definitely gotten way better with age.  If you want to try for yourself, SmallBatchCigar.com still has them in stock.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: .5/1
Total: 8.5/10