Cigar Review: La Antiguedad TAA by My Father Cigars

• Vitola: Toro (box-pressed)
• 6” x 50 ring gauge
• $8.99
• Purchased at Burns Tobacconist

Background

This year My Father’s contribution to TAA-exclusive cigars was a variation on its La Antiguedad blend. This cigar reportedly uses the same interior blend of Nicaraguan fillers and dual Nicaraguan binders, all grown on farms owned by My Father Cigars. But whereas the regular Antiguedad releases use an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper leaf (to very good effect, I might add…I like this blend more than the famed Flor de las Antillas), this TAA release uses a Nicaraguan C-99 (Corojo 99?) Rosado wrapper. I could find out very little about this cigar online, so I’m relying a bit for background info on what Cigar Authority posted.)

What I do know is that this TAA box-pressed Toro is a size not normally released for La Antiguedad and that we received them in mid-August. I had my hands (and humidor) full with other things at the time, so I didn’t even get around to trying out this size until mid-September…and when I did, I decided I needed to feature it in a review. I bought my own sticks at Burns Tobacconist.

Prelight

The artwork on this line of cigars is exquisite, from the replica of the original Cuban art, to the addition of more modern foil and emboss and other graphic design touches…it’s just a great-looking band. The only thing that betrays this as a special release is the “TAA” printed on the foot band of the cigar.

The wrapper leaf itself is a dark golden color, darker than a typical Connecticut Shade or light Ecuadorian Habano leaf, but lighter than the vast majority of Habano wrappers. It had a bit of darker mottling on it and just a touch of veininess, but overall, it was very attractive. It had just a bit of oiliness under my fingers and a strong barnyard aroma. The foot had more earth, a bit of hay, and a touch of bell pepper aroma to it. The cold draw was very good and had notes of earth and lemon grass to it.

Flavor

The Antiguedad TAA Toro lit up easily and evenly with a minimal amount of effort. Initial puffs revealed flavors of hay, sweet natural tobacco and earth. The typical “Pepin pepper blast” that accompanied so many of the My Father blends was really not in evidence in any major way here. I picked up a little mild pepper heat, but no sinus-searing. As I continued through the first third, I got more herbal and hay notes, finding that this version of the cigar was truly in the medium-bodied range, at least at the beginning.

During the second third, I got an influx of citrus notes…a little sweet, a little sour…combining with the herbal and hay flavors. Any pepper that had been in the mix earlier was long gone and the only earthiness I got was buried deep in the mix in a minor supporting role. There were some floral touches to the blend, as well.

In the last third, La Antiguedad TAA Toro continued its notes of citrus and hay, while some black pepper crept into the mix on the palate, increasing the complexity and interest level.

Construction

I got fantastic construction in this cigar: very good draw, very even burn line, and an ash that held on for an inch or more.

Value

This TAA limited edition is about the same price as the regular release of La Antiguedad, which is unusual and very welcome.

Conclusions

I find this TAA edition of La Antiguedad to be an interesting and worthwhile addition to the line, although I personally didn’t enjoy it as much as the regular release. This version is straight-ahead medium-bodied with a lot of herbal and citrus notes you don’t normally find in Nicaraguan smokes, or in My Father blends for that matter. The would be a very good introduction to the My Father lines for smokers coming from a background of enjoying milder cigars as it won’t overwhelm with body or pepper spice; for those who already enjoy My Father sticks, it serves well as a morning smoke.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10