Agile Cigar Reviews replace what we termed “Assessment Updates”. The concept is the same, but the name is different. Agile Cigar Reviews use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or providing a score for a first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Connecticut in the “10/50” (lonsdale). This is a cigar we have previously assessed in the Toro size back in April 2012.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (My Father Cigars SA)
10/50: 6 3/8 x 43 (Lonsdale)

Back in 2010, Jaime Garcia, the son of Don Pepin Garcia introduced his eponymous cigar, the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial. The Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial is a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper offering that is a staple regular production offering for My Father Cigars. Two years later, a Connecticut Shade wrapper offering was offered as a regional release to the New England states and was appropriately called known as the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial New England Edition. This special regional release was made available in four sizes. Fast forward to 2013, a limited edition fifth size was added as a shop exclusive cigar to Chicago retailer Up Down Cigar known as the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial 10/50.

The 10/50 was created for Up Down Cigar’s 50th anniversary. The cigar is a lonsdale measuring 6 3/8 x 43. The cigars are packaged in 20 count boxes. In addition a 10/50 size (also the 6 3/8 x 43 lonsdale) of the Tatuaje Fausto was made for Up Down cigar. Both cigars are produced at the My Father Cigars factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. In addition to the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, the blend for the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial 10/50 features an all Nicaraguan blend

The Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial 10/50 started out with some classic Connecticut creamy notes. As the cigar experience progresses notes of berry, cedar, and classic wood emerge. During the second third, the cedar notes eventually display the cream in the forefront. The last third saw a combination of woody and cedar notes with a diminished presence of the cream and berry. The flavors are medium bodied and countered by a strength level in the mild to medium range.

Overall the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial 10/50 was a nice extension to the blend released to the New England states. It’s a cigar that I could recommend to both the experienced and novice cigar enthusiast. As of myself, it’s worthy of picking up a fiver.

Summary

Key Flavors: Cream, Cedar, Wood, Berry
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium+
Strength: Mild to Medium
Body: Medium
Finish: Excellent

Rating

Assessment: 3.0-The Fiver
Score: 89

References

Original Assessment: Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial New England Edition (Toro)
News: Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial (Connecticut Shade) 10/50 to be Retail Exclusive to Up Down Cigar
Price: $10.50
Source: Purchased
Stogie Geeks Podcast: n/a
Stogie Feed: n/a
Brand Reference: My Father

Photo Credit: Cigar Coop