My Father review The Judge: just because...

[BuzzArd]

Kind of a rebuttal to a recent review panning The Judge cigars.  Not my favorite by any means, but certainly not as bad as the recent review....  Maybe he just ad a bad single or did I disremember my only other The Judge experience?  

Time to revisit!

I picked up this Grand Robusto sized stick several months ago and it's been resting in a desktop humi with 62% Boveda at room temp. Right of the bat these things are bigger than anything I'd usually pick up, but at the urging of our local My Father reps I figured I'd give them a try.  The first one I had shortly after they came out seemed pretty strong to me. Wondering if this will be the same. I will agree they flow a lot of air....  not a particilar wind tunnel, but more than I'm used to.  It suits me. Hate getting a headache trying to move air through a tight roll. I prefer an easier draw to that option.

Aroma at cold, earthy and leathery for sure, but there are some sweet cocoa notes as well. Upon lighting there was a rather acrid taste which quickly gave way to lots of spicy leather and bitter cocoa, as well bittersweet tobacco flavors which remained present throughout.  Burn at the 1/2" point was perfect. Taste was more spicy and leathery than I prefer, but the stick was performing flawlessly by the half.  

I pulled off the secondary band and right about midway some sweet caramel notes drifted into play with the spiced leather core.  I've read reviews describing all kinds of sweetness in this blend, but there was only a hint for me in this example. Nothing too complex, but a subtle change as it burned down to a nub. And I did nub it, just to be sure I wasn't missing anything.... Or at least as much of a nub as I care to execute while driving....  

 

Total burn time was 1:40 minute, and it got me all the way from Flagstaff to N PHX without much more issue than a bit of flower-petalling some ash onto my shirt.  

Overall not a bad cigar.   Not in my usual prefered profile, and I would probably only smoke another if it was given to me, but definitely not a bad experience with My Father  

 

[PigFish]

Never had one and can't see a reason to. Always like to read reviews though... Thanks for taking one for the team. -Piggy

[BuzzArd]

35 minutes ago, PigFish said:

Never had one and can't see a reason to. Always like to read reviews though... Thanks for taking one for the team. -Piggy

 Definitely not in your wheelhouse Mr. Pig! 

[Sean3]

Thanks for the review BuzzArd.

[feral]

I'm an admitted Pepin fan and I still haven't tried this cigar because of the size and price. Thanks for the review and reminder that I should give it a try.

[shaffer22]

I am a fan of Pepín. Not a huge fan of this particular cigar.

[Islandboy]

I’m still trying to work my way through a box of Le Bijou 1922 Torpedos that I bought shortly after it was named COTY (probably a mistake to do right AFTER the award). They share the same basic flavors you list, and I’ve struggled to find the taste interesting, moreso as they age. I like my coffee black, and I love bitter dark chocolate....just not in a cigar for me.

Thanks for the review. 

[retrofail]

47 minutes ago, Islandboy said:

I’m still trying to work my way through a box of Le Bijou 1922 Torpedos that I bought shortly after it was named COTY (probably a mistake to do right AFTER the award). They share the same basic flavors you list, and I’ve struggled to find the taste interesting, moreso as they age. I like my coffee black, and I love bitter dark chocolate....just not in a cigar for me.

Thanks for the review. 

Same mistake here. I’ve had the box a year now and have struggled through 3 sticks. Not horrible cigars, but not in my wheel house. 

The box is gorgeous though...so there’s that! 

[Danimalia]

I've only had them in the Toro Fino vitola, which is a 6x52. I've found them to be strong cigars, with plenty of spice, and that elegant, leathery flavor profile that Sumatra wrappers provide. I don't think they're quite worth the price they go for, but they're fine smokes, and I'd have no problem getting an occasional 5 pack, or more if they were on sale.