Cigar Review: My Father Le Bijoux 1922 Box Press

Torpedo, 6.125" x 52 ring gauge / $12.99, Maxamar's

The cigar I'll be reviewing today isn't a new blend but a new size for an existing blend. This size was introduced at this year's IPCPR and has recently started showing up in stores. I really enjoy the regular Le Bjoux so when I saw this I decided to give it a try. This cigar is comprised of all Nicaraguan tobaccos like most of the stuff from the My Father factory. This was the third one of these I smoked.

Giving the cigar a once over visually there is a lot to catch the eye. The double bands are very ornate, the orange ribbon at the bottoms contrasts nicely with the wrapper. Then you have the rich dark chocolate colored wrapper that has very fine veins, with a good amount of oils and some tooth to it. When I gave the cigar a squeeze I didn't detect any soft spots but there was a slight amount of give to it. Putting my nose to the wrapper I got the aroma of cedar and barnyard, with leather coming from the foot. After clipping it and taking a cold draw on it I got tastes of chocolate and leather with a good draw.

Once I lit the cigar up my tongue was coated with a creamy chocolate flavor. After taking a few more puffs on it I started getting red pepper spice on the tongue and a wasabi like burn on the retrohale. As I progressed into the first third the flavors of leather and earth started coming through. The draw on the cigar was just about perfect and it produced a large volume of smoke. I would classify this cigar at the upper end of medium in regards to strength and body at this point. The black streaked grey ash held on for about three quarters of an inch before needing to be tapped off.

The second third didn't see much change in the flavors. They were of chocolate and leather with a slight hint of cedar thrown in. The spice was still present, although it was slightly less intense than the first third. The draw continued to be perfect. The burn was slightly wavy but it didn't need any corrections.

The final third saw this cigar finish off strong. While the cigar didn't change much the flavors were quite enjoyable. I noted flavors of chocolate and earth with a hint of cinnamon in this third. The spice built a bit and I started to get a slight nicotine hit as well.

Overall this was a very enjoyable cigar! I don't know if I can exactly put my finger on why it is different than the non box pressed version, but it is. I think it maybe slightly spicier and a little less sweet. I would recommend this to anyone who likes the regular Le Bijoux. I would also suggest that if you haven't tried a Le Bijoux before, and you don't might a slight nicotine hit, you definitely give it a try! I do know the price is a little high, and that is the main reason I don't smoke a lot of these myself, but I wish I could.

Body: 8/10
Strength: 8/10
Complexity: 6/10

AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10