My Father

My Father Cigars stands as one of the most prestigious and critically acclaimed premium cigar brands in the world, founded by legendary Cuban master blender José 'Pepin' Garcia. With a slew of 92-plus ratings, My Father Cigars are widely considered to be one of the most highly acclaimed brands in the premium cigar industry with a diverse portfolio of top-quality blends, representing the highest scored and most prestigious brand of the company. They are one of the only companies in the industry to have received the prestigious #1 Cigar of the Year award two times. The brand represents the pinnacle of Cuban-style cigar craftsmanship made with Nicaraguan tobaccos, combining traditional techniques with modern innovation to create some of the most sought-after cigars in the premium market.

Background

Born in Cuba in 1950, third generation master blender Jose 'Pepin' Garcia rolled his first cigar at the young age of 11, beginning his life with tobacco in December 1961 when he began working in a factory in Báez owned by an uncle. He worked at the Félix Rodríguez export cigar factory in Báez until he emigrated to Nicaragua in 2001, spending forty years in Cuba developing his skills as a torcedor and blender, achieving the highest ranking possible as a cigar roller, Class 8 (Master). During his time in Cuba, he helped blend cigars such as Cohiba, Partagas, and Montecristo, and in the 1990s was in charge of Quality Assurance for the Cohiba brand. In 2003, Garcia came to Miami and opened a small cigar factory called El Rey de los Habanos with his son, Jaime, and daughter, Janny, formally incorporating the company in December 2002. In 2008, Jaime Garcia developed the original and top-rated My Father blend, and in 2009, the family moved their thriving operation to a state-of-the-art factory and farm in Estelí, Nicaragua, establishing My Father Cigars S.A.

History

Garcia's early blends received critical acclaim and rave reviews, providing the perfect foundation for the company to grow quickly, leveraging the expertise that Jose Pepin gained from launching the Tatuaje, San Cristobal, and La Aroma de Cuba brands. My Father's rise to prominence was capped when Flor de las Antillas was named 2012 Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado with 96 points, with success repeated in 2015 when My Father Le Bijou 1922 received 97 points and became Cigar of the Year. Since 2018, Nicaragua has surpassed the Dominican Republic as the world's biggest exporter of premium cigars, with My Father producing over 20 million cigars per year playing a significant role in this accomplishment.

Reputation

Their releases are typically rated 90+ by Cigar Aficionado, Cigar Journal, and other industry-recognized reviewers. My Father Cigars quickly became a benchmark for excellence in the cigar industry, with the brand's factory located in Estelí, Nicaragua now one of the most respected in the world, known for producing cigars that consistently receive high ratings and accolades. Jose 'Pepin' Garcia is now a third-generation tobacco blender and a Cigar Aficionado Hall of Famer (Class of 2022). The brand is universally respected among cigar enthusiasts and industry professionals for maintaining the highest standards of quality while honoring traditional Cuban cigar-making techniques.