The shaft gives off notes of cedar, summer-kissed hay, and dry earth. Upon drawing, the cold draw offers the perfect milkshake draw with just the right degree of resistance. I can taste subtle notes of cocoa, wood, barnyard, and nuts.

First Third

From the first draw, you can tell this is not your typical Jose Pepin smoke. You will be greeted by decadent notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar and a symphony of delicious baking spices. The smoke is a warm fusion of nuts and a shy white-pepper nuance.

Unlike most of the other Pepin blends, Flor de las Antillas exhibits mild strength and flavour. The typical knock-your-door-down Pepin aggression is lacking. And before you think this is a bad thing, the mild strength and flavour allow you to notice the exceptional balance and maturity exhibited in this bad boy.

This is one of those smokes that you can truly sit back and enjoy. The smoke is sufficient and the burn is beyond reproach

Mid Third

As I wade through the mid third, its difficult for me to keep up with the transitions. There are no stack transitions perhaps because this cigar is so balanced. All I know is somewhere towards the start of the mid third, there was a delicious citrus note. It's fleeting and delicious; I can't stop chasing it.

The basic flavours are extremely refined notes of cocoa and nutmeg on an earthy and leather background. My fleeting citrus note zooms in and out in the retro coupled with an all but gone white pepper nuance.

As my mid third comes to a close, I noticed an implicit floral note on the nose and back of the throat. The smoke is still very creamy, smooth, and luxurious. I still can't say that the strength is a medium. To me, it's a mild-medium kick at best but definitely full-flavoured. My ash is a gravity-defying tower- I am kinda proud of it. The smoke is still sufficient, thick, and pleasant.

Final Third

In to the final third, I can finally feel a kick in the nicotine. The flavour profile goes a tad dark with heavier notes of cedar, nuts, cinnamon, earth, and leather holding down the fort. Thankfully, the savory citrus note holds up to the nub while a little white pepper comes back to the tongue and nose.

I like that this cigar never goes harsh even as the profile went dark. I ended up with a nub I could no longer hold. It was a great smoke.

Final Word

I can, without a doubt, see why Flor de las Antillas got the Cigar of the Year 2012 title. It is an unusual and daring off-the-beaten-path attempt by Pepin to give us a different experience. It worked! It is no wonder some of the industry's giants work with Pepin to craft awe-inspiring blends.

After learning the process of making one of these bad boys, you must be thinking Flor de las Antillas costs a fortune. Surprisingly, its one of the most affordable cigars in the My Father portfolio. In actuality, you can get any Flor de las Antillas for under $10! How about that!

Obviously, there is no reason why you shouldn't have a box of these in your humidor right now. Run, don't walk and grab yourself a box today.
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