“The Martino” by My Father Le Bijou 1922 (Anthony’s Cigar Emporium Exclusive) | Cigar Review

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5.5 X 50 Round Sample Size (4.5 x 50 Box Press – Regular Production Size)
Body: Full
Price: $8.75 by the box or Single

Today we take a look at the new “The Martino” by My Father Le Bijou 1922 (Anthony’s Cigar Emporium Exclusive)

BACKGROUND:
“The Martino” is a special box pressed version of the Le Bijou that My Father made exclusively for Anthony’s 20th Anniversary. Fresh off the line, imagine all of the intensity of the Toro, condensed into a smooth full strength and full body. This is the robusto other robustos aspire to be.

“My Father 1922 Le Bijou cigars are handmade in Nicaragua. While the original My Father was made secretly by Don Pepin’s son Jaime, Le Bijou is Don Pepin’s homage to his own father, born in 1922. French for the jewel, Le Bijou lives up to its billing! Notoriously difficult to grow, Pelo de Oro wrapper leaves (dubbed Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro) cloak a well-aged, full-bodied blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos. A sweet, creamy start gives way to some spice and bold tobacco flavor.

“LFD ACE 20th + The Martino (Box Pressed) Combo: Buy both boxes of the special 20th Anniversary Cigars made for Anthony’s Cigar Emporium, and you’ll receive SO many extras! 2 LFD Event Only Cigars + 1 LFD Cutter + 1 My Father Special S – 3 Pack! That’s 5 free cigars, and a cutter – and a combined cost lower than if you had bought them individually.”

DESCRIPTION:
This rode the rails when I got an order from A.C.E. We are told it is not the real look in terms of fancy shmancy cigar banding. And the size is different from the for sale cigar.
It has a simple orange cigar band and says: “The Martino.”
A very oily, smooth wrapper the color of the finest darkest coffee beans. Seams are tight. Lots of veins, both big and small. A lumpy triple cap. Solid. But with a soft spot just below the cigar band.

SIZES AND PRICING:
Comes in one size only in boxes of 15.

AROMAS AND COLD DRAW NOTES:
From the shaft, I smell strong floral notes, chocolate, coffee, spice, and wood.
From the clipped cap and foot, I smell dark cocoa, coffee, and spice.
The cold draw presents flavors of dark cocoa, cinnamon, coffee, spice, salt, and exotic fruit.

FIRST THIRD:
The draw is a bit tight. I give it the special Katman massage.
Begins off with a big start: Chocolate, red pepper, sweetness, toffee, coffee, oak, mesquite, very rich tobacco notes, Worcestershire sauce, molasses, chocolate covered banana, and a meaty element.
Now that’s how you start a cigar.

The char line is a bit wonky so I give it a touch up before it gets out of hand.
So far, The Martino’s size doesn’t make a big change to the My Father Le Bijou 1922 flavor profile. It has all the perfect ear markings of the Pepin Garcia touch.

It just seems that Garcia thought the line needed a Rothschild size. There isn’t a Corona nor a normal sized Robusto. So The Martino slides in easily.
The char line is doing just fine now.
It’s a slow smoke. Strength is medium/full.

I watched 4 hours of the “Director’s Cut of Woodstock” last night. The show started with Richie Havens, who I once met on a Southwest plane from Santa Fe, NM to Phoenix. He was sitting with Ali McGraw. Gawd, she was gorgeous.

Anyway, they had no intention of starting with Havens but the first act got caught in the massive traffic jam so they asked Havens to go on stage and fake it. The regular movie just shows him singing “Freedom.” The Director’s Cut shows him playing other songs. But that one song made him a star in the late 60’s. And of course, it was great music.

Back to the “The Martino” by My Father Le Bijou 1922. The steak sauce is very strong along with orange blossom tea. It’s very sweet.
I just noticed something. The line already has this size in the form of a Petite Robusto. I reviewed it back in April, 2014. WTF? Why would you repeat a size? And the original Petite Robusto is $1.95 cheaper per stick. Now I’m really confused.

Meanwhile, I must be smoking a “Journey” stick. Cigars that are blended on the way to the finished product but rejected.,,Not good enough. Kendall likes to use that term and explained it to me. The “Journey” cigar. Cool. I like it.
There is a fresh rolled essence to this blend. Very flavorful but very similar to the original Petite Robusto My Father Le Bijou 1922. I check my old review. Bingo. Very similar.
I check Cigar Aficionado and it was only kind to one size: The Torpedo which got a 93. All other sizes got around an 87.

SECOND THIRD:
Smoke time is 23 minutes.
I like Garcia blends. Especially when he works with other blenders like Pete Johnson.
So I’m not going to find a lot wrong with this blend.

A sip of water and we are off to the races with orange juice, molasses, Worcestershire, strong chocolate and coffee, licorice, creaminess, cedar, and salty pretzel.
Strength is medium/full.

I guess that regular customers don’t get the chance to see what a difference size makes when they send them the wrong size. The “Journey” cigar. 5.5 x 50. Instead of 4.5 x 50.

So what the hell am I reviewing here? It’s not the box pressed correct size? Man, I should have thought this out. But then, lately, I don’t think things out very well. I am living in a constant cloud of confusion and feeling very alone. I’m having trouble operating my camera. At moments, it looks like something foreign and I don’t know what to do with it. Very scary because I know it’s happening.

HALFWAY POINT:
Smoke time is 40 minutes.
The “The Martino” by My Father Le Bijou 1922 is a very good cigar. But if you’ve smoked any of the Le Bijou 1922 line, you already know that. Full of body, flavors, complexity and balance.

Here they are: Spice, chocolate, steak, steak sauce, creamy, coffee, caramel, licorice, orange juice, pretzel, cedar, earthy tobacco, and MALT.

Let’s see what malt flavors I taste: Aromatic Malt, Cara Vienna, Coffee Malt, and Flaked Rye. (See Malt Chart).
I’ve come to realize that the golden ticket in all great blends is the malt component. It doesn’t have to be strong. But it imparts quite the impact.

We’ve hit the Sweet Spot. A very long, chewy finish. And each sip of water causes a flavor explosion. A perfect balance. Very, very complex. The meatiness and steak sauce play a major influence.

You ever notice that when Cigar Aficionado describes a cigar, it used two adjectives at the most to describe it. How do they get away with that bullshit? Especially, when it is a flavor bomb?

This is how it describes the Petite Robusto: “It is mostly woody and leathery, with hints of anise and a floral finish.” Wow. Four adjectives. And it receives an 89.
The Toro: “After a while, the cigar shows significant coffee notes as well as some sweetness.” Which gets a 90.
And then in a flash, the dark chocolate and creaminess surge to the top of the list. Big time leaving everything behind.
The malt components are dragged with them.
Strength is full body.

LAST THIRD:
Smoke time is an hour.
An excellent cigar. I haven’t had a Le Bijou 1922 in a long time. Smoked a lot and then burned out a year or so ago.
The “The Martino” by My Father Le Bijou 1922 is outstanding. The last third is a real testament to the Garcia’s family talent and journeyman skills.

I can’t imagine the real The Martino tasting any better than this bastardized version.

There is no mention of any profits going to charity so I am still stumped by why they choose to produce a more expensive Petite Robusto. So you can have The Martino written on a foot band? Because that is the only change to the presentation.
Still, a free cigar is a free cigar. And to be honest, ACE says in the little card that this is just for our enjoyment.

Although, I’m sure that the big guy reviewers got the real deal for review. Probably boxes. Me? I’m the shlub who gets a single with a purchase of a box of Flor de las Antillas by My Father. They had a one day special and I got one, with the My Father red ashtray, for less than $100 including shipping. That was a deal and it came out of the rent money. LOL. I’m so fucking pathetic. Haha. Of course, I didn’t tell Charlotte. Every time I get some free cigars in the mail, I get the stink eye from her. I have to prove it came from a manufacturer or reader. This is no way to live.

My only criticism that will affect my rating is that there was a constant char line issue. Little touch ups were required throughout the smoke.
Other than that, it was a magnificent cigar.

This was a very smooth adventure. Full bodied but super complex and flavors in abundance. And no nicotine. I like that.
Final smoke time is an hour and 15 minutes.
OK. Time to rate it. I give it a 90. Would have been higher if not for the char line issues.

PRICE POINT:
I don’t understand providing the exact same size as one already in existence and a couple bucks more per cigar. What am I missing? Is it the name? Petite Robusto v. The Martino?

SUMMATION:
A super enjoyable cigar experience. The “The Martino” by My Father Le Bijou 1922 was a good time had by all. Er…I mean me.
If you are going to buy a My Father Le Bijou 1922, skip The Martino and purchase the Petite Robusto if that’s the size you like. Other sizes include: Churchill, Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, and Grand Robusto. Prices range from $9.00-$12.00 per stick in Single or Box format.