My Father Le Bijou 1922 100 Años LE
This limited edition release was created to mark what would have been the 100th birthday of José García Alayón, father of José “Pepín” García. First issued in 2022 and now returning every two years, it is restricted to just 1,922 boxes of 22 cigars in each of two sizes.The regular Le Bijou 1922 line was already Pepín’s personal tribute to his father, the “jewel” of the family. The 100 Años edition takes that same spirit further with a specially modified blend of Garcia grown Nicaraguan tobaccos, offering a richer, more refined expression of the legacy that started it all.
Stogie at a glance
Check out the curated playlist for My Father Le Bijou 1922 100 Años LE Corona Extra here.
Check out the curated playlist for the My Father Le Bijou 1922 100 Años LE Corona Extra here.
Review
First Third
The first light brings a sweet aroma that immediately sets a welcoming tone. On the retrohale, classic Garcia pepper and spice arrive right on cue. On the palate the cigar opens with dark chocolate and cedar, underpinned by a creamy espresso, cinnamon, and spice combination that evokes a spiced chocolate mousse. Halfway through the first third, savory notes begin mixing with the cedar and develop nicely. Cocoa and cedar dominate the long finish. As the third progresses the cedar sweetens, joined by chocolate and emerging fruity notes. Slight citrus appears on the finish as the classic Le Bijou profile I have come to expect fully settles in; refined, flavorful, and unmistakably My Father.
My Father Le Bijou 1922 100 Años LE Corona Extra playlist here.
Second Third
In the second third, black coffee notes emerge alongside dark chocolate and a light citrus-peel finish. Sweet-and-salty deep cedar becomes more prominent. The aroma evolves into a wonderful sweet-cake character. Cedar and chocolate carry most of the flavor, with nutmeg and baking spices riding lightly underneath. Pepper has mellowed overall but still spikes occasionally, leaving that spicy citrus-peel impression on the finish. Sweet cedar and spice trade places with cocoa and coffee from puff to puff. Near the end of the second third, peanut and almond notes appear, while the profile shifts toward a spiced hot-chocolate character with black coffee on the finish.
Final Third
Chocolate becomes much more prominent in the final third, still accompanied by cedar that leads into a citrus-peel and black-coffee finish. The aroma continues as sweet cake with almond. Pepper returns intermittently, but the core remains cocoa, baking spices, and orange zest. Cedar alternates with the cocoa, creating an engaging back-and-forth. Dark cherry and chocolate add welcome complexity. Espresso joins the finish, followed by mesquite wood and earthy spices. As the cigar winds down, cedar, dark chocolate, and espresso remain constant companions while the pepper strengthens once more on the finish. A refined, classic Le Bijou experience that delivers the depth and balance My Father smokers know well, elevated by the celebratory 100 Años presentation.
Score
92/100