Some cigars stick with you. They tie memories and special moments to the cigar itself. For me, the My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo is one of those rare cigars that changed the way I experience them altogether.
Early in my cigar journey, this cigar was the “ah-ha” moment, the cigar that made me truly experience all the flavors for the first time: the transitions, the texture, and the balance between dark chocolate, spice, and sweetness.
Years later, I was eager to revisit it. The Le Bijou 1922 has earned Cigar Aficionado Magazine’s top honors, plenty of praise from the García family, and a reputation as one of the finest full-bodied cigars to ever come out of Nicaragua. But could it still live up to the nostalgia and to my fond memories of it?
Friday afternoon, long day in the rearview, lighter in hand, time to find out in this cigar review.
Profile: Full Body
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan (Nicaragua filler)
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A., Estelí, Nicaragua
Sizes Available: Petit Robusto (4.5 × 50), Torpedo Box Pressed (6 ⅛ × 52), Churchill (7 × 50), Grand Robusto (5.625 x 55), Toro (6 x 52),
Notable Feature: Cigar Aficionado’s 2015 #1 Cigar of the Year (Box-Pressed Torpedo)
Price Point: $11–13 per stick or $65 for a 5-pack. Boxes of 23 run around $280
Le Bijou means “The Jewel,” and 1922 marks the birth year of José “Pepin García”’s father, the man this blend honors. Created by Pepin García and Jaime García, the Le Bijou 1922 is a 100% Nicaraguan blend designed to showcase the strength, complexity, and quality that define My Father Cigars.
Since its debut, it’s been a benchmark for My Father Cigars, earning Cigar Aficionado’s top spot in 2015 and still standing as one of the most celebrated full-bodied cigars ever produced.
When you light up a Le Bijou 1922, you’re not just smoking a cigar, you’re holding a piece of family history rolled into one dark, beautiful stick.
The first thing you notice is the dark, oily Habano Oscuro wrapper. It’s nearly black chocolate in color with a silky sheen and tight seams leading to a sharp triple cap. In hand, the stick feels dense and balanced, with just a touch of give near the foot.
The aroma of the wrapper mixes cedar, tobacco, and sweet earth. Off the foot, it’s richer, cocoa, black pepper, and a touch of barnyard. The cold draw delivers creamy chocolate notes with hints of spice and wood, promising a full-bodied experience worth savoring.
The first draw greets you with that unmistakable Pepin García signature, an immediate blast of black pepper and spicy cedar through the retrohale. It’s bold and lively without being harsh.
Behind the spice, dark chocolate, leather, and earth begin to surface, layering beautifully. The burn line starts straight, the smoke output is chewy and consistent, and the perfect draw makes each puff effortless.
By the midpoint of the first third, the Le Bijou 1922 settles into a rich, balanced groove. The flavor profile builds depth with every puff, reaffirming why this blend earned Cigar Aficionado’s praise as a true standout in the full-bodied category.
The second third smooths out nicely. The pepper eases, making room for some slightly sweeter, creamier tones. Notes of espresso, cedar, and light caramel emerge alongside dark cocoa. The flavor balance is seamless, spice on the retrohale, sweetness on the finish, and a rich core of Nicaraguan tobacco throughout.
A slight uneven burn appears but self-corrects quickly. The smoke grows denser, coating the palate with a velvety texture. You can taste the Jaime García touch here, refined blending that allows every note to shine without overpowering the rest.
It’s a full-bodied cigar that never feels heavy, which is a rare feat and extremely welcomed.
In the final third, the Le Bijou 1922 flexes its strength. The spice returns in measured doses as the darker notes take over, earth, oak, espresso, and black pepper. A natural sweetness still lingers on the finish, bringing balance to the cigar’s growing intensity.
Even after a long smoke time, the burn stays consistent, and the flavors never wash out. The final third feels like the perfect closing act, complex, bold, and polished.
As I neared the band, I couldn’t help but think: this cigar hasn’t lost a step. The same sweetness, spice, and power that made it my “ah-ha” cigar years ago are still right there.
Construction is top-tier from start to finish. The wrapper is seamless, the triple cap perfectly applied, and the draw consistently smooth. My sample had a small crack near the foot on the backside but that never affected the burn.
The burn line held steady, just a slight uneven burn midway that corrected itself naturally. Ash stacked neatly in tight, one-inch segments before dropping clean. Smoke output was consistent, flavorful, and aromatic to the very end. Spot on what I expected.
This is craftsmanship in every sense, exactly what you’d expect from My Father Cigars in Estelí.
At around $12-$13 a stick, the My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo sits right where it belongs, among the elite. It’s not an everyday budget smoke, but it earns its price through complexity, construction, and heritage.
Compared to other full-bodied box-pressed cigars in its range, few maintain this level of consistency and depth. It’s a blend that rewards both new and seasoned smokers alike, bold but never abrasive, luxurious without pretension, and still one of the best full-bodied cigars money can buy.
Even after all these years, this one still delivers. The flavor profile, dark chocolate, leather, cream, spice, and earth, remains beautifully balanced. The draw is perfect, the construction flawless, and the experience pure García family craftsmanship from start to finish.
For me, the Le Bijou 1922 isn’t just another cigar; it’s a reminder of why I fell in love with the ritual in the first place. A true full-bodied cigar that continues to exceed my expectations.
Whether you’re lighting one up for the first time or coming back to relive that first “ah-ha” experience, trust me, this Father Le Bijou 1922 still earns its title as The Jewel.
| Category | Rating (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Flavor | 9.3 |
| Construction | 9.1 |
| Burn / Draw |
9.0 |
| Value | 8.8 |
| Overall Rating | ⭐ 9.1 / 10 |
Most cigar reviewers have rated the Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo in the 91–93 range (roughly 9 out of 10), a range that feels right after revisiting this blend today.
Shop the My Father Le Bijou and other premium My Father Cigars now at After Action Cigars. Explore award-winning Nicaraguan blends from Pepin and Jaime García, crafted for smokers who appreciate rich, full-bodied flavor and precision craftsmanship.
Do yourself a favor and grab a 5-pack even if you're not ready to commit to a box, it’s perfect for aging, sharing, or revisiting the blend across multiple sessions.
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