The verdict The My Father Le Bijou 1922 is a full-bodied, expertly blended Nicaraguan with a Habano Oscuro wrapper: spicy, creamy and cocoa-rich. A former Cigar of the Year that holds up, with excellent construction.
When Cigar Aficionado named the My Father Le Bijou 1922 its top cigar of 2015, it confirmed what Pepín García’s reputation had long promised: that the García family ranks among the finest blenders working in Nicaragua. The Le Bijou — “the jewel,” named for the 1922 birth year of Pepín’s late father — is the most personal cigar in the house portfolio. Our desk wanted to test the Toro on a blind, paid-for basis and see whether a decade-old champion still smokes like one.
We bought three boxes of the Toro at the public rate from authorized US and UK retailers (roughly $11 to $13 per cigar at the counter), rested them six weeks, and tasted five cigars per box blind, seeded into a flight of full-bodied Nicaraguan cigars so the panel scored the smoke rather than the award history.
The smoke
The Le Bijou is a García blend through and through — which is to say it is powerful and immaculately balanced at once. The first third opens with a bold black-pepper spice over the dark Habano Oscuro wrapper, full-bodied from the first puff, with an oily richness underneath. This is not a gentle cigar, but the spice is structured, never harsh.
The second third is where it earns its medal: the pepper softens into a creamy, buttery core with semi-sweet cocoa and roasted coffee, the kind of integration that separates a great blend from a merely strong one. The final third deepens into dark chocolate, espresso and a leather edge, holding power and flavor to the band. Our panel kept marking the balance — full strength with genuine refinement, the García signature.
Construction
Construction was excellent across all three boxes. Fourteen of fifteen cigars drew and burned cleanly with firm, holding ash; one needed a single minor correction. The García factory’s quality control is among the best in Nicaragua, and it showed — this is a cigar you can buy as a single without anxiety. Construction was a clear strength and a key reason the line has stayed so decorated.
Against the premium standard
| Dimension | Weight | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Substance (smoke/blend) | 30% | 5.6 / 6.0 |
| Execution (construction/burn/draw) | 25% | 4.6 / 5.0 |
| Service / consistency | 20% | 3.7 / 4.0 |
| Setting / provenance | 15% | 2.6 / 3.0 |
| Value | 10% | 2.0 / 2.0 |
The Le Bijou scores high across the board — strong substance for its balanced power, excellent execution and consistency, and full marks on value, because for a former Cigar of the Year the counter price is genuinely reasonable. It is capped slightly on provenance against the most historic heritage houses, but the García family’s standing and the cigar’s award pedigree give it real weight.
Verdict
The My Father Le Bijou 1922 Toro is proof that a champion can age gracefully. It is full-bodied, beautifully balanced, expertly built and priced well below its reputation — a cigar that delivers serious power without sacrificing refinement. For experienced smokers who want a decorated full-bodied Nicaraguan that still over-delivers a decade after its big year, it remains an easy recommendation.
The Premium Standard: 18.5 / 20
Verification
Every factual claim in this review was checked against external sources before publication, on 2026-03-22. Where a figure could not be independently confirmed, it is described in approximate terms in the text. To challenge a fact, write to corrections@premiumtravelreview.com.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the blend of the Le Bijou 1922?
- It is a Nicaraguan puro: a Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler, blended by José 'Pepín' García and his son Jaime at the family factory in Estelí. The Toro is 6 inches by 52 ring gauge.
- What does the name mean?
- 'Le Bijou' means 'the jewel'; 1922 is the birth year of Pepín García's late father, whom the blend honors. It is one of the most personal cigars in the My Father portfolio.
- Did it win Cigar of the Year?
- Yes. The Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo Box Pressed was named Cigar Aficionado's #1 Cigar of the Year for 2015 with a 97 rating. The line remains among the most decorated full-bodied Nicaraguans.
- How strong is it?
- Full-bodied. Expect bold black-pepper spice up front giving way to creamy butter and semi-sweet cocoa. It is a powerful, polished cigar best suited to experienced smokers.
