My Father Cigars, acquired the famed Fonseca brand from the Quesada cigar family in 2019. Once acquired, My Father Cigars made the decision to revamp the blend along with the branding of Fonseca for a 2020 release. The brand itself, is over 100 years old, originally founded by Don Francisco Fonseca in the 1890’s in Cuba. The original My Father Fonseca blend, was a Nicaraguan puro.
At the PCA Trade Show earlier this year, My Father Cigars showcased a new extension to the Fonseca line of cigars. Known as the Fonseca Edition MX this addition replaces the Nicaraguan shade-grown Corojo 99 Rosado that was used in the original with a Mexican San Andrés wrapper.
My Father Cigars describes the blend as:
- Wrapper – Mexican San Andrés
- Binder – Nicaraguan (García family farms)
- Filler – Nicaraguan (García family farms)
The Fonseca Edition MX is expressed in four vitolas, each packaged in 20-count boxes:
- Robusto (5 x 50) – MSRP $11.00
- Cedros (6 1/4 x 52) – MSRP $12.50
- Toro Gordo (6 x 60) – MSRP $13.50
- Toro Grande (6 1/2 x 56) – MSRP $13.00
The cigars are handcrafted at the My Father Cigars S.A. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.
For this review, I sampled one Fonseca Edition MX Toro Grande that was gifted to me by a great BOTL and My Father Rep – Joaquin Saladrigas.
Pre-Light Examination
The My Father Cigars Fonseca Edition MX Toro Grande is draped in a dark brown and toothy wrapper that exhibits some noticeable veins, tight seams, a mild sheen. The cigar is firmly packed with an excellent give. A triple cap finishes the construction.
Three bands adorn the cigar. The primary band is the standard, colorful and artful, My Father Fonseca band. A secondary band is placed just below the primary and declares this as the Edition MX. I like how the die cuts of the primary and secondary band fit together. Finally, a forest green satin footer band is applied.
Running the barrel along the nose, I picked up a light barnyard aroma while the foot offered notes of nut and mild pepper.
Using my double blade cutter, I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I found to be spot on with restriction and offered notes of butter cream and pepper. This is one of those cigars that I enjoyed some extra cold puff draws before firing it up.
Using my triple flame Vertigo lighter, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow as I drew in the first puffs of peppery earth notes to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Pepper and earth start the journey
- Cream notes wrap the profile
- A white ash forms on top of a thin wavy char line
- Pleasant butter and nut enhance the early profile
- Full rich and thick smoke fills the palate through a smooth draw
- The stacking dimes ash fell in nice chunk revealing a perfectly formed burn cone
- The pepper has toned way down and morphed into a gentle and pleasant spice
- Creamy milk chocolate notes add to the pleasure entering the second third
- Mild wave in burn but no touch up required
- Nutty aroma wafts off the foot
- Hints of espresso add to the profile dimension
- Caramel notes join the profile midway
- The early milk chocolate evolves into a richer dark chocolate deep in final third
- Medium in Strength
Final Analysis
What more can I say, My Father Cigars has hit it out of the ballpark with the Fonseca Edition MX. The journey begins with the initial notes of pepper and earth, enveloped by a creamy profile. Pleasant hints of butter and nuts enhance the early flavors. The smoke, rich and thick, fills the palate smoothly with each draw. The initial peppery kick has mellowed into a gentle, enjoyable spice. As the cigar transitions into the second third, creamy milk chocolate notes enrich the experience, accompanied by a nutty aroma wafting from the foot. Hints of espresso introduce additional complexity to the profile, and caramel notes join midway, adding a new layer of sweetness. As the final third approaches, the milk chocolate evolves into a deeper, richer dark chocolate, culminating in a satisfying and indulgent finish. This is most certainly a box buy by any measure. I rate this a solid 96.
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild wave in burn in second half
Bonus Points: (+1) Box Buy; (+1) Extremely Pleasant Profile; (+1) Extremely complex and balanced
