Today Tyler Caldwell and I will be discussing one of our top-selling cigars here at Smokingpipes, and what makes it so dynamic. Strong and smoky, this cigar is one of My Father's most full-bodied: My Father's The Judge.

[Chris Herath]: Let's dive in.

[Tyler Caldwell]: This is an excellent cigar. This is something that is very unapologetic. Definitely not a cigar for first thing in the morning, or for a beginner.

[CH]: This is a no-nonsense cigar from the Garcia family at the factory, and I think it's gonna be one that does not disappoint. I think it is not just built for power, even though it is a stronger cigar, I think it's also built to be a very refined cigar.

Components of The Judge & My Father's Branding

What exactly goes into this cigar?

[TC]: The blend consists of all-Nicaraguan fillers, actually coming from three different farms that are owned by the Garcia family. You're gonna find two binders — Nicaraguan Criollo and Corojo — and then what really stands out is that dark, rich Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed wrapper. You're going to get a lot of chocolatey notes and that creamy texture on the wrapper.

[CH]: First impression, as soon as we lit these up, just from looking at this wrapper, it's a beautiful dark brown shade with perfect seams.

When we talk about My Father cigars, they have very distinct marketing. I think you can pick out the whole My Father portfolio when you walk into any humidor. They have beautiful gold lettering on a lot of their cigars and they're very traditional. They have amazing graphics across the whole My Father line.

[TC]: For sure. I, for one, would love to meet the person who is their Graphic Designer. All of their artwork that they use has a very Renaissance, Victorian-style of art. It's attention grabbing but very consistent at the same time.

Powerful Yet Refined Flavor

[CH]: Diving back into the flavor profile of this one, a lot of cigars are powerful just to be powerful. I think this cigar is not only powerful, but also very refined.

[TC]: There's a very distinctive, powerful balance to it. We're really just getting started into the lighting and the smoking of these, and I can already tell that there is gonna be some complexity. This is going to change over time. It's not quite a cigar you would want to be smoking while multitasking. You'll want to sit back and think about it while enjoying it.

[CH]: The Judge cigar was one of the first cigars I tried when I got into smoking cigars. My Father as a brand is very readily available. They do a great job of distributing across many different brick and mortars, but I had not had one in a while, though. This is the first one I've had in probably a year or two. For me, right off the bat, the thing that surprised me the most was just how rich and on the darker side of the spectrum this cigar was.

[TC]: I have smoked this cigar quite a few times since it's been released and I've always been a big fan of the My Father portfolio. But rich is definitely a word that I would use to describe this cigar. It's interesting 'cause when I think of rich, I think more of bakery, chocolate cake, things like that. But I would say the predominant flavor that I get from this is more like espresso, black coffee, and also cedary.

[CH]: Yeah, I always hear the term leather thrown around a lot in the cigar world, and it's not like I'm chewing on leather very often, but when you're talking about that dark chocolate and earthier flavor profile, that's a lot of what I get from this, even on the first couple puffs. Your palate's just getting smashed with this darker flavor, like dark chocolate. It's not hiding in the background, it's very much on the forefront. If you're somebody who has a hard time searching for flavors or really tasting flavors in cigars, this is one that's not gonna hide them from you. This is one that you're gonna immediately get those flavor notes out of.

[TC]: I like that you touched on leather 'cause I'm in the same boat with you. I never really find leather from a tasting note perspective; I find it in the thickness of the smoke, especially on the retrohale for this. It's maybe a little bold for people who aren't familiar with retrohaling or anything like that. There's definitely that spicy tone that really comes out. If you want to get rid of some nose hairs, this might be a good way to get rid of them. The retro also brings out that espresso-y, dark chocolate flavor profile.

[CH]: Yeah, and for anybody who's really gotten into the My Father portfolio, what you'll notice throughout a good bit of it is that spicy undertone. I think this is a great example of that. I think it's a great example of Nicaraguan tobacco in general. I think this is exactly what you want when you're looking for a medium-to-full-bodied Nicaraguan cigar. It's one that demands your attention. It's not one that just lingers in the background as you're going about your daily business. This is one you're gonna want to sit back and really enjoy.

Excellent for Winter Smokes

[TC]: I think it should also be noted how well the construction is on this cigar, and especially the burn rate. When people are looking for something of a premium caliber, this is what that tastes like to me. This is what premium tobacco is made of when it comes to the construction and the burn rate.

[CH]: When you're starting to get into the My Father portfolio, you're looking at a company that has history, heritage, and knows how to manufacture cigars. You're getting a very great burn and lots of smoke. This is not one you're gonna have to puff too hard on to really get going. This is one that's gonna keep burning, and burning perfectly. Very great construction. Dense, thick smoke. It's gonna be one that I think would even hold up really well to wintertime outdoor smoking as well.

[TC]: Oh, for sure. And you hit it right there with density, and absolutely, considering the time that we're in right now and it is winter and it is quite cold, this is what I think of when I want to smoke a cigar in the winter. It brings out the heat and the flavor, and it's warming. It's warmed me up quite a bit, that's for sure.

[CH]: With all this being said, where do you think this cigar fits for smokers?

[TC]: This is something that fits my rotation. I generally like something a little on the stronger, fuller side, so if you are like-minded, this would definitely be in your wheelhouse. I would also say that if you were still new to this hobby and you're wanting to venture into something on the stronger side, maybe tread lightly with it, but it's definitely something to add to your rotation as well.

[CH]: Yeah, for me, I've been on the lighter-to-medium side of things recently if I'm smoking indoors, but it is winter time, and if I'm going outside after dinner, I want a cigar that's gonna be worth my time. I don't want something I'm gonna barely taste; I want something that has a little bit of bite to it and has something that I can really just dive into with the flavor and the complexity.

This is a cigar that's not gonna disappoint. With all the smoke production, all the flavor packed into it, this is gonna be something that's gonna stand up to winter outdoor smoking. Also in the summer, after big meals, if you want something in the evening that's maybe a little bit on the fuller side, The Judge is not gonna disappoint.

The Judge Pairings & Vitolas

[TC]: Going along with that, especially in the colder season, while you're smoking outside, a nice pairing would be a warm cup of coffee or espresso, and even a hot chocolate. That chocolatey sweetness would bring out some of the flavors that I'm getting with this as well.

Even in the summertime, if you want something a little cooler, maybe more of an adult beverage like a dark rum would definitely enhance the flavor profile.

[CH]: The My Father brand really has a reputation that precedes itself, and in my opinion, The Judge is a perfect representation of what they do well.

[TC]: Absolutely, and to get into some of these sizes offered for The Judge, you have the Corona Gorda, which we're smoking today. Interesting enough, it's the only one that's not box pressed. The other sizes are box pressed — the Robusto, the Toro, the Toro Fino. What I do like about the other three sizes in the box press is that they offer a very firm, almost muscular vibe from their construction.

[CH]: The Judge by My Father is a beautiful cigar with great branding that is powerful and demands your attention. Be sure to check it out on-site. Let us know in the comments if you've had this cigar and what other cigars from My Father you've enjoyed.

[TC]: That's right. This might be The Judge, but you're the jury.