You would think legendary cigar maker José “Don Pepin” Garcia has his hands full with the My Father cigars lines, but you’d be wrong. Along with his son Jaime, they have endless energy available for creating outstanding blends and sharing them with the world. They also saw something familiar in the father and son team of Robert and Sathya Levin, who heads up the Ashton brand. Ashton cigars are known for their great use of delectable Dominican tobacco, but decades ago, Nicaraguan leaf was a new frontier. As they explored the possibility of collaborating with the Garcias, it became clear that the opportunity for a fruitful partnership was there.
And so, in 2007, the seed of San Cristobal cigars was planted in the fertile soil of two longstanding tobacco families with reliable traditions of excellence.
The production of this venture has exceeded the expectations one might have of such a project. After all, how many highly-rated blends can they possibly make? Isn’t their best work saved for their mainstream brands? The evidence is in. No way. Not by a long shot.
Several San Cristobal cigars have appeared on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of the Year lists, and a large number of 90+ ratings and glowing reviews have piled up. These folks can do no wrong, it seems. The Original blend started things off right with full body, earthy flavors, and a 93-point rating. The 95-rated Quintessence raised the bar even further, nearly scoring Don Pepin his third #1 ranking, thanks partly to a classic cedar, spice, and coffee bean profile. Even the Elegancia and Revelation have broken into the 90-point club, making for a cigar brand where pretty much every stick is worthy of a special place in your humidor.
How do they do it? What’s the secret sauce? The answer isn’t simple but undoubtedly lies in the families’ lifelong commitment to the art of cigar making. Their passions span from seed to stick, as they get all the details right in cultivation, aging, and blending fine tobacco. Fans of My Father cigars will find themselves at home here, and fans of Ashtons can enter a new world of Nicaraguan flavor that is perhaps the perfect entry point.
What a partnership, and what a magnificent set of blends.
Please browse our selection of San Cristobal cigars at your leisure.
