Uniquely infused, ACID Opulence 3 is the rarest of all ACID cigars and brings a whole new blend to the ACID lineup in a rich, oily maduro.

ACID cigars are a combination of premium, whole leaf tobaccos gently infused with essential oils to create unique flavors and aromas unlike any other cigar available. The secret infusion process Drew Estate uses to create this brand has been so closely guarded no one else in the world has been able to replicate the feel, aroma, or flavor of an ACID cigar. Each blend is completely different from one another, expelling incredibly flavorful aromas that are not only unique from all other cigar brands, but also pleasant to those who are not enthusiasts.

Opulence 3 sports a jet-black, oily maduro wrapper from San Andres, Mexico, providing a rich and creamy character with a pronounced sweet nuance noticeable in the finish. This wrapper is perfectly balanced with a hearty blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos grown in Esteli, where some of the strongest Nicaraguan tobacco is grown. These tobaccos were harvested in three separate crop years including 2005, 2006, and 2007, making Opulence a rare, incredibly limited treat. Not only is the cigar infused with oils and botanicals chosen by Jonathan Drew himself, but also each individual leaf is infused to provide a full-flavored, uniquely enjoyable experience each time this cigar is lit. We really enjoy Opulence 3 here at Cigar.com. In fact, this blend may be the best ACID created to date!

Q: What is the difference between aged cigars and aged tobacco?

A: Most tobaccos are aged for at least 3 to 6 months before finding their way into a blended cigar. From the curing process to fermentation, there are specific steps the tobacco must endure before it can be considered suitable to enjoy and aging is an important part of the process. When the tobacco ages before being rolled, it releases its toxins, such as ammonia, creating smooth and mellow characteristics. You've probably tried to enjoy a "young" cigar and noticed an acidic aftertaste or even that awful ammonia smell, this is due to a lack of age. However, when a cigar is aged after being rolled, the process changes. Although the leaves will still release some toxins, aging a fully rolled cigar allows the different filler leaves to "marry" each other, which creates balance. The flavors of each individual leaf will combine to create a complex experience with smooth characteristics as any unwanted "harsh" or "acrid" nuances are released due to the aging process. For these reasons, most manufacturers age their tobacco before constructing their cigars and then usually age their finished cigars afterward to guarantee a perfectly balanced blend.

Created by Pepin Garcia's son Jaime and considered to be the most prestigious blend released by the Garcia family, My Father is another flavorful concoction assembled under the supervision of Don Pepin Garcia.

Like their slogan states, Don Pepin cigars are “the art, tradition and style of Cuba.” All cigars bearing his name incorporate traditional Cuban characteristics, from the entubado style bunching (folding the filler tobaccos in an accordion fashion) to the triple caps used at the head of each cigar. These traditional Cuban methods employed by Pepin enable his cigars to burn and combust perfectly, which in turn creates intense amounts of complexity followed by a smooth and enjoyably long finish. Most Pepin blends are medium to full-bodied and fail to disappoint even the most discerning aficionados.

My Father is no different in terms of quality, construction, and complexity. This blend consists of specially selected tobacco grown at the most prestigious farms in Esteli, Nicaragua. The wrapper is a beautiful Ecuadorian grown Habano-Rosado leaf, which is combined with a Nicaraguan binder to create a full-bodied complexity that is earthy with spicy undertones but expels a phenomenal aroma. Each size comes packaged in elegant boxes of 23, all featuring an old Cuban-style presentation.

No. 2 (5.2"x54) Easily the best size in the line. The head of this torpedo only tapers slightly, allowing for an easy, consistent cut. Its length and ring guage perfectly compliment one another, creating an effortless draw while releasing thick, aromatic smoke with many competing spicy complexities. 90/100 [Buy Now]

No. 4 (7.5"x38) Truly impressive for a long lancero. Surprisingly, the stick burned perfectly even but without a tight draw, although thick smoke was left to be desired. Incredibly complex with a robust character from the start, this size builds in strength from head to foot but provides an elegantly smooth character with a long, enjyoable finish. 90/100 [Buy Now]

No. 3 (6"x49) Enjoyable and perfect everyday. A slightly tight draw prevented thick smoke, which was disappointing since this blend offers a great aroma. However, the blend increased in strength and complexity from start to finish without becoming overwhelmingly strong. The aftertaste also contained a nutty flavor which was not noticeable in the other sizes. 89/100 [Buy Now]

No. 1 (5.2"x52) Its not often a robusto is rated so low but this size lost points due to faulty construction. The draw was great and the flavor was incredibly enjoyable with perfect balance between earth and hot, spicy sensations. However, the burn was uneven from the start and never corrected itself. 87/100 [Buy Now]

Diesel - One A.J. Fernandez's most recent gems, Diesel exudes a ton of full-flavors in a medium to full-bodied format allowing for a stout, complex experience with perfect balance.

Perdomo Reserve Ltd. Oscuro - Cultivated in Esteli, Nicaragua, Perdomo Reserve Ltd. Oscuro features a beautiful, oily and super rich wrapper providing deep, bold layers of flavor in a medium-bodied format.

Reposado '96 - Hailing from Nicaragua and available in either a Connecticut or Habano wrapper, this is a medium-bodied, yet flavorful blend perfect any time of day.

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Miami - If you’re an enthusiast who prefers full-bodied blends, then you need not look any further than Artesanos. Named one of the Top 25 Cigars of the Year, the blend also earned a 92 rating by Cigar Aficionado.

10/6/2009: Alex and Tim take their respective turns in the CCOM Lightning Round! Witness the two discuss some hot topics and brand new product in this action packed show. OK, maybe not action packed but there is a lot of good info here, people! [Listen Now]

I am in Nicaragua once a month and for the past two years I have been in awe of the new Tabacalera García Factory (Don Pepín García). Constructing the massive factory on a plot of land on the south end of town seemed to be a never-ending process, but when I received my invitation to the grand opening in the mail, I booked my flight without a moment’s delay. It was late August and my flight was filled with familiar faces that were traveling down for the big party. Everyone from leaf brokers, cigar band printers, box makers and even competitors of Pepín’s were turning out for the event. The image of this diverse group of people reminded me of the camaraderie always present in the cigar industry. Whether a competitor or not, everyone from the industry bands together in the spirit of brotherhood to share in the success of others.

What we call summer, Nicaragua calls winter and let me tell you, winter is a relative term in Latin America. Upon exiting the flight, the heat and humidity hit my face like a brick wall. Fortunately, our 90-minute bus ride to Estelí took us to a much higher elevation where it was cooler and the gringos on the trip (myself included) found the climate to be a welcomed change from the oppressive heat in Managua. The bus ride itself was a party with bottles of Flor de Cano rum circulating amongst friends.

After checking in at the hotel, we headed straight for the factory. While the official opening was not until the next day, there was a cocktail hour outside complete with music and great company. Upon arriving at the cocktail party, I was taken aback by the number of people in attendance. Clearly, the folks I travelled with were only a small fraction of those who had turned out to support Pepín and his new facility. Preparing for an early start the next day, we returned to the hotel for some much needed shut eye. The siren in the center of town sounded promptly at 6 am. It is used as an alarm clock for the whole city. Everyone congregated downstairs and several were clearly shaking off a hangover from the night before. With freshly brewed Nicaraguan coffee in hand we made our way to the factory, only to be greeted by a mass of factory employees and complimentary My Father cigars. We funneled into a large room where Pepín and his family sat at the head table. The next several hours were filled with speeches and performances as Pepín and his son talked about leaving Cuba to make their own mark in the cigar industry a reality. Their success is remarkable when you consider the odds that were against them. Just ten years ago, Pepín was rolling a few hundred cigars a day in his Miami factory. Now in front of hundreds of people from the US and Nicaragua as well as some of the most recognized faces in the industry, he was about to cut the ribbon on what is now Nicaragua’s largest cigar factory weighing in at over 100,000 square feet.

As we shuffled through the door to the factory floor, Pepín treated everyone to a special tour as he discussed the important philosophies he employs in his cigars, which are bunched and rolled entirely by hand. The massive facility had multiple rolling rooms, bodegas and full buildings for tobacco aging and storage for fermentation. He even has a box factory on site. Pepín explained he finds it important to be responsible for all aspects of the cigars he makes, from the tobacco to packaging. For those readers not familiar with Pepín García’s blends, he has a reputation for making the richest and strongest cigars in the industry. While this may not seem like a difficult feat, blending cigars of this magnitude and keeping them consistent year after year is a major accomplishment. The stronger ligero leaves used in full-bodied cigars have a tendency to change from crop to crop, making careful blending and a strong knowledge of tobacco very important. These are skills which Pepín has mastered as much or more so than any other factory.

The grand opening finished with a luxurious meal prepared by caterers from Managua. While the first party ended, another was about to start as the entire group moved from the factory back to the hotel where everyone sang, danced, and drank on the hotel’s rooftop terrace until the sun came up the next day. Witnessing the success of such hard working cigar makers was an amazing experience and observing how much Pepín has invested in his future is a sign of good things to come.