Don Pepin – Cigars

Don Pepin Cigars: Origins in Cuba

By now, the name Don Pepin and its legendary master blender should be familiar to cigar enthusiasts, if not synonymous with the highest quality in cigar production and craftsmanship! But before we explore the now-classic brands, let’s take a look back at the journey of the exceptionally talented and influential head of the Garcia family.

José Garcia and Don Pepin

José Garcia learned the art of cigar making in his hometown of Baez, east of Havana. At just 11 years old, he sat at a rolling table in his uncle’s factory for the first time, learning the craft of producing Cuban cigars. His rising talent soon earned him a place at the Felix Rodriguez Cigar Factory, where he worked with rich Cuban tobacco to craft cigars for Cohiba, Montecristo, Ramon Allones, and more.

As his career progressed, he trained around 200 aspiring and experienced rollers and was the only one among them capable of crafting the most complex shapes, such as the Salomones.

Through Nicaragua and Mexico, José and his son Jaime Garcia eventually made their way to the U.S. However, it was only through an essential partnership with Eduardo Fernandez (a major tobacco producer in Nicaragua) that he was able to establish himself in the American cigar industry in 2002. Eduardo Fernandez holds an undisclosed stake in El Rey de los Habanos Inc. and supplies the company with premium tobacco—when the fit is right, everything falls into place.

Highly Acclaimed: Don Pepin Cigars

With over 20 ratings above 90 points from Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Insider, Don Pepin’s cigar empire has enjoyed tremendous success in recent years. Today, the name is recognized worldwide as a symbol of intense flavor, a distinctive peppery spice, and top-tier quality. His three signature lines include Original, Clasicos, and Series JJ.

“To me, in the last five years, the most exciting person and cigar concept to hit the industry has been Pepin Garcia (...) He has a special way of blending that has not been seen in the industry.” – Jose Blanco (La Aurora S.A.), in *Cigar Aficionado* (11/12 2007).

José Pepin is undoubtedly one of the greats in the cigar industry. Alongside Nick Perdomo, Nestor Plasencia, and Rocky Patel, he remains a welcome guest at our Cigarworld Lounge.