My Father Le Bijou 1922 Cigar Review – A Rich, Full-Bodied Nicaraguan Classic
Some cigars make an impression with subtlety. The My Father Le Bijou 1922 line takes a different approach. These are rich, dark, full-bodied Nicaraguan cigars with plenty of strength, but there’s also enough complexity to keep them interesting from beginning to end.
Made by My Father Cigars, Le Bijou 1922 was created as a tribute to the Garcia family heritage. The French phrase Le Bijou translates to “the jewel,” an appropriate name for a cigar that has become one of the best-known premium blends in the My Father portfolio.
For cigar smokers who enjoy darker Nicaraguan tobacco, pepper, espresso, earth and cocoa, this is a line worth getting to know.
The My Father Le Bijou 1922 Blend
Le Bijou 1922 is a Nicaraguan puro, meaning the tobaccos used throughout the cigar come from Nicaragua.
The blend features a dark Habano Oscuro wrapper surrounding Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. The dark wrapper immediately gives the cigar a substantial appearance, and before lighting you’ll often pick up aromas of earth, cedar and cocoa.
This is definitely not a cigar that tries to hide its strength. At the same time, calling Le Bijou simply a “strong cigar” doesn’t really do it justice. There’s quite a bit going on underneath that initial power.
Construction and Appearance
One thing My Father Cigars has built a reputation for is construction, and the Le Bijou 1922 line generally lives up to that reputation.
The cigars have an attractive dark brown wrapper with a slightly oily appearance. Depending on the individual cigar, you may notice some visible veins and natural variation in the leaf. That’s part of the character of the cigar rather than something that takes away from its appearance.
The cigar feels substantial in the hand, with a firm pack and a well-finished cap. Once cut, the pre-light draw typically offers hints of earth, cedar, cocoa and a little natural sweetness.
First Third – Pepper Makes Its Entrance
Don’t expect Le Bijou 1922 to ease into things quietly.
Right from the first few draws, there’s a noticeable dose of Nicaraguan pepper and spice. Black pepper is especially apparent through the nose, accompanied by earth, toasted wood and dark coffee.
After the opening settles down, some of the sharper pepper begins to blend into the background. That’s when the cigar starts revealing more of its character. Espresso, cocoa and a touch of sweetness begin working their way into the smoke.
Second Third – Espresso, Cocoa and Earth
The middle portion is where Le Bijou 1922 becomes particularly enjoyable.
The pepper is still there, but it isn’t necessarily dominating every puff. Rich espresso and dark chocolate notes become easier to recognize, along with earth, cedar and roasted nuts.
There can also be a slightly sweet quality running underneath the heavier flavors. It’s not the sweetness you’d find in an infused cigar. Instead, it’s more like the natural sweetness you sometimes get from well-fermented tobacco.
The smoke tends to be thick and creamy, which helps balance some of the blend’s strength. Take your time here. Smoking a Le Bijou too quickly can bring out extra heat and pepper and cover up some of the flavors that make the cigar interesting.
Final Third – Darker and Stronger
As you move into the final third, the strength becomes increasingly noticeable.
The espresso and earth deepen, while black pepper begins making a stronger return. Dark chocolate, charred wood, leather and roasted coffee can all make appearances.
The sweetness from the middle portion becomes less obvious as the cigar develops a darker and more intense finish. This is also where slower smoking really pays off. Give the cigar a little time between draws and you’ll have a better chance of keeping the smoke cool and the flavors distinct.
Strength and Flavor Profile
Strength: Full
Body: Full
Flavor Intensity: Full
Le Bijou 1922 is generally better suited to experienced cigar smokers than someone trying premium cigars for the first time.
If your usual cigar is mild and creamy, this may be quite a jump. But if you already enjoy full-bodied Nicaraguan cigars, the strength should feel much more familiar.
Some of the flavors you may encounter include black pepper, espresso, roasted coffee, dark cocoa, earth, cedar, toasted wood, leather, roasted nuts and subtle natural sweetness.
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Sizes
One of the nice things about the My Father Le Bijou 1922 line is the selection of sizes. Although they share the same basic tobacco blend, each vitola can offer a slightly different smoking experience.
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Churchill
7 x 50 – A traditional Churchill format that gives the blend plenty of time to develop.
A good choice when you want a longer, slower smoking experience.
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Corona Extra
4 1/2 x 46 – A compact box-pressed cigar with a smaller ring gauge that concentrates
the flavors of the Habano Oscuro wrapper. Expect plenty of espresso, dark chocolate,
earth and pepper.
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Grand Robusto
5 5/8 x 55 – The larger ring gauge provides plenty of rich smoke while allowing the
blend’s espresso, cocoa, pepper and cedar flavors to develop gradually.
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Petit Robusto
4 1/2 x 50 – A shorter format for smokers who want the Le Bijou experience without committing to a long smoking session. Don’t let the smaller size fool you – this is still a bold, full-bodied cigar.
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Toro
6 x 52 – The Toro offers an excellent balance between wrapper and filler tobacco, with plenty of time for the cigar’s dark chocolate, espresso, pepper and cedar
character to develop.
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo
6 1/8 x 52 – The tapered Torpedo shape provides a more concentrated draw and makes this an interesting choice for experienced smokers who want a focused expression of the Le Bijou blend.
Which Le Bijou 1922 Size Should You Try?
There’s really no wrong answer here. If you prefer a traditional, longer smoke, the Churchill is an obvious place to start. The Toro provides a classic 6 x 52 format and a nice balance of flavor and smoking time.
If you’re looking for something shorter, consider the Petit Robusto or Corona Extra. The Grand Robusto provides a larger ring gauge, while the Torpedo offers a different experience because of its tapered head.
Better yet, try more than one size. It’s an interesting way to see how changing the dimensions of a cigar can affect the balance and intensity of the same basic blend.
What to Drink With a My Father Le Bijou 1922
A cigar this rich pairs well with a drink that can stand up to it.
Bourbon is an obvious choice, particularly one with caramel, vanilla and oak flavors. An aged rum can work equally well, especially if you want a little sweetness against the pepper and espresso notes.
For a non-alcoholic pairing, it’s hard to beat strong black coffee or espresso. Coffee naturally complements the roasted and cocoa characteristics of the cigar without competing with them.
Overall Thoughts
The My Father Le Bijou 1922 isn’t trying to be a mild, easygoing afternoon cigar. It’s bold, peppery and unmistakably Nicaraguan.
What makes it interesting is that there’s more here than strength alone. Once the initial pepper settles down, you’ll find layers of espresso, cocoa, earth, cedar, roasted nuts and occasional sweetness. The flavors continue to develop as the cigar burns, eventually returning to a darker and stronger profile near the finish.
For experienced cigar smokers who enjoy full-bodied Nicaraguan tobacco, the My Father Le Bijou 1922 line deserves a place on the list of cigars to try.
Shop My Father Le Bijou 1922 Cigars at The Cigar Store
Ready to explore the line? The Cigar Store carries several sizes of My Father Le Bijou 1922 cigars, allowing you to choose the vitola that best fits your preferred smoking time and experience.
