As frequent visitors to Stogie Review know, when J. Fuego releases a new cigar, it’s only a matter of time before I smoke it. But sometimes it takes a while. Case in point, this week’s cigar review, the Edicion de Familia 2012. Sure, I did try an IPCPR pre-release last year (as noted in an edition of Brian’s The Week In Smoke), but experience left me thinking that I really needed to smoke it again a few times after its release to really grasp what the cigar is all about. (And IPCPR samples on occasion turn out to be considerably different than the finished product.)

My reminder to try it again came in the form of a contest announced recently on the J. Fuego Cigar account on twitter. One lucky box owner would get a fishing trip with Jesus Fuego. Judging by the pictures I’ve seen of his catches in the past, it looked like it’d be a great time. So I sprung for a box. Sadly I didn’t win, but it left me with plenty of cigars for a proper written review. So I wouldn’t call it a loss either.

As Jesus told Walt in an interview last year, the Edicion de Familia is an annual release planned to hit the market every year in November. By the time the 2012 edition appeared, it had already spent a year aging, six months in an aging room, and six additional months resting in the box. It’s also pretty limited with just 750 boxes of each size, distributed to 150 retailers around the country. (At the time of this writing, Google tells me it’s not terribly difficult to find.) There are three vitolas, and they come in signed and numbered boxes of ten: A box-pressed Belicoso Fino (5 1/2 x 52), a box-pressed Toro (6 1/4 x 54) and a glass-tubed parejo Robusto (4 7/8 x 49).

But enough talk, let’s check out the cigar.

Cigar Stats:
Size: 4 7/8 x 49
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Honduras and Nicaragua “Mostly Corojo”
Smoking Time: 1 1/2 hours
Beverage: Water
Source: Purchased by reviewer
Price: MSRP $10.00

The Pre-Smoke
The nice thing about a cigar in a glass tube is you can see what condition it’s in and you don’t have to worry about transport damage, humidity and other environmental factors. Once out of the tube, the Edicion de Familia is a pretty rustic looking cigar, with a darkly mottled, reddish wrapper leaf. The veins ranged from medium sized to fine and I found small holes in the wrapper in several cigars. The wrapper had a sweet vinegar and compost aroma and the cold draw tasted of molasses and chocolate.

The Burn
The cigars burned pretty well, though the burn line tended to be a little jagged or irregular. The all important draw ranged from perfect to a little on the firm side, but entirely smokeable. In terms of ash formation, it was also a mixed bag, but typically the ash was solid, light and looked pretty nice.

The Flavor
The initial third of the Edicion de Familia started off syrupy, with a touch of spice and solid almond flavor. Along the way it transitioned briefly to a more dense wood and cream before returning once again to a sweet, roasted almond.

The profile remained sweet as the second third began, with notes of coffee and leather making appearances. Nutty and woody flavors continued to be dominant, and the syrupy sweetness transitioned into more of a caramel before fading considerably at the end.

The earthy, spicy elements that I associate with most J. Fuego cigars began to appear around the beginning of the final third. Roasted nuts, wood and earth with a touch of pepper brought the cigar to its conclusion.

The Price
Given the small production and extensive aging of the cigars, the price doesn’t seem too extravagant. It’s interesting that all three vitolas carry the same $10 MSRP, which, for some, will make the larger sizes more appealing.

The Verdict
Minor issues aside, the J. Fuego Edicion de Familia 2102 is a pretty tasty cigar that’s definitely worth picking up. I bought a box, and I don’t regret the purchase. Given the limited availability (which means I had to find it online), the cigar’s overall enjoyability and the customer-friendly ten-count box size, anything less than a box purchase in the future is unlikely. If you have the access to the Edicion de Familia 2012 in your local shop, give it a shot. I’ll bet you’ll be back to buy a box too.

Liked It: Box-worthy
Buy It Again: Yes
Recommend It: Yes

Tower of Burn
Here for your viewing pleasure is my trademark Tower of Burn.