Pepin Garcia

Infobox Person
name= José Garcia


caption=Photo courtesy [http://www.elreydeloshabanos.com Don Pepín Cigars]
birth_date=1950
birth_place= Báez, Villa Clara Province, Cuba
dead=alive
death_date=
death_place=
occupation= CEO El Rey de los Habanos - A Cigar Company
spouse=María García

Don José "Pepin" Garcia is currently the C.E.O. of El Rey de los Habanos, Inc, a cigar company in Miami, also known as Don Pepín Cigars. He is a noted cigar maker living in Miami, Florida. Born in Cuba, he is a master cigar roller and blender, and the creator and maker of numerous popular cigar brands.

Early life

Christened José García, Pepin was born into a large family of tobacco growers/cigar makers in Báez, a town in Villa Clara province, Cuba. [http://www.elreydeloshabanos.com/history.asp El Rey de los Habanos company history.] ]

Marriage and children

His son, Jaime Garcia is following in his father's footsteps. He and his father created the blend for the Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ brand. His daughter, Janny O. Garcia, is also involved in the family business.

Tobacco career

Cuban years

Don Pepin began his life with tobacco in December 1961 at the age of 11 when he began working in a factory in Báez owned by an uncle. In March 1963, he began working at the Félix Rodríguez export cigar factory in Báez where he worked until he emigrated to Nicaragua in 2001. He spent thirty years in Cuba developing his skills as a torcedero (cigar roller) and blender, earned numerous accolades for his blending abilities and achieved the highest ranking possible as a cigar roller, Class 8 (Master). Among the awards he won was the "Productivity Prize" for rolling 320 Julietas (a vitola of 7 x 48 in size) in four hours. The Cuban press often compared the speed and dexterity of his rolling to that of a magician. He is also a Tabaquero Maestro (Master Blender), and was also a “teacher of teachers” in the arts of blending and rolling cigars. [ [http://www.topshelfcigar.com/jcsigcigar.htm Catalogue blurb] about Don Pepin.]

He helped blend cigars such as Cohiba, Partagas, and Montecristo. During the 1990s, he was in charge of Quality Assurance for the Cohiba brand,Jim Cronin, Top Shelf Cigar Co., "In litt." 2006.] and was also a consultant to several Cuban cigar makers. Also during the 1990s, he was accounted Cuba's most productive master roller.

Post-Cuba

He left Cuba in 2001, going first to Nicaragua where he worked with AGANORSA, a major tobacco grower. [ [http://www.cigarenvy.com/cigar-review-don-pepin-garcia-cigars/ CigarEnvy.com] ] In 2002, AGANORSA merged with Tropical Tobacco, [ [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9140702_ITM Tobacco Europe article] , 01 Sep 2002.] and the combined company continued as [http://www.tabacaleratropical.com Tabacalera Tropical] . [ [http://www.gosmokeshop.com/1203/cover2.htm "Nicaragua: Growing by Leaps & Bounds"] , by E. Edward Hoyt III, SmokeShop Magazine, December, 2003.] Don Pepin stayed on for a while as a blending consultant to the new, combined company. He then went to Miami, Florida, where he continued to work with Tropical, and also set up a small rolling operation of his own in the Tropical warehouse, [ [http://www.vitolas.net/displayimage.php?album=37&pos=0 www.vitolas.net commentary] .] but soon established his own company and factory. The company, [http://www.elreydeloshabanos.com El Rey de los Habanos, Inc.] was begun in June 2002, but was not formally incorporated until December of that year. He is currently the President, and his daughter Janny is the treasurer. [http://www.sunbiz.org/scripts/cordet.exe?a1=DETFIL&n1=P02000131950&n2=NAMFWD&n3=0001&n4=N&r1=&r2=&r3=&r4=ELREYDELOSHABANOS&r5= Florida Dept. of State] filings.] The corporate offices are at 1120 SW 8th St, Miami, Florida.

Cigars

In the short time he has been on his own, Pepin Garcia has moved from a relative unknown to a major name in the "boutique" brand arena. [http://www.cigarcyclopedia.com/news/news.php?c=journal&id=833 "New Star in the Sky"] . Cigar Cyclopedia on-line, 27 April 2007.] In addition to his own brands, he has blended and makes several others for various companies. His skill as a master roller has often been recognized. Pete Johnson said that his "unusually adept skill is evidenced by the fine construction of the cigar". [ [http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Features/CA_Feature_Basic_Template/0,2344,1645,00.html Rising Cigar Stars] by Gregory Mattola. Cigar Aficionado online, 8 Nov 2006.] By 2007, his reputation as a superior cigar makerPress release, "Cigar Insider", 19 Jun 2007, Vol.12, no. 12, p.1] had grown and he was tapped to create and manufacture a completely new brand (San Cristobal) for a major premium cigar company, Ashton Distributors, Inc.

The first brand Pepin made on his own was "Tatuaje" for Pete Johnson, and after this brand received high ratings in [http://www.cigaraficionado.com Cigar Aficionado] magazine, Pepin was suddenly in great demand and many people wanted a Don Pepin brand. [ [http://www.cigarfamily.com/cf4/thread.cfm?Show=&Room=Cigar&ThreadID=43836&MemberID=1337&Remember=1 Comment by Pete Johnson] on the Cigar Family forum.] The tiny Miami factory was unable to keep up with the growing demand, and it became necessary to open a second factory, Tabacalera Cubana, in Estelí, Nicaragua.

Don Pepin’s goal is to re-create the Cuban style as closely as possible without using Cuban tobacco. He has found that Nicaraguan tobaccos render the flavor closest to the Habanos he has in mind, although other tobaccos are used as wrappers from time to time, notably Ecuadoran grown [http://www.tobaccohistsoc.org/about.htm| Connecticut shade] . His cigars are not for everyone, as they are medium- to full-bodied and can pack quite a punch.

All of the cigars made at his factories are made in the Cuban style and are finished with a triple cap. In addition, every box is marked with the date of manufacture, [ [http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Daily/CA_Daily_News/0,2342,1059,00.html Dating Cigars] by David Savona, Cigar Aficionado online, 10 Feb 2006.] a practice which is beginning to gain favor outside of Cuba, where it has always been done.

The El Rey de los Habanos factory

The El Rey de los Habanos factory, the first cigar factory established by Pepin, shares the address of the corporate headquarters in Little Havana at 1120-1124 SW 8th St., Miami. The factory was started by Don Pepin in 2002. The factory manufactures not only Pepin's own brands, but several brands for major clients and house brands for various cigar stores. The factory currently employs 12 rollers, all Class 8 (Master), [http://www.elreydeloshabanos.com/factories2.asp El Rey de los Habanos factory page] ] and they can turn out about 800,000 cigars per year.

Pepin Garcia brands

*Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label
*Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ
*El Rey de los Habanos
*Vegas Cubanas

Client brands

* [http://www.blackcatcigars.com/reymiguel.html#Rey%20Miguel%20Cigar Black Cat Cigar Company] , Philadelphia, PA NOTE: As of ca. April 2008, these will no longer be made by Pepin.
**Rey Miguel
**Sam's GS Stash
* [http://thecigarmerchant.com/id11.html The Cigar Merchant] , Alpharetta, GA
**Trahan Reserva Serie T
* [http://www.cigarking.com Cigar King] , Scottsdale, AZ
**Cuban Diplomat
**Habana Leon
**Havana Soul
**Hirsh y Garcia
**Nacionales “W”
**Sancti Spiritus
* [http://www.holts.com Holt's Cigar Co.] , Philadelphia, PA
**Little Havana Overruns
* [http://www.tatuajecigars.com Tatuaje Cigars Inc]
**Tatuaje
**Cabaiguán
* [http://www.padillacigars.com Padilla Cigar Company] , Hialeah, FL NOTE: As of early 2008, Pepin is no longer making these.
**Padilla Miami 8 & 11
**Padilla Signature 1932 ["per" Frank Santos, Padilla Cigar Co., "in litt.", 4 Jan. 2007.]
** Padilla 1948
* [http://www.topshelfcigar.com/jcsigcigar.htm Top Shelf Cigar Company] , Skippack, PA
**Signature Select Green Label

Tabacalera Cubana (TACUBA)

Located in Estelí, Nicaragua, Tabacalera Cubana de García y Fernández S. A. [ [http://www.cetrex.com.ni/website/expca/vw_exportadoresview.jsp?key=2065 List of exporters, company details] , "Centro de Trámites de las Exportationes"(CETREX), Nicaragua] was established in June 2006 to allow the company to meet the growing demand. It is larger than the El Rey de los Habanos factory in Miami, and currently employs 62 rollers, allowing the company to turn out in excess of 3.5 million cigars per annum. A new factory is being built which will employ 100-110 rollers, allowing the factory to make from 7 to 9 million cigars per annum.Artz, Gary J. "Riding the Perfect Wave". "Smokeshop Magazine", [http://www.smokeshopmag.com/0208/feature2.htm February 2008 issue, accessed 3/31/2008] ]

TACUBA has also expanded into growing its own tobacco and expects to be able to harvest approx 120,000 kg. of tobacco annually for use in the cigars they make, with no plans to re-sell.

Pepin Garcia brands

*Don Pepin Garcia Black Edition (Cuban Classic)
*Don Pepin Garcia Black Edition (Cuban Classic) Maduro
* Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ Maduro
*El Centurion

Client brands

*5 Vegas
**Miami (one vitola in this line is made at the Miami factory)
*Ashton
**Benchmade
**San Cristóbal
* [http://www.cigarsinternational.com/prodDisp.asp?item=CS-XGA&stext=Legends Cigars International]
**CI Legends Pepin Garcia - Yellow Label (one size: 5.75" x 54; Corojo wrapper)
**Padilla Edición Especial Obsidian (torpedo; Made only for this retailer)
* [http://cigar.com Cigar.com, Inc.]
**Corojo Label
*EO Brands ( [http://www.unitedtobaccoinc.com United Tobacco] )
**EO Premium 601 Serie
**Cubao
* [http://www.holts.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/BrandDisplay?cgmenbr=76&cgrfnbr=198762&value_plus=&sampler_mode=&user_points=&mode= Holt's Cigar Company] , Philadelphia, Pa
** Casa Royale
**Connoisseur Selection
**Fumadores
**Old Henry
* [http://www.tatuajecigars.com Tatuaje Cigars Inc]
**Tatuaje Havana VI
**Tatuaje Series P
*Troya Cigars
**Troya Clasico

Miscellaneous

In addition to the regular production cigars noted above, Don Pepin has from time to time created special limited edition cigars for clients. Some of those are listed here, as well as some odds and ends.
* El Centurion. El Centurion was a special, one-time limited release for Don Pepin himself and was limited to 50,000 cigars made in the Nicaraguan factory, TACUBA. There were three sizes: Guerrero, a 5x50 robusto; Emperadores, a 5.5x50 figurado, and Gladiatores, a 6.5x50 toro. They were packed in cedar boxes of 20.
* Tatuaje Bombazos. The Bombazos (4" x 46) were produced for Fumare Cigar in Reno, NV. It is a strong, spicy blend.
* Tatuaje La Maravilla. This cigar was produced for [http://www.leafandale.com Leaf and Ale] . The La Maravilla is a Punch Punch-sized cigar at 5-5/8" x 46.
* Tatuaje Cohetes (Rocket). This limited edition cigar was made exclusively for [http://www.towercigars.com/ Tower Cigars] . A short, fat cigar (4 x 50), it was packed in cabinets of 25, each numbered, dated and signed by Pete. There were only 50 such cabinets available. It was made in the Miami factory.
* Padilla Edición Especial "Achilles" . Ernesto Padilla concocted the blend for this limited edition cigar which was made exclusively for [http://www.cigarsinternational.com/prodDisp.asp?item=CS-YNA&cat=3 Cigars International] . It was manufactured in the factory at Estelí, Nicaragua. Production was limited to 60,000 of only one size, a Toro (6" x 52). A full-bodied cigar, the wrapper is a Corojo. Despite the low production numbers, it was reasonably priced.
* Rio Tabac Alpha Series R was created and originally manufactured by Don Pepin, but is now made by another manufacturer in Nicaragua. The blend had been maintained as it was originally created by Don Pepin.
* Don Pepin M was a brand that Pepin blended for a client of Tabacalera Tropical when he was working with them and it was made by Tropical. The client asked if he could use Don Pepin's name (this was before he thought to use it for himself) and permission was granted. For various reasons, the cigars were returned to Tropical who then sold them to all comers. The "M" was for "maduro," as it had a maduro wrapper. It is no longer being made. There was also a natural version (the Don Pepin N) which met a similar fate. [ [http://www.cigarfamily.com/cf4/thread.cfm?Show=&Room=Cigar&ThreadID=44307&MemberID=1337&Remember=1 Comment by Pete Johnson] on Cigar Family forums.]
* Bad to the Bone was a special limited production made for the Outlaw Cigar Co., of Kansas City, MO. It was released during a rolling demonstration held in Kansas City by Don Pepin in June 2007.

ee also

*Cigar brands

Notes

Information on Don Pepin is scattered about the Internet in various articles and cigar catalog entries. These are some of the more informative.
* [http://cigarfan.wordpress.com/2006/10/07/nacionales-w-el-mundo-by-don-pepin-garcia/ Review of the Nacionales W El Mundo]
*
* [http://www.coronacigar.com/Ambrosia_Cigars_by_Drew_Estate_cid1_pg18.html Catalog description of Serie JJ]
* [http://thecigarmerchant.com/id11.html Catalog description of Trahan]

References