Initial Thoughts
I picked up the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition 2011 after seeing it in my local B&M. They had it packaged together with some other sticks that made up the top 10 cigars for 2011 as judged by Cigar Aficionado. I didn’t want to buy the whole package so instead I sought this stick on out in the shop. Turns out it’s fairly pricey at $16 per smoke. But I figured what the heck I’ll get it this time just to see what a top 10 cigar tastes like.
Looks
When I look at the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition 2011 I see a bohemoth comparable to what David saw when he was about to enter his legendary battle with Goliath. Luckily I had my double guilottine cutter and a box of matches to take down this giant. At 6.5″ and a 52 RG wrapped in a Maduro wrapper I had to sit this cigar down and go inside and put on my big boy pants before I attacked this thing.
I was excited yet scared at the same time. Looking up and down at this deep maduro wrapper there were no dominate veins only small bumps that glistened when they were struck by sunlight. The Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition 2011 had a beautiful triple cap on the head. I actually sat and marveled it for a few seconds and was in awe of the craftsmanship. I’m always a fan of Limited Edition cigars even when they don’t turn out to be that great like the “La Trompeta” I still tend to relish in their scarcity.
This cigar had a beautiful double band surrounding the barrel. The bands were both similar in size and color. My only issue with the bands are that they went a little too far down the barrel. For me it interferes with smoking because I like to save the bands without having to tear them off unfortunately I had to tear the lower band off of this one. The bands were blue and gold in color and gave off a very regal appearance. They meet in the middle and almost like an extension of one another. In case you haven’t picked up on it yet, I’m a big fan of the look of this cigar.
Function
Looks are great, but as Kicking Bird from Dances with Wolves would say “How does it smoke?”. I nipped the cap off and destroyed the artfully crafted triple cap that I mentioned early. I tested the dry draw and was able to pull air through the barrel perfectly. There was zero resistance on this smoke.
After taking a few dry drags I performed the pinch test to see if there are any soft spots on the filler. As I suspected it was constructed flawlessly and I’m about ready to put some fire to this thing and get the party started.
Smoking
The Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition 2011 took to my matches without any issue whatsoever. The first draw was absolutely incredible. Full of rich white smoke this cigar has taken off like a steam engine pulling away from the station. I get it pumping pretty good and then lay it down to rest and cool off. I love to watch the smoke float off the wrapper in a small straight line and then just vanish into the air.
Before I know it I’m through the first third of the cigar and I really can’t stand to put it down. The draw is just so effortless and easy to pull through that I don’t want to stop smoking it. The consistency of the draw stayed perfect through the 2nd third but towards the beginning of the last third it started becoming a little stiff.
I think the draw became a little stiff because I let the ash get a little over 1.5 inches and at that point it was very difficult to draw good clean air through the barrel and the light eventually went out in the cigar. It took me a couple times of relighting it to get it puffing like a steam engine again. This was however my fault entirely and not the cigar’s. I like to let it hold onto the ash as long as possible without knocking it off. This of course can lead to the cigar going out just like it did with me.
The burn on the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition 2011 was very even all the way through. It took a little bit of correcting during those two relights, but as with any good wrapper it corrected itself and was burning even in no time.
I ended up burning this thing down to the nub practically to point where it was burning my fingers.
Flavor
On the pre draw the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition 2011 had a very subtle tobacco flavor. It was hard to pull out the flavor right away I had to take quite a few drags off of it to really pick it out.
Once I lit it up, it hit me in the mouth with a strong spice and just full of smoke. The spice hit on the front end and then just disappeared. That lasted halfway through the 1st third. Then the flavor profile smoothed out in in the middle for me and was incredibly pleasant to smoke.
At the beginning of the last third during the relights I had to power through a terrible burnt tobacco taste that was caused by the cigar going out. Once I got through that disaster I was able to pick back up on the spice and finish out the cigar with great pleasure.
The Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition 2011 is definitely a full bodied cigar. It almost put me down for the count. I smoked it in the afternoon after a fairly big lunch and by the end of it I was lightheaded and had one hell of a nicotine buzz. Usually full bodied cigars don’t affect me like that, but this was a big boy and it had some bite to it. The flavor was incredible and an absolute pleasure to smoke. Just make sure and pack a lunch if you plan to tackle this one!
Would I Buy It Again?
Without a doubt, even though the price tag is a little high at $16 a stick this is a great cigar to have in your humidor.
Is It an Every Day Smoke?
I don’t believe so, with the full bodied flavor and the size of this cigar it’s just too much to smoke everyday unless you’re just a beast.
Would I Buy a Box?
I would, a box of 16 is around $215 which is a little steep, but it’s a great smoke to have around for those times when you want a full body pleasurable cigar.
Conclusion
If you’ve ever been curious about the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition 2011 I would suggest you go and pick one up if you can find them. It’s one of those cigars that people will constantly compare other sticks to and you’re doing yourself and your palate an inservice if you don’t smoke this one before it disappears.
