Labor Day with the My Father Blue Robusto

When our son was in high school, he worked as a lifeguard at the local pool. I remember Labor Day weekends well — his last days of work for the summer were usually cold and dreary. Often his shifts were shortened or even canceled, much to his disappointment. To this day, whenever the holiday weekend brings warm, pleasant weather, it still feels like something of a rarity.

This past weekend was one of those rare exceptions — sunny, mild, and perfect for deck time. Monday afternoon found us outside enjoying the day, cocktails in hand. My treat for the occasion was the My Father Blue Robusto.

The My Father Blue is the first Honduran-crafted cigar from Don Pepin García’s My Father brand. This 5 x 54 box-pressed stick wears a dark Connecticut Broadleaf Rosado wrapper with a reddish hue. Inside, Honduran-grown Corojo and Criollo tobaccos from the García family’s Finca La Opulencia farm make up the binder and filler. For years, all My Father cigars were rolled in Estelí, Nicaragua, but in 2024 the Garcías opened a new factory in Honduras — where they had already been cultivating tobacco for several years.

The cigar opens with notes of cocoa and cedar, backed by a gentle sweetness. The flavors are full and engaging right from the start. As the smoke develops, hints of espresso and roasted coffee join in, though the overall profile remains steady from first draw to final puff.

Construction was solid, with an even burn and thick clouds of smoke that held their presence even against the light deck breeze. The pace of the burn did surprise me, however — I reached the first band in about 15 minutes. These cigars have only been resting in my humidor for four weeks, and I suspect more age might slow the combustion a bit. In the end, I was left with a tiny nub in just 45 minutes.

Despite the shorter smoking time, I thoroughly enjoyed the My Father Blue Robusto. I’m torn between lighting up another soon or exercising patience to see how a little more rest might refine the experience.

Cheers!