My Weekend Cigar Review: My Father Fonseca Edition MX
Can we show you something in a Mexican wrapper?
The Fonseca Edition MX cigars selection is the follow-up to the 2020 Fonseca Cigars release made by My Father Cigars. The Garcia family purchased the U.S. rights to the Fonseca trademark from the Quesada family in 2019. At the time, rather than acquiring the remaining Quesada-made Fonseca inventory, the Garcia’s decided to create their own Fonseca blend—no disrespect intended—with an all-Nicaraguan leaf recipe.
In researching this brand, it seems that news about the Fonseca Edition MX was pretty thin at the time of its release other than to state that My Father went with a Mexican San Andrés wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and filler core and offered it in four popular shapes: Robusto (5x50), Cedros (6¼x52), a Toro Grande (6½x56), and Toro Gordo (6x60). I also discovered that the Robusto received a 90 tasting score from Aficionado. To find out if my Robusto concurred with that example, read on.
Cigar Details:
Factory: My Father Cigars – Estelí, Nicaragua
Size: 5” x 50
Body & Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Presented in boxes of 20
My Father Fonseca MX Robusto Review
The Fonseca Edition MX Robusto is expertly rolled in an attractive Mexican San Andrés wrapper that’s firm in feel throughout and sealed with a textbook triple cap. A second “Edition MX” band is placed below the neck band; both have that classic, old world design and vibe. A green silk band resides at the base of the cigar.
My samples clipped perfectly, and in both cases, the first thing I tasted was something like chocolate-covered almonds, making this cigar very tempting.
Once lit, the first puffs fired a bold salvo of red and black pepper. After letting the cigar settle for a couple of minutes, the pepper remained and dry earth moved in. Even by the first half inch, the cigar was still pretty snappy, but now with an underlying layer of earthiness and a hint of espresso. (No chocolate almond yet.)
By the first inch things improve. The espresso was now more vivid while notes of nutmeg and a sliver of cake icing began surfacing through the earth and black pepper layers.
The midsection revealed more espresso and black pepper. Some sweetness remained, but the only new flavor was a note of leather. By that point, the Robusto was maintaining a good balance with a mostly medium-full body and strength.
In the last several inches, the smoke was earthier and even started to develop that elusive chocolate note. Some nutmeg survived, and for whatever reason, the nub tasted more nuanced than some of the earlier sections of the cigar—and so it goes.
Was Fonseca MX Weekend Worthy?
The Fonseca Edition MX Robusto was a bit of an enigma for me. As a fan of Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper, I wondered if the Edition MX’s wrapper was the sweeter wrapper I’ve come to know and love. Moreover, in researching the brand, the wrapper was listed only as “Mexican San Andrés” minus the word “Maduro.” Mexican San Andrés tobacco is generally earthy, sweet, and spicy with the Maduro being much sweeter. What I got from this MX wrapper was more of the earthy and spicy. Either that’s how the Garcias wanted it, or the core tobaccos overpowered the wrapper—or both.
In any event, I found the Fonseca Edition MX Robusto earthy and peppery throughout with some pleasant nuances and a curious refinement. Now that I know what to expect, I’d smoke it again, and probably with a sweet dark Rum.
Please Note: Gary’s review was based on his experience and that your mileage may vary.