Quick answer: My Father Le Bijou 1922 is Pepin Garcia's full-body Nicaraguan puro honoring his father, born in 1922. A pelo de oro Habano Oscuro wrapper covers five vitolas, and the Torpedo Box Press (6 1/8 x 52) was Cigar Aficionado's 97-point Cigar of the Year for 2015. Singles run $12 to $15.
I smoked my first Le Bijou 1922 the night a friend closed on his house in 2021. His realtor, a serious cigar guy, handed us each a Torpedo Box Press as a closing gift, and neither of us knew its reputation. Cocoa, espresso, allspice, and a black-pepper finish that refused to fade across 75 minutes. I looked up the band the next morning and learned we had burned through a Cigar of the Year winner without knowing it.
This guide covers the real lineup, the tribute behind the name, the 97-point award, and which sizes to hunt first.
What Is My Father Le Bijou 1922?
My Father Le Bijou 1922 is the second core line from My Father Cigars, launched at the 2009 IPCPR trade show as Jose Pepin
Garcia's tribute to his own father, who was born in 1922. The name is French for the jewel.
The blend is a Nicaraguan puro: Nicaraguan binder, Nicaraguan filler, and a dark Habano Oscuro wrapper grown from pelo de oro, a scarce heirloom Cuban-seed varietal often credited as an ancestor of modern corojo. Five regular-production vitolas make up the current lineup: Churchill (7 x 50), Petit Robusto (4 1/2 x 50), Toro (6 x 52), Grand Robusto (5 5/8 x 55), and the Torpedo Box Press (6 1/8 x 52). That torpedo earned Cigar Aficionado's Cigar of the Year honors in 2015 with a 97-point score. Everything is rolled at the family's factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, and singles run about $12 to $15.
The My Father brand guide covers the full portfolio, and the My Father vs Padron head-to-head sets the house against its biggest Nicaraguan rival. For the wrapper category, the habano wrapper guide explains what habano-seed leaf does to a blend.
What Makes Le Bijou 1922 Special?
Three things separate this line from the crowd of full-body Nicaraguans.
The wrapper. Pelo de oro translates to golden hair,
and almost nobody grows it commercially anymore. The Garcias ferment theirs to a dark Habano Oscuro finish, which stacks habano spice on top of maduro-style sweetness. That dual character is the line's signature.
The award. Cigar Aficionado crowned the Torpedo Box Press its #1 cigar of 2015 with a 97-point score, praising its dark chocolate-covered raisins, savory leather and a sweet-and-salty finish.
It was the second Cigar of the Year for the Garcia family, following Flor de las Antillas in 2012.
The honesty check. Not every size scores like the flagship; Cigar Aficionado's Cigar Insider rated the Grand Robusto 88 in 2021. The gap is the point: the box-pressed torpedo format genuinely changes how this blend smokes.
Which Vitolas Does Le Bijou 1922 Come In?
Five regular-production sizes make up the line today.
The line debuted in 2009 with three sizes: Churchill, Petit Robusto, and Toro. The Grand Robusto and Torpedo Box Press joined in 2011, and the torpedo remains the only vitola that gets box-pressed.
There is no regular-production Robusto or Belicoso in this line. A 5 x 50 Robusto existed once as a 2013 limited run of 1,200 cigars, and limited editions like the Salomones and the Hawaii-only Toro Fino surface occasionally; halfwheel counted 17 total releases by late 2015. If a listing names a size outside the five above, you are looking at a limited edition or a mislabel. The torpedo and belicoso guide explains why tapered heads like this one concentrate flavor.
Best Vitola to Start With
Chase the Torpedo Box Press (6 1/8 x 52) first. It is the 2015 Cigar of the Year, the pressing sharpens the draw, and the tapered head funnels that pelo de oro spice straight to the palate. Budget 65 to 80 minutes and $12 to $15 per stick.
Short on time? The Petit Robusto (4 1/2 x 50) compresses the profile into 35 to 45 minutes at $7 to $9 in five-packs, the cheapest way to test the blend.
For a long evening, the Toro (6 x 52) stretches the arc across 60 to 90 minutes at $10 to $13. I've found the Toro's second third is the sweetest spot in the entire line, the moment the espresso bitterness folds into something closer to baker's chocolate.
How Does Le Bijou 1922 Taste?
The profile tracks three distinct phases across every vitola.
First third. Black pepper, cocoa, and leather out of the gate. The spice announces the strength level immediately.
Middle third. Dark chocolate, espresso, and allspice, with the pepper settling into the background. This is the deepest stretch of the smoke.
Final third. Smoother dark chocolate and leather with a faint sweetness. The body stays full to the nub without turning harsh.
Le Bijou 1922 is full body throughout. Eat first and keep a drink nearby. The strong cigars guide covers pacing tactics for high-nicotine smokes like this one.
How Much Does Le Bijou 1922 Cost?
Singles typically run $12 to $15 at major online retailers, with the Petit Robusto dipping to $7 to $9 per stick in five-packs. Boxes ship in 20 or 23-count formats depending on vitola and retailer, and run roughly $140 for Petit Robusto boxes up to about $270 for Churchill boxes. That lands Le Bijou in the premium tier without touching luxury pricing, which is why it earns a spot in our premium picks under $20.
Live offers from every retailer we track sit on the Le Bijou 1922 price comparison page; the Cigar Price Index tracks how premium singles trend quarter to quarter.
Le Bijou vs Other My Father Lines
The original My Father line started it all in 2008, blended by Jaime Garcia as a tribute to his father Pepin. One year later Pepin answered with Le Bijou 1922, honoring his own father. That call-and-response between generations is the whole brand story in two cigars, and the My Father family portfolio carries both.
Flor de las Antillas is the gentler door into the brand. Sun-grown wrapper, medium body, and Cigar Aficionado's #1 cigar of 2012 at 96 points, the family's first Cigar of the Year. If Le Bijou's strength worries you, start there instead.
The Don Pepin Garcia blends (Cuban Classic, Serie JJ) and El Centurion round out the stable, all rolled in the same Esteli factory. Within the family, Le Bijou is the line the big award found.
Le Bijou vs Other Premium Cigars
Padron 1964 Anniversary is the obvious cross-shop. Both are premium Nicaraguan puros, but Padron box-presses the whole line and burns more refined, while Le Bijou trades polish for wilder pelo de oro complexity. The Padron 1964 Anniversary line guide covers that alternative vitola by vitola.
Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9 wears a Connecticut Broadleaf maduro and leans chocolate and earth; Le Bijou answers with allspice and leather. Aganorsa's Guardian of the Farm runs leaner and peppery, while Le Bijou smokes rounder. For the wider category, the best Nicaraguan cigars list ranks 15 picks from Esteli and Jalapa, and the maduro top-10 guide maps the dark-wrapper field.
Can You Age Le Bijou 1922?
Yes, and it rewards patience. The cigars ship ready to smoke, but two to five years in a humidor knits the pepper and chocolate together noticeably. The Torpedo Box Press ages especially well. Hold boxes at 65 to 70 percent RH; the storage and aging guide walks through the setup.
Want to try one before buying a box? The lounge directory finds a walk-in humidor near you, and the premium singles category sells one stick at a time.
Trying to figure out which Le Bijou vitola fits your palate or occasion? Tap the chat bubble at the bottom right of any cigarfinder.com page and ask Cigar Finder AI.
Where to Buy and Save
Our feed shows the deepest Le Bijou 1922 stock at Cigars.com, Thompson Cigar, Famous Smoke Shop, and Smoke Inn. Grab a code before checkout:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is My Father Le Bijou 1922?
Pepin Garcia's full-body tribute line, named for his father, who was born in 1922. It is an all-Nicaraguan puro wearing a Habano Oscuro wrapper grown from the rare pelo de oro varietal, launched in 2009 as My Father's second core line.
What is the most popular Le Bijou 1922 vitola?
The Torpedo Box Press (6 1/8 x 52), Cigar Aficionado's #1 cigar of 2015 at 97 points. It is the only box-pressed size in the line. Listings that call it a Belicoso are mislabels; My Father does not roll a Le Bijou Belicoso.
What does Le Bijou 1922 taste like?
Black pepper, cocoa, dark chocolate, espresso, allspice, and leather. Full body with a flavor arc that shifts across each third rather than sitting still.
Where are Le Bijou 1922 cigars made?
At the My Father Cigars S.A. factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, the Garcia family operation that rolls every My Father line.
Is Le Bijou 1922 a full-body cigar?
Yes. Full body throughout, with real nicotine behind it. Not a first-cigar pick. Eat beforehand and keep water close while smoking.
How much does Le Bijou 1922 cost?
Most singles run $12 to $15; Petit Robustos drop to $7 to $9 per stick in five-packs. Boxes of 20 or 23 run roughly $140 to $270 depending on vitola.
How does Le Bijou 1922 compare to Padron 1964?
Both are premium Nicaraguan puros. Padron 1964 box-presses every vitola and smokes more refined; Le Bijou only presses its Torpedo and delivers wilder spice from the pelo de oro wrapper. Both belong on a shortlist.
Can I age Le Bijou 1922?
Yes. The cigars are ready at purchase, but two to five years of humidor time deepens the chocolate and settles the pepper. The Torpedo Box Press ages especially well.
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