Review Notes: To me, the instantly identifiable feature of most Pepin Garcia smokes is not the pepper, but the heavy leather. Reminds me of the smell of a brand new baseball mitt. The Nacionales W has it, as does the Achilles, the CI Yellow, the JJ, and this ERDLH. Like the others, the leather in this one gives way to pepper, wood and nuts and develops a long, creamy finish. Does it taste like the JJ and the others listed above? Yup. But while some are beginning to complain about the sameness of Pepin's numerous lines, there's nothing "same old, same old" about a masterfully blended stick that draws right every time. I don't pretend to grasp the business sense of producing under so many labels, but I can't see any reason to care, either. As long as it says ERDLH on the BOTTOM of the box, I know exactly what I'm going to get. Further, I can't see why he ought to screw with a winning formula. Morton's hasn't changed their menu for as long as I've been able to chew a steak, and it bothers me not a bit. When they start serving California rolls and Tofurky stir-fry, THAT'S when I'll worry.

Review Notes: Picked this up at an event starring the man himself. My first entry into this marque, I chose a tightly packed, sharp headed torpedo. Needed a couple clips to get the draw just right. Straightforward tobacco flavors ala Pepin, with a hint of cherry or something through midway. A bit stronger than expected, but was my second smoke of the evening. Wrapper cracking the only miss on this one.