La Mission L’Atelier 1959

La Mission L’Atelier 1959 is a box pressed 4 3/4 x 52 Robusto with a pigtail cap, from Pete Johnson’s L’Atelier line. The La Mission range launched in 2015, and each size is named for a vintage year when Château La Mission Haut-Brion earned a 100 point rating from wine critic Robert Parker. Cigar Aficionado ranked the 1959 number 4 on its Top 25 list for 2020 with a rating of 96.

Each cigar is handmade in Estelí, Nicaragua, at the My Father Cigars factory. A dark, oily Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper covers a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers from the Garcia family farms, including the rare Sancti Spíritus leaf. The strength is medium to full. Expect mocha, dark chocolate, roasted coffee, peppery leather and charred wood, with anise and a toffee like sweetness.

The compact Robusto keeps the blend concentrated, and the box press gives a flat sided, comfortable grip. Reviewers describe a slow burn, an ash that holds for up to an inch and a rich, creamy smoke. Many note that the cigar needs no rest after it arrives. It suits an evening smoke or a break in the afternoon.

This cigar appeals to smokers who like the sweetness and earth of a Mexican maduro on a Nicaraguan base. It is also a good choice for anyone who wants an award winning L’Atelier in a manageable size.

Box of 18 cigars