AJ Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Maduro Torpedo

While the first dip into this box was a dud, the second cigar was a delight: rich, smooth, excellent aroma, increasing intensity and with 100 minutes duration. The flavour was much like the New World Navegante at the outset, but built in flavour, body and strength, similar to the San Lotano Habano. 

1. July 13th, 2021: This was a disappointment. Flavour was mostly thin and lacked complexity. Burn was the most uneven I can recall. Draw was difficult at times. Aroma was nothing to write home about.

Looks good. Smells good. Feels good in the hand. But flavour was disappointing.

Construction: Box pressed, 6.5 x 52, Mexican San Andreas wrapper, Honduran and Nicaraguan filler. This sample appeared well made and had a bit of weight to it. Overall, it looked encouraging.

Draw: Inconsistent. Sometimes easy, sometimes tight.

Burn: The worst burn I can recall in a long time: wavy, jagged, requiring a couple of relights. This wouldn't have been an issue if flavour was there. But for the most part it wasn't.

Flavour: Started a bit thin and bitter. After the first inch, flavour improved to a more complex and smooth flavour; the usual maduro profile, but not as smooth and rich as the New World Naveganate or as consistent as the Padron 4000 Maduro.

Complexity: Occasional rich, complex flavour, but mostly, flavour was not rich.

Body: Good medium to full body.

Strength: Pleasant strength, not overwhelming.

Finish: Good long finish until the final two inches.

Aroma: A bit of a disappointment. Dry aroma was strong and spicy. But throughout, smoke was not as aromatic as I had hoped.

Ash: Curly, flaky and loose, suggesting poor construction.

Balance and Consistency: Occasional sections of balanced flavour, body and strength but not consistent.

Time smoke: 80 minutes.

Overall: A bit disappointing. Flavour didn't reach the intensity of the Navegante. This was the first of the box and so it might need a month or two of ripening in the humidor. Let's see.

Wavy burn and flaky ash, bitterness at the start and finish and tight draw made this one a bit of a dud.

2. August 11th, 2021: I approached this cigar with trepidation. I didn't want to waste another evening on a dud, such as the first sample from the box. Pre-light aroma was nothing special, but the initial draw was encouraging: a very smooth, slightly peppery, maduro flavour. From there things got better. 

Draw: Easy and pleasant. No resistance. 

Burn: Wavy but self-correcting. No touch up required.

Flavour: Started out with smooth maduro flavour and a little pepper, increasing in intensity by the middle of the cigar, but never bitter. Flavour was similar to that of the New World Navegante during the first third, but intensity during the second half was much greater than that of the Navegante. 

Complexity: Deep rich, complex flavour and aroma, increasing in intensity.

Body: Starting at an easy medium but developing to full body by the second half.

Strength: No strength to speak of at the outset, but strength built by the second half. Quite strong by the final third, causing a mild sweat in the tropical heat. 

Finish: Good clean, long finish but becoming dirty towards the end. 

Aroma: After the first inch, a burst of delicious, complex aroma, which continued throughout.

Ash: fine grey and white ash which lasted about 20 minutes per tap.

Balance and Consistency: Well balanced flavour, aroma, body and strength, with a steady increase on all dials as the cigar progressed.

Smoking time: 100 minutes.

Overall: This cigar redeemed itself after the disappointment of last month. Very satisfying. Although it started out as a mere copy of the New World Navegante during the first third, it distinguished itself as a much stronger cigar, albeit with slightly dirty finish.

Deep, rich, maduro, mild to medium in the first half and building in intensity during in the second half to a full bodied cigar.

3. September 29th, 2021: The first half was rich and succulent, one of finest maduros I have tasted: full body, just the right amount of strength and pepper, a minty taste and a richly sweet aftertaste all of which combined to make a deliciously complex concoction of flavour. 

The second half, however, was a bit of a disappointment. Burn was extremely wavy and required several touch ups. Flavour dissipated to the more simple earthy maduro flavour with a touch of pepper. The minty, sweet complexity abated. Finish was dirty. 80 minutes. Still quite satisfying. 

The second half was somewhat of a disappointment: burn was wavy, ash flaky, draw was sometimes difficult and flavour was not at the level of the first half. 

4. December 8th, 2021: This was a good sample. It was smooth and mellow with medium body and no excessive strength. Aroma was rich and complex, as was the long finish, which left a slightly sweet, leathery residue, with a touch of dirt. The cigar was consistently good. 

Burn was even, unlike the cigar of September 29th, however a two-inch long crack developed at the foot upon lighting. I've noticed this phenomenon before: the cigar is fine pre-light, but immediately upon lighting the wrapper cracks. The cigar was not too dry. It had been stored for a few months in the 67 to 69% range.

The wrapper split soon after lighting.
It was only a cosmetic defect. Burn and draw were unimpeded. 

Despite the crack, burn was fine. The crack had no effect on either burn or draw. The cigar burned almost perfectly; a little wavy perhaps, but always self-correcting.

At the one hour mark. The crack had passed and burn was even enough.

Overall this was quite a pleasant cigar. It had depth and complexity both in flavour and aroma. The long finish was one of the most outstanding qualities. The final third gave a little spice, but otherwise, the profile was homogeneous throughout: smooth, almost creamy and plenty of flavour. Quite satisfying. 95 minutes. 

5. March 26th, 2022: This was a very satisfying cigar. Pre-light aroma was of dried fruit; sweet and complex with a bit of musty barnyard. Upon lighting, flavour was smooth, mellow and had a little mustiness of age, which complemented the profile delectably. Body was medium, perhaps medium plus. Draw was easy. But burn was a little irregular and required a touch up. This cigar was consistently good. 110 minutes. Very satisfying. 

6. August 1st, 2022: Pre-light aroma was very complex: sweet, dried fruit, earthy. First puff was rich and spicy. The cigar stayed around the medium body level throughout. Flavour was much as described above: maduro with a bit of spice. Aroma was good but fleeting. Finish varied, from a deep rich aftertaste to nothing much. The cigar was not as consistent as the best examples. Flavour was sometimes a little bland, before recovering complexity and after taste. One small touch up required, but otherwise burn and draw were fine. 85 minutes. Quite satisfying. 

7. March 16th, 2023: A very sweet, chocolatey flavour with an easy draw and medium body, but hot and less tasty in the final third. 90 minutes.