AJ Fernandez New World Puro Especial Short Churchill

 

1. November 4th, 2021: The is is the second vitola of the New World Puro Especial in my collection. The other is the Toro (6.5 x 52). The Short Churchill is 6 x 48, a size which I had initially feared might be a little small for my taste. As it happened, the smaller cousin to the Toro provided almost as much burn time and was quite as satisfying. 

Appearance and Construction: Beautiful, slender, even construction.

First Puff: A nice initial blast of intensity which heralded an impending delight.

Draw and Burn: Both excellent. No resistance and no need for touch up. I let the cigar go out and needed a relight, but that was more likely due to my own neglect.

Flavour and Complexity: The flavour much resembled both the New World Navegante and the Toro vitola of the Puro Especial: a smooth, leathery, earthy, almost maduro flavour. Complexity was satisfying.

Body: Medium body for the first two thirds and fuller body during the final third.

Strength: Moderate. There was definitely some strength but it was nicely balanced.

Finish and Aftertaste: Good long finish and satisfying aftertaste.

Aroma: Excellent rich aroma.

Ash: Held on for about 20 minutes per ashing.

Balance and Consistency: An excellent balance of body, flavour and strength.

Time smoke: 95 minutes

Overall: Delicious all the way to the nub. Very satisfying.

2. December 13th, 2021: This cigar was incredibly rich, smooth, complex and balanced. It was full bodied and slightly spicy. Draw was a little resistant. Burn was wavy but self-correcting. Aroma was rich and intense. Finish was long and aftertaste was clean.

Balance between flavour, body, aftertaste and aroma was excellent. Overall, this was a very satisfying 90 minutes. 

3. January 5th, 2022: Much the same as the previous sample. This is a small cigar compared with the Toro, the Churchill or the Gordo. But 

It's so full of flavour that

It's easy to savour and

lasts well over 80 minutes, probably 90 minutes or more. Finish is long and quite clean, despite intensity. Flavour was the same as the previous two cigars with a slight hint of spice throughout. There's also a little bitterness in the flavour, but not unpleasantly. It adds to the complexity. Some people describe flavour as creamy. I guess they mean that the flavour is smooth and full. This cigar was certainly smooth and full bodied throughout. Overall, this is a cigar to savour: very balanced, very satisfying. 

4. February 10th, 2022: This cigar was so slow burning that it stretched out for 110 minutes. Draw was perhaps a bit resistant, but not obstructive. Flavour as above: hint of spice and slight bitterness in patches, otherwise smooth, full bodied, balanced, burn sharp enough. So far, four out of four have been good. High marks for consistency. Satisfying.

At the one hour mark.

5. March 16th, 2022. Another excellent cigar: full bodied with plenty of pepper in the final third. Flavour was complex and rich throughout with excellent long finish. The cigar was well balanced and consistently delicious. Aroma was deep and rich.  Draw was a bit resistant, just as no.4 above, but not obstructively. Flavour was so rich and the cigar was so well packed that it was satisfying to sip. 115 minutes, letting the cigar go out to attend to business. Very satisfying. Compared with the Toro, this vitola is superior. It is more consistently delicious from 

Rich, intense, full bodied. Very satisfying.

6. May 23rd, 2022: This cigar started out deliciously: full bodied with excellent draw, burn and aftertaste. But by the second half, bitterness began to overwhelm. The final third was dirty, burnt toast bitter. Burn started to go awry in the final two inches. I nonetheless smoked it almost to the nub, but this is the first, out of six, which was not particularly satisfying. 110 minutes. 

At the 45 minute mark: still delicious with very long finish and spicy aftertaste. But bitterness soon overwhelmed. 

7. August 4th, 2022: Heavy in the hand, well packed, dense construction but resistant draw. Very smooth, full bodied start, ramping up spice and dirt in the second half, reminiscent of the recent My Father Fausto that I had, but not as dirty; far easier to finish. Also not as dirty and tasting of burnt toast as the sample I smoked on May 23rd. Quite satisfying, 95 minutes. I should try the Toro again and compare the ending. 

8. August 31st, 2022: Not as heavy or as resistant in draw as the previous cigar. This cigar was full bodied all the way with plenty of pepper and spice. Flavour was dark roast and, as with the previous cigar, a little burnt and dirty, but quite easy to enjoy to the nub. Satisfying and 90 minutes. 

A very solid, full bodied, cigar.

9. November 9th, 2022: Another full bodied specimen.  The cellophane was yellowed, showing the age of the cigar, now one year in my humidor. The cigar started off cool, smooth and mellow, yet with a mellow spiciness. Draw was satisfactory, burn was a little irregular. Towards the final third, spice ramped up and the cigar became quite strong and peppery, evidencing much ligero. The cigar was nonetheless tasty enough to finish to the nub. Aroma was excellent. 90 minutes and very satisfying. 

10. December 22nd, 2022: Started out smooth and full bodied, one of the most refined and exquisite full bodied cigars in my collection. But the final third was bitter and unbalanced. I still smoked it to the nub. 90 minutes and quite satisfying.

11. April 6th, 2023: Much the same as the previous cigar, the first inch was exquisite: rich, complex, smooth and full bodied. I kept thinking, "this is as good as a cigar gets". After that first inch a touch of bitterness crept in and was present until the end. It wasn't bitter or unbalanced as was the case with the previous cigar. It was still quite enjoyable. Draw was tight. It took a few puffs to get the thing going. Burn was impeccable. Strength was probably more than I would care for: the night was disturbed with vivid dreams. Overall, 90 minutes and quite satisfying. 

Delicious first inch, followed by a hint of bitterness, but still exquisite flavour.

July 19th, 2023: A strong, peppery first few puffs, followed by a more mellow, deep, dark roast flavour with deep, rich aroma. At its best this is a great full bodied cigar. Draw was a bit tight but burn was sharp. Towards the final third the cigar became a bit bitter, pepper ramped up and that deep, rich, flavour dissipated to a more peppery vegetal tar ball. I still smoked it close to the nub. Quite satisifying at 95 minutes, but lacking in consistency. 

February 7th, 2024: Strong, full bodied. Opened with a blast of pepper. The first third smoothed out and was the best. Pepper returned in the second half. Full body plus. Excellent draw and perfect burn. I still smoked the cigar to the nub. 80 minutes. Quite satisfying.