AJ Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Connecticut Torpedo

December 20th, 2021: This cigar is a 6.5 x 52 torpedo with Connecticut wrapper and multinational binder and filler.

This was the first time that I had tried a Connecticut wrapper. I was curious to try this category of cigar, but reluctant and put off the decision to order for months. Most reviews dismiss the blends as being mild and lacking flavour. I was finally persuaded to take the plunge after reading this review on Neptune. 

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I wasn't disappointed.

Appearance and Construction:  This is a very attractive golden brown cigar. The torpedo is especially stylish. The gold and brown label complement the stylish package. 

The cigar is light in the hand. This was reflected in the fast burn time. 

Quite a beautiful cigar with colour coordinated bands.

According to Neptune, the cigar is quite a multinational concoction. The wrapper is Ecuadorian Connecticut, binder is Honduran and the filler is Nicaraguan and Dominican. 

First Puff: The first puff was quite spicy, medium bodied, with a surprising amount of flavour and complexity.

Draw and Burn: Draw was easy, with no resistance. Burn was almost perfect throughout but faster than I would have preferred.

Flavour and Complexity: Flavour was a sweet, light roast with mild versions of some of the flavour of the Enclave blend. The intense, spicy, initial full bodied flavour dissipated a bit after the first inch, but flavour was still complex enough to be enjoyable. It reminded me somewhat of the fake Cohiba I reviewed a few months ago (which was quite enjoyable).

Body: Body was mostly medium with an occasional dip into mild around the middle. 

Strength: There was a bit of strength, but nothing overwhelming. 

Finish and Aftertaste: Finish was medium and the aftertaste was quite complex. 

Aroma: Aroma was excellent, rich and intense; similar to the Pinar del Rio Cuban aroma.  

Ash: Ash held on valiantly for more than 20 minutes, but given the light packing of the cigar, I didn't want to tempt fate. 

Balance and Consistency: Excellent balance of complex flavours, medium body, intense aroma and mild strength. The cigar was almost consistently good: there was a weak patch in the middle.  

Time smoke: Barely 75 minutes. For a torpedo that was disappointing. The cigar was a fast burner. The mild patch in the middle section made for faster puffing.

At the one hour mark.

 

Overall: A very pleasant and quite satisfying cigar.
It is clearly a blend that stands out from other non-Cubans. The flavour was sufficiently complex and body was adequate to make the cigar enjoyable from start to finish, as can be seen from the nub. My only regret was the fast burn. And extra ten or twenty minutes would have been more satisfying.

Good to the nub

January 12th, 2022: This cigar seemed to be a bit fuller in body and stronger than the previous cigar. It also burned slower. It was surprisingly delicious throughout: sweet cocoa with a little pepper. There was only a brief moment when flavour dissipated, but it intensified after the second half. There was also a pleasant frisson of strength towards the end. The cigar lasted around 90 minutes, whereas the previous cigar barely made 75 minutes. Draw was easy and burn was good. The only issue was a spot of glue connecting the band to the wrapper. On removing the band a chunk of the wrapper dislodged, revealing how delicate and tender the Connecticut wrapper is. Overall, very satisfying.

The band took off a chunk of wrapper

January 27th, 2022: This one was milder than the last, resembling more the cigar of December 2021. It also burned faster, barely reaching 80 minutes - more like 75 minutes. There was some strength in the second half. But body was lacking. Flavour was much the same as the January 12th sample, but toned down and without much spice. I'll be interested to try more and find out whether the more full bodied cigar of January 12th was the rule or an anomaly.  77 minutes. Pleasant, but not very satisfying. 

March 31st, 2022: Excellent long finish, easy draw, medium body, quite rich and complex flavour reminiscent of Pinar del Rio both in flavour and aroma. Much better than the previous cigar of January 27th. Quite satisfying. 78 minutes.

May 12th, 2022: Light in the hand and spicy pre-light aroma. I think 'barely 75 minutes' is the norm for this lightly packed, easy drawing cigar. Flavour and aroma were quite pleasant: there was still an element of complexity about the cigar. Altogether, quite balanced and satisfying, if a less than medium bodied cigar is required. 

June 12th, 2022: Much the same as the reviews above. This is a very tasty mild to medium bodied cigar with flavour and aroma resembling the mild Cuban from Pinar del Rio. As with the cigar of January 12th, a spot of wrapper came off with the band. There was also a nice, but gentle, boost of strength towards the end of the cigar, making a very pleasant conclusion. As with the other samples, the cigar lasted around 75 minutes. Very satisfying in complexity and balance, despite the mildness. 

August 3rd, 2022: This one was a bit of a fluff: fast burning, it lasted a mere 55 minutes and lacked body and offering no boost of strength at the end.  Not satisfying.

August 25th, 2022: An excellent example of the blend. Flavour was rich and complex while maintaining the mild to medium body - perhaps medium plus - towards the end. Aroma was also rich and satisfying. Aftertaste was sweet and spicy. There was a pleasant complement of strength in the final third. Draw and burn were perfect. 90 minutes and very satsifying. 

November 3rd, 2022: The first from a new box. It was excellent, like those of the previous box. Smooth, medium bodied, sufficiently complex, nothing overwhelming, a bit tight on the draw, but otherwise, very satisfying 80 minutes.

March 25th, 2023: Yum, yum! This was a very delicious cigar, medium bodied throughout with a lovely mild spicy tang. Draw and burn were perfect. Aroma was quite pleasant. Very satisfying and 90 minutes.

Delicious to the nub

June 10th, 2023: Quite a substantial stogie, despite its Connecticut wrapper. Medium body from the start, perfect burn and quite a bit of strength towards the end. Very satisfying at 80 minutes.

October 21st, 2023: Good, medium bodied cigar, with excellent burn. No strength build up with this one. Good to the nub.