AJ Fernandez New World Almirante Belicoso

This is a 5.5 inch x 55 Belicoso. It resembles the Navegante Robusto but for the tapered head.

Appearance and Construction: Similar to the Robusto but for the tapered head. This cigar felt quite heavy in the hand. It was well packed and had a slight resistance.

First Puff: First puff was quite rough: not much complexity, not much spice. It was not encouraging, but first puffs can be deceiving.

Draw and Burn: Draw was a little resistant, but not too resistant. Burn was perfect. 

Flavour and Complexity: After the first half centimetre flavour mellowed out to a very smooth maduro flavour, dark roast, woody, earthy and with adequate complexity. There was a little pepper, but it did not dominate.

Body: Body hovered around the medium to medium plus level.

Strength: Strength did not pose a problem.

Finish and Aftertaste: Good, long, delicious aftertaste.

Aroma: The aroma was one of the finest points: incredibly rich and intense. Five stars for the aroma.

Ash: Held on admirably.

Balance and Consistency: Excellent balance of body, flavour, strength, finish and aroma

Time smoke: 90 minutes, which goes to show, size doesn't always correlate to smoking time. 

Overall: Very satisfying. Aroma was outstanding. 

September 5th, 2022: A bit mild at the outset, with woody flavour dominating, but the cigar picked up body, flavour and aroma towards the second third and was quite satisfying, finishing with excellent complexity. It lasted a good 90 minutes plus. Quite satisfying. 

September 23rd, 2022: I sat in the cool mountain air with an old friend in Liezey, Aslace and smoked one of these cigars. It was delicious and unputdownable; full rich, aroma, excellent after taste, slow burn. 90 minutes. Very satisfying.

October 22nd, 2022: Another fine example of this reliable blend. Very smooth, mellow, yet complex medium bodied maduro. 80 minutes. Very satisfying. 

May 8th, 2024: I've had many of these and nearly finished the box, but somehow neglected to write them up. This one was as good as the rest: sweet, dark roast maduro, smooth, medium to full body, fine aroma, excellent draw and burn. 90 minutes. Very satisfying.

AJ Fernandez New World Cameroon Double Robusto

August 16th, 2022: I was expecting something milder, given my experience with the Oliva Serie G Churchill. The Oliva is quite a mild to medium cigar. The first AJ New World Cameroon that I tried from the box was anything but mild. It was medium bodied, as with other members of the New World brand, but it had quite a bit of strength - all in a balanced and satisfying way. 

Appearance and Construction: This is a 5.5 inch 55 gauge Nicaraguan binder and filler with a Cameroon Wrapper. It is box pressed and has quite a spicy pre-light aroma.

First Puff: Quite full flavoured, spicy and reminiscent of the New World.

Draw and Burn: Perfect draw and burn. 

Flavour and Complexity: Excellent, rich, quite complex, flavour reminiscent of the New World Navegante Robusto but with a slight Cameroon trace.

Body: Medium body throughout. Perhaps medium plus. 

Strength: Strength built quite substantially. It was quite a surprise, but it was balanced and added to the complexity of the cigar. 

Finish and Aftertaste: Good, spicy aftertaste

Aroma: Rich aroma

Ash: Ash held on quite well for 25-30 minutes initially, then 20 minute intervals. 

Balance and Consistency: Excellent balance of flavour, body and strength. 

Time smoke: 90 minutes

Overall: Very impressive. The cigar was almost indistinguishable from the vanilla New World. I had to pay attention to the fact that there was a Cameroon wrapper. A major difference was the building strength. Yes, I had a few crazy nicotine dreams. I often find the first cigar out of the box is strong. It will be interesting to see whether the next few samples are as strong. I hope so. Very satisfying. 

Excellent, 90 minute, medium plus body, full of flavour and a nice kick of strength.

August 22nd, 2022: Although less than a week had passed since my first dip into this box, I couldn't resist. Did I want to confirm my impressions from the week before or did I merely want a delicious cigar; or both. Anyway, it was delicious: a wonderful balance of good medium-roast flavour with a hint of Cameroon, medium to medium plus body, but no great spice content, excellent aroma albeit more subdued than the New World simpliciter; excellent aftertaste and perfect burn and draw. What more could one want? Very satisfying. 90 minutes - unusual for a robusto. 

At the half hour mark. This was a slow burning cigar. Aftertaste was so satisfying that one could leave the cigar for a few minutes, and it didn't go out.

August 29th, 2022: These are difficult to resist. Fortunately I have ordered a box of the Gordo size. This cigar was much the same as the previous with a remarkable burst of intense aroma around the final third which was so intense I had to move the cigar away. That didn't last long and the cigar ended with a loss of complexity by around the last inch. I left it there at 90 minutes. Very satisfying.

September 22nd: Another excellent example of the blend; slow burning, a good tinge of distinctive Cameroon flavour. It started medium and ended medium-plus. I left it at 90 minutes with quite a large nub. Very satisfying. 

November 11th, 2022: Similar to the previous: 90 minutes. Very satisfying full bodied, well balanced, easy draw, good aroma.

November 30th, 2022: Another very smooth, mellow, medium bodied with a a nice spicy start and easy draw. 90 minutes and good to the nub.

January 10th and February 2nd: Wonderfully smooth and mellow during the first half, with excellent aroma, but quite a bit of strength developing in the second half. The one I had last night (Feb 2nd) had quite a punch in the final third. Very satisfying around 80 - 90 minutes.

February 27th, 2023: No strength in this cigar: medium plus all the way. Excellent burn and draw; smooth, complex with fine aroma. 90 minutes. Very satisfying. 

March 27th, 2023: No great strength but wonderful complexity and flavour. Very satisfying. 90 minutes.

One of the tastiest AJ Fernandez offerings

September 28th, 2023. The last couple of these have been a bit lacking in flavour and body. Pleasant, at best and more like the Gordo, which was not as satisfying as the Double Robusto.

December 25th: Quite satisfying: complex throughout with perhaps a little diminution of body after the first inch, but the cigar soon recovered. Burn was a bit wonky and ash was spikey. 60 minutes.