AJ Fernandez New World Connecticut Belicoso

A pleasant, mild, 6 x54, Belicoso.

Appearance and Construction: Nicely made belicoso with smooth US Connecticut wrapper and Mexican San Andreas Binder. Wrapper tore on removing the binder but burn was not affected.

First Puff: A little spice but that soon faded

Draw and Burn: Easy draw and consistent, albeit fast, burn.

Flavour and Complexity: A typical, mild, Connecticut flavour, not much complexity.

Body: Mild to almost medium at times.

Strength: A little strength towards the second half added a little interest to the otherwise mild fare.

Finish and Aftertaste: Nice salty aftertaste. Finish was medium. Nothing lingering.

Aroma: Occasional whiffs of the sweet, light, Pinar del Rio aroma.

Ash: Loose but held on for 15 minute intervals

Balance and Consistency: A nice balance of mild flavour, mild plus body and a bit of strength at the end.

Time smoke: 60 minutes 

Overall: Fast smoking, pleasantly mild but not lacking flavour. Compared to the San Lotano Connecticut, a little milder and not as satisfying. Let's see what future cigars from this box bring. 

Blonde, mild, quite tasty. A pleasant 60 minutes.

October 11th, 2022: I have now had three or four of these cigars. They are all consistently good: excellent burn and draw. They start out mild to medium but with quite a complex flavour and delicious aroma. They build to a crescendo of flavour and while still medium bodied, there is quite a kick of strength at the end. 70 minutes. Very satisfying. 

November 28th, 2022: Mild to medium bodied but very tasty with a salty flavour. No discernible strength. Easy draw and perfect burn. 70 minutes and very satisfying.

January 26th, 2023: Much the same as above.

February 18th, 2023: This one seemed more mild than the others; otherwise similar easy draw and 70 minute burn. The lack of body made it pleasant, but not very satisfying.

December 7th, 2023: Pleasant, mild to medium, easy draw, good burn. No crescendo of flavour as with Oct 2022, nor did strength increase. Quite satisfying though. 

AJ Fernandez New World Cameroon Gordo

This is a 6 x 60 box pressed, Cameroon wrapped, Nicaraguan cigar, very similar in profile to the double robusto, but not as full bodied

Appearance and Construction: Light in the hand, box pressed, Cameroon wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and filler. I noted a spike on the first ashing which might have resulted in a tighter draw.

First Puff: Mild

Draw and Burn: Burn was fine throughout, draw was a little resistant, despite the light packing of the cigar. 

Flavour and Complexity: Cameroon flavour was quite distinct. Otherwise, a medium roast, cocoa flavour. Not as complex as the robusto.

Body: Medium 

Strength: A little strength towards the final third.

Finish and Aftertaste: Good long finish and pleasant cocoa aftertaste.

Aroma: A light but fleeting aroma, pleasant but not intense

Ash: unremarkable, held on twenty minutes.

Balance and Consistency: Balanced and consistent, perhaps lacking a bit of body.

Time smoke: 90 minutes

Overall: Quite satisfying.

Same 90 minute smoking time, but less complex than the robusto

October 16th, 2022: Much the same as the previous cigar with the same proviso: not as complex as the robusto. Around 90 minutes. Quite satisfying. 

April 1st, 2023: A much milder version of the double robusto, both in flavour and body. Easy draw and burn. Pleasant at 90 minutes.