Nicaraguan Series by AJ Fernandez

The tobacco juggernaut that is AJ Fernandez continues to churn across the cigar landscape with the Nicaraguan Series by AJ Fernandez, a gorgeous and affordable construct which leaves its competitors in the dust. As one of the most sought-after blenders in the business, Fernandez gets to work with some of the most exotic longleaf from around the world but this simple puro is a masterclass in delivering the goods through well-earned skill and taste. Using a variety of aged tobaccos from across Nicaragua, including his own farms scattered around the region, AJ has crafted a medium-full bodied, full-flavored cigar loaded with aging potential yet still ready to engage the palate at a moment’s notice. Ornamented with two bright blue and gold bands, each of these fine stogies makes a statement when resting in your humidor, even more so when accompanied by a cadre of its brethren. Once pulled from within and lit, however, the true potency of the Nicaraguan Series by AJ Fernandez quickly becomes evident. Earth and dark chocolate infused with a touch of chili pepper lead the way, backed by creamy malted milk, caramel, and raisins to add a complex sweetness. A nougat-like mix of almond and hazelnut enters before reaching the second third of the vitola, accompanied by coffee, dark berry, and allspice. There’s a definite black pepper burst during the final stages, but the smoke remains cool and the burn straight so its worth the ride to the end. It will come as no surprise that the ruddy, toothy Nicaraguan Series by AJ Fernandez cigar is a natural fit for fans of quality Nicaraguan puros like El Baton or Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua, but that doesn’t mean their appeal should be limited to just one demographic. Any smoker, whether novice or grizzled vet, should consider adding a handful or a box to their next order because you never know when the need will arise for a solid smoke that hits all the marks.