Reposado maduro

[Don Fernando]

This is another cigar from rising star A.J. Fernandez and all the tobaccos used for this cigar are Cuban-seed Nicaraguan grown and the only vitola available is a salomon in a stout, 7.1”x58 frame. They are available with a Habano, Maduro or Connecticut wrapper. This is a review of the Maduro.



The wrapper has a lot of spots, as if it just hit puberty and there are also a lot of veins on the leaf. The construction feels good and the cigar has a strong barnyard aroma that makes my nose itch when I smell it. The oily wrapper has a leathery feel to it. The predraw is fine and releases pepper on my palate.



I taste a sweet chocolate with a hint of cedar and soon the sweetness disappears and the flavors change from chocolate and cedar to hay and wood. I can also taste a citrus like acid flavor with a hint of pepper which slowly grows in strength. This all happens within the first inch of the cigar. The strength of the flavors are medium.



The citrus flavor is gone and everything is peppery hay. The structure of the flavors are sticky. The pepper is a mix of red and black peppers and burn on my tongue. Halfway the flavors fade away a bit and the pepper turns to black pepper only. The flavors keep fading away to the end.



The draw of this cigar is great and I get a lot of thick white smoke. The burn is straight as an arrow and the ash is almost white. I would rate this cigar as medium to full flavored and full bodied.



Would I buy this cigar again? No, I think I will stick with the Habano.

Appearance: 6 / 10
Construction: 7 / 10
Draw: 7 / 10
Burn: 8 / 10
Smoke & ash: 8 / 10
Aroma first part: 8 / 10
Aroma second part: 6 / 10
Aroma third part: 6 / 10