At the upcoming 2018 IPCPR trade show, Punch cigars will introduce a new line called Diablo. As the name suggests, it is an extremely bold and full-bodied cigar with strength and power. AJ Fernandez blended the cigar for Altadis U.S.A. with tobaccos from four different countries, all of which have aged 4-6 years. The cigars are rolled by hand at the AJ Fernandez factory in Nicaragua.
This cigar was exactly what a project like this should be: not so prominent in the barrel-aged department that it takes over the blend, but enough that you know it was there. It reminded me of the Diesel Unlimited blend both profile-wise and on paper, but just with a little something extra. I'm not sure this is my favorite Diesel release, but it is up there with the Rage and Delirium. Definitely pick some of these up if you are a fan of Diesel, barrel aged cigars, or just want to try something new in general.
Today, AJ Fernandez Cigar Company announced that they have hired Starky Arias, formerly of Cigar Rings, as their new marketing director. He will start the position March 1, 2018. He has been on the creative side of the cigar industry for many years, mostly with Cigar Rings, with many brands.
Adam B.AJ FernandezAllBlind Cigar ReviewsDieselFeaturedHabanoIPCPRJohn I.NicaraguaRobustoStefanSteveZane G.
·"Pretty solid effort. A really darkly attractive cigar with big rich flavors in the earthy/woody range with some interesting side notes of herbs and spices coming in at a few points. I'd love to stick a box of these in the back of my cabinet and forget about them for a year or two. I'll bet they really sing with a little age. " -John I. (John I.)
"For the most part this was a nice cigar. It had some personality. The wood and nutmeg flavors were nicely balanced for most of the time. There was a bit if hickory in the final third but not for long. The smoke provided a nice smell of camp fire and the flavors left in the mouth were very nice. While it did start of mellow, it slowly became bold towards the end. The final moments did produce the bitter flavors you would experience at the end of most cigars. Overall this would pair nicely with a single malt or even a mixed drink while sitting by a camp fire." -Eric (smalls29)
At the 2018 IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas, Southern Draw Cigars will introduce Cedrus - The Hogan. It is a new facing that also makes the fifth core line for the young cigar brand based in Texas. According to a press release, CEDRUS has been five years in the making and will first be available in a box pressed Belicoso Fino size known as “THE HOGAN” (5.5 x 52). THE HOGAN will come in numbered 10-count boxes.
Diesel has been a well know presence in cigar shops and from online retailers for a number of years now. Very soon, fans of the brand will have another reason to smile, as Diesel presents Whiskey Row. As with the rest of the Diesel portfolio, they are blended by AJ Fernandez. This cigar was also developed in conjunction with Rabbit Hole Bourbon, a new distillery in the bourbon category. Whiskey Row uses some binder leaves that were aged in bourbon barrels, using a proprietary process developed by AJ to enhance the profile of the cigar.
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·Today, Altadis U.S.A. and AJ Fernandez announced another collaboration, the Romeo San Andrés by Romeo y Julieta. The cigar is made in Estelí, Nicaragua at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez. The blend uses an aged San Andrés wrapper, one of the more popular wrappers today.
A.J. Fernandez’s has taken over another Cuban brand, this time it's from General Cigar. He’s now producing new versions of Ramon Allones in Nicaragua.
AJ FernandezAllBlind Cigar ReviewsFeaturedHabanoHoyo de Monterrey (DR)IPCPRJohn I.Matthew T.NaturalNicaraguaRobustoRyanSteveZane G.
·"I was a little concerned on the cold draw before lighting, but this cigar was really pretty good. Good flavor combinations, and lots of smoke output. It did burn a bit on the fast side, but the flavors that came throughout the smoking experience were tasty and made sense together. I would smoke this again." -Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)