3/5King
Shwing!
09/02/14
Review: AJ Fernandez New World Order Almirante
(Belicoso 5-1/2x55)
Wrapper: Dark Nicaragua
Binder: Jalapa
Filler: Blend of Ometepe,
Condega and Estelí
Appearance/construction: Soft, faint veins. Tooth and leather filled texture but the wrapper is smoothly wrapped around the cigar. Firm press, thick wrapper. A consistent dark brownie colored wrapper.
Aroma: Hay and rich tobacco on the foot.
Cold draw: Dark, earthy, a bit salty, musty tobacco.
Lit with a dual flame jet torch: nice and even.
The peppery strength shows itself from the first retro hale; perfect draw and volumes of smoke. Crisp burn line and a beautiful stark white ash against the dark natural wrapper.
First inch brings spice, nuts and vanilla bean. With a dark roast coffee aroma off the foot. Medium body and medium/full strength to start. Oily mouthfeel. You can see copious amounts of tooth sprinkled throughout the ash like goosebumps.
A slight waiver forms after the first inch but nothing to worry about as the construction seems wonderful. A soft long draw gets you a kings share of smoke. The ash is holding towards the two inch mark but I will ash it as I don't like to find out the fall off in my lap length.
Coming into the 2nd third; Still a rich and dark vanilla bean met with a peppery retro hale finish. Nuts are faint in the background. Medium body/chewy smoke/medium strength. The cigar is smoking nice and cool. An earthiness makes it's way into the mix. The vanilla bean finishes with a small bit of roast towards the middle of the cigar. Perfect burn, nice and cool smoke. Strength picks up a bit which brings along with it the sting of pepper through the nose. A small bit of spice on the tongue and noticeable on the back of the throat as well.
This cigar, so far, has shown me qualities that I think will shine even brighter with some age. I can tell I'm moving into the final third as the strength is moving towards full and I'm now getting hints of Sarsaparilla which is very welcome. Out of nowhere I get a blast of mmmmmmmm.. Vanilla bean, Sarsaparilla and a peppermint coolness to the peppery retro hale carried along with a full strength finish. This cigar is getting really good. You will have to like a strong peppery finish to the retro hale as I do. A bit of creaminess appears. Still burning nice and even with minimal waiver. Reminds me of a payday candy bar but not as nutty or sweet, just evoked a memory is all and then the sarsaparilla rolls into the finish and that thought is gone. A bit of pine shows up as I tend to get a lot with a peppery strong cigar in the final stage before the nub. I'm getting a burning on the lips which I relate to lots of nicotine. Definitely finishing full force.
Summary: This is the first blend that AJ Fernandez has teamed up with his father to create and they have done a splendid job at that. Wonderful construction, good amounts of smoke along with a hassle free burn make this a joy to smoke. The soft vanilla bean with a touch of nuts to start and the rich, strong peppery sarsaparilla addition to the finish makes this a cigar worth getting your hands on. I enjoyed it down to the nub.
Smoke time: 1hr 10min
Scoring:
Appearance and Presentation: 19/20
Lighting and Burning Properties: 15/15
Construction Properties: 30/30
Taste Properties: 27/35
Total: 91/100
With some age, I think this score goes up a few points.
)
Review: AJ Fernandez New World Order Almirante
(Belicoso 5-1/2x55)
Wrapper: Dark Nicaragua
Binder: Jalapa
Filler: Blend of Ometepe,
Condega and Estelí
Appearance/construction: Soft, faint veins. Tooth and leather filled texture but the wrapper is smoothly wrapped around the cigar. Firm press, thick wrapper. A consistent dark brownie colored wrapper.
Aroma: Hay and rich tobacco on the foot.
Cold draw: Dark, earthy, a bit salty, musty tobacco.
Lit with a dual flame jet torch: nice and even.
The peppery strength shows itself from the first retro hale; perfect draw and volumes of smoke. Crisp burn line and a beautiful stark white ash against the dark natural wrapper.
First inch brings spice, nuts and vanilla bean. With a dark roast coffee aroma off the foot. Medium body and medium/full strength to start. Oily mouthfeel. You can see copious amounts of tooth sprinkled throughout the ash like goosebumps.
A slight waiver forms after the first inch but nothing to worry about as the construction seems wonderful. A soft long draw gets you a kings share of smoke. The ash is holding towards the two inch mark but I will ash it as I don't like to find out the fall off in my lap length.
Coming into the 2nd third; Still a rich and dark vanilla bean met with a peppery retro hale finish. Nuts are faint in the background. Medium body/chewy smoke/medium strength. The cigar is smoking nice and cool. An earthiness makes it's way into the mix. The vanilla bean finishes with a small bit of roast towards the middle of the cigar. Perfect burn, nice and cool smoke. Strength picks up a bit which brings along with it the sting of pepper through the nose. A small bit of spice on the tongue and noticeable on the back of the throat as well.
This cigar, so far, has shown me qualities that I think will shine even brighter with some age. I can tell I'm moving into the final third as the strength is moving towards full and I'm now getting hints of Sarsaparilla which is very welcome. Out of nowhere I get a blast of mmmmmmmm.. Vanilla bean, Sarsaparilla and a peppermint coolness to the peppery retro hale carried along with a full strength finish. This cigar is getting really good. You will have to like a strong peppery finish to the retro hale as I do. A bit of creaminess appears. Still burning nice and even with minimal waiver. Reminds me of a payday candy bar but not as nutty or sweet, just evoked a memory is all and then the sarsaparilla rolls into the finish and that thought is gone. A bit of pine shows up as I tend to get a lot with a peppery strong cigar in the final stage before the nub. I'm getting a burning on the lips which I relate to lots of nicotine. Definitely finishing full force.
Summary: This is the first blend that AJ Fernandez has teamed up with his father to create and they have done a splendid job at that. Wonderful construction, good amounts of smoke along with a hassle free burn make this a joy to smoke. The soft vanilla bean with a touch of nuts to start and the rich, strong peppery sarsaparilla addition to the finish makes this a cigar worth getting your hands on. I enjoyed it down to the nub.
Smoke time: 1hr 10min
Scoring:
Appearance and Presentation: 19/20
Lighting and Burning Properties: 15/15
Construction Properties: 30/30
Taste Properties: 27/35
Total: 91/100
With some age, I think this score goes up a few points.
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