Pre-light Experience

Beautifully pressed and firm throughout, the AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes Maduro Toro sports an incredibly dark Maduro wrapper. It is near Oscuro in all honesty and it has a dark chocolate like coloring. The wrapper is smooth in texture and has a nice leather like quality. The foot is giving off an aroma of rich earth, dark chocolate, strong spices and red pepper, and the wrapper has notes of leather, wood, espresso beans and dry earth.

First Third

The first third opens up with some intense dark chocolate cake flavors and it is paired with some heavy, rich earth. With that is some espresso beans, dark baking spices and a chocolate ganache flavor on the finish. This is a beast of a cigar, and it is smoking at a solid full level for strength, body and flavors.

Second Third

The second third delivers a lot of the same qualities that are present in the first third and I am getting some dark chocolate cake notes upfront with that earth and spice profile that is rich and dark to follow. There are some espresso beans present with that and the finish shows that chocolate ganache profile which is quite enjoyable. Like before, the cigar is full in strength, body and flavors.

Final Third

The final third delivers that rich chocolate cake profile that is paired with sweet spices and espresso beans. It is followed by some leather and earth qualities with a hint of oak. It is not as full as the first two thirds, a little scaled back, but still full overall. It has a softer finish, and it’s a great way for this cigar to come to a close.

Burn

Burn was fantastic. This cigar smoked wonderfully in terms of burn line and ash produced.

Draw

The draw was great from beginning to end. Perfect level of resistance.

Overall

The AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes Maduro Toro was a solid smoke and a cigar that fit into some classic stereotypes. It was a Maduro that was dark, rich and strong. The cigar smoked at a full level from beginning to end and the flavors paired perfectly with the body and strength. The espresso and chocolate notes were enjoyable and when paired with the spice notes and ganache qualities made for a lovely experience. With the great construction, it is hard to find faults in the cigar. I think it would be too full for some smokers, but it is a great evening cigar, and I would smoke these more in the fall and winter. Finished with beautiful artwork on the bands, this is a great release for AJ.

Seth Geise

SCORE

6.82

Cost/Point

$1.47

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes Maduro Toro