Pre-light Experience

The AJ Fernandez New World Cameroon Toro has a rectangle press with a wrapper that is light brown and has a network of fine veins. The seams are a bit raised while the caps are well applied. The cigar has two bands, with the primary being the traditional design for the line but carrying green borders. The secondary band is gold and green with red text denoting Cameroon Selection. The aroma from the wrapper is a light mix of wood and earth while the foot brings sweet cedar. The pre-light draw is a light and airy, aged cedar.

First Third

The cigar begins with an even mix of toasted cedar and black pepper with some light mustiness. At a half inch in, the toasted cedar takes a slight lead over the black pepper. The retrohale is an even mix of toasted cedar and black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the mustiness has become even with the toasted cedar and the black pepper is just slightly behind. The strength in this third is right at medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the black pepper lightens up a bit, letting the musty, toasted cedar shine a bit more. The retrohale remains an even mix of toasted cedar and black pepper. At an inch in, the toast level has become pretty heavy and the black pepper has a very long finish. As the third comes to a close, the heavily toasted cedar with light mustiness is a fair bit ahead of the black pepper. The strength remains at medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the heavy toast brings in a light bitterness. The retrohale now has the toasted cedar slightly ahead of the black pepper. At an inch in, the heavy toast transitions to char and the bitterness picks up a bit. The cigar wraps up with musty, charred cedar with black pepper and bitterness in the background. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly above medium.

Burn

The burn was straight throughout, but the cigar did go out once, requiring a re-light.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar had a flavor profile focused around toasted cedar, black pepper and mustiness. The final third saw the toast transition to char. Construction was perfect aside from one re-light. Overall, the AJ Fernandez New World Cameroon Toro was pretty linear in it’s flavor profile until some transitions in the final third. Having reviewed the cigar in the Double Robusto previously, this vitola provided a very similar, average experience. The price point is attractive, so it’s an easy try if the blend intrigues you.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.30

Cost/Point

$1.32

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: AJ Fernandez New World Cameroon Toro