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. Finished with beautiful artwork on the bands, this is a great release for AJ.
The AJ Fernandez New World Cameroon Double Robusto brought more strength than I was expecting, but the fullness of flavor kept up. I felt like it was a prototypical AJ blend, really didn't showcase Cameroon at all and probably not something I'm eager to revisit.
Some nice chocolate and baking notes were present at times while dark wood was the consistent theme throughout. The AJ Fernandez Enclave Broadleaf is a good evening/after dinner cigar and one I wouldn't mind revisiting in a smaller vitola to see how it smokes. If you're an AJ or broadleaf fan, then this is definitely one to try.
As I was hoping, AJ brought a stronger game to a blend under his own brand. Strength is a bit up there, so fans of AJ's stronger blends will be right at home here. This would be a great evening/after dinner cigar and I'm sure would stand up to some nice brown spirits.
For fans of AJ, this is a no brainier to try. For others, still worth a try to taste the new spin on an old traditional Cuban brand.
The new Monte by Montecristo AJ Fernandez is a robust, medium to full-bodied cigar. Cloaked in a Dark Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and bound with a Corojo ‘98 binder, it delivers a stout, chocolatey aroma. A Criollo ‘98 and Piloto Cubano Dominican filler yield a nutty and caramel sweetness.
I find the La Gran Llave to be like many of AJ's offerings. That is, a profile centered around wood, spice and cream. Nothing truly stands out or is off-putting about the cigar. I do wish the profile reached further depth in spice with the smoking experience matching closer to the pre-light experience.
For me, this would be a fit for a last cigar in a multiple cigar smoking day and I could see revisiting it from time to time.
AJ never makes a bad cigar in his vast portfolio, and this cigar is another shining example of such. I can see many enjoying this cigar with its straight forward and linear approach in flavors.
The strength is up there, so newer smokers or those that like milder cigars may want to take caution, but if you like fuller strength cigars, this is a must try. I highly recommend that you seek one of these out.