New Release - San Lotano Habano
Alex Svenson
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So finally letting my palate settle down after the show where I must have smoked about 10 cigars a day I finally sat down to give some real feedback on the latest and greatest from the top makers offering for 2010. My first pick was of course a cigar from my very favorite cigar maker, AJ Fernandez and his San Lotano line. San Lotano is his first official national release which he is distributing himself. It is available in a habano, maduro and Connecticut wrapper. I settled on the habano to get the ball rolling as when I smoked this baby at the show it was one of my absolute favorites and I have been eager to see if my initial impressions would match up.
It is a nice not here in Chicago... About 86 degrees and I just finished a nice lambchop accompanied by bacon wrapped dates. To accompany my cigar I have selected a nice 8 year old Basil Hayden pored neat in a rocks glass which is my stand mode of operation.
Thie cigar has a nice look with a very woodsy prelight and oily wrapper. The draw in generous with no evident tight spots. Upon lighting the ere is a clear spicy aspect to the smoke that will clearly be the centerpiece of the smoke from start to finish, there is no question it is a nice full bodied smoke and there is a prominent red pepper note through the nose with a sweet aroma, the smoke is evenly balanced across the palate and has a weighty yet dry feel. Like most of AJs stuff, you get a consistent yet complex flavor throughout, yet the flavor takes on a meaty and toasty quality into the second half.
. I don't usually adhere to the standard 100 pt system. For me a cigar is either poor, fair, good, very good or excellent. This one clearly falls into the excellent category. For me it definitely sets the bar for everything that has come out this year.
It is a nice not here in Chicago... About 86 degrees and I just finished a nice lambchop accompanied by bacon wrapped dates. To accompany my cigar I have selected a nice 8 year old Basil Hayden pored neat in a rocks glass which is my stand mode of operation.
Thie cigar has a nice look with a very woodsy prelight and oily wrapper. The draw in generous with no evident tight spots. Upon lighting the ere is a clear spicy aspect to the smoke that will clearly be the centerpiece of the smoke from start to finish, there is no question it is a nice full bodied smoke and there is a prominent red pepper note through the nose with a sweet aroma, the smoke is evenly balanced across the palate and has a weighty yet dry feel. Like most of AJs stuff, you get a consistent yet complex flavor throughout, yet the flavor takes on a meaty and toasty quality into the second half.
. I don't usually adhere to the standard 100 pt system. For me a cigar is either poor, fair, good, very good or excellent. This one clearly falls into the excellent category. For me it definitely sets the bar for everything that has come out this year.
Comments
Good news, Alex. And thanks for taking the time to review it, but more importantly post it up here for us. It is very much appreciated.
The Good -
From the start the flavor is fantastic and rich. The ash held on for over 3 inches. I know you guys are going to love this cigar.
The Bad (And not necessarily the manufacturers fault) -
The wrapper was dried up and cracked. When I cut the cigar the end just exploded in crunchy tobacco. I did not want to waste a good cigar so I did my best with it. Keep in mind these cigars were in the intense heat and humidity in NOLA. Then the were in the hot convention center which eventually turned on the cold air. Then they found their way from AJ Fernandez into my bag which continued their journey in and out of air conditioning and intense heat and humidity including my trunk so no one would steal them. Back into the hotel air conditioning and a 13 hour car trip back home. I can not fault anyone for this.
Due to all of that I could not give a proper, fair, and honest review. I can tell you the flavor is amazing right from the start. You know the construction is spot on when the ash holds tight over 3 inches like that. This is definitely going to be a must try this year for you guys. Anxious to try the other 2 blends but I need to rest everything from IPCPR.