A. Fernandez is a brand new release from the maker of Man O' War, Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet, and the Rocky Patel Fusion series. Developed by master blender A.J. Fernandez, this cigar is the only blend he has ever created showcasing his name.

In Esteli, Nicaragua, A.J. Fernandez established a cigar operation unlike any other. Now known as Tabacalera Fernandez, it is there where he farms, ferments and rolls his own tobacco in the old Cuban tradition, employing only supervisors who come from the "old country" to ensure his time-honored process is preserved. He is the protege of Don Alejandro Robaina, the man who is considered to be the "Godfather" of tobacco. After studying under Don Alejandro for most of his life, A.J. moved to Nicaragua to create his own cigars and has successfully turned the cigar industry upside down, producing not only his own blends but also other cigars such as Indian Tabac 10th Anniversary, Padilla Habano, and Sol Cubano Artisan.

A. Fernandez is a full-bodied blend utilizing a rich Habano Ecuadorian wrapper, which firmly drapes a concoction of Nicaraguan and Honduran ligero tobaccos. The result is a spicy, tasty treat offering complex notes of leather and earth with a subtle hint of sherry for a well-balanced, full-flavored experience. This blend is simply phenomenal and will definitely satisfy those searching for a great after-dinner smoke.

Q: What is a Cuban Sandwich?

A: When cigars are created, manufacturers utilize different lengths of leaves to use as fillers based on the type of cigar being rolled and the cost of the tobacco. The three most common types of fillers used are referred to as short, long, and medium. A cigar utilizing medium filler is also known as a "cuban sandwich." As you can imagine, long filler is composed of whole leaves of tobacco and naturally is the most of expensive in addition to being used in all premium cigars. Most aficionados prefer to enjoy cigars created with long filler because they normally burn properly and are consistent in strength, flavor, body and construction. Short filler, however, consists of small pieces of tobacco (usually excess scraps of whole leaves not used) and is usually inexpensive. You will find many "machine-made" cigars use short filler. A cuban sandwich, on the other hand, combines short filler and medium filler together in order to create a less expensive cigar without sacraficing quality and consistency. The term "sandwich" refers to the way these cigars are assembled, as the short filler is mixed and wrapped with the medium filler before being concealed by a higher quality long leaf as the wrapper.

Rolled in Esteli, Nicaragua, Gurkha's Sherpa is a more economical blend released to attract the budget conscious cigar enthusiast.

Gurkha cigars are usually enjoyed by world leaders and other members of "high society." Their premium blends, utilizing tobaccos stemming from all over the world and featuring unique, limited packaging, usually can only be enjoyed by those willing to spend some extra money. In fact, the brand even released a cigar that was created specifically to entertain the Sultan of Brunei, so finding an inexpensive Gurkha cigar is far from an easy feat. Although the Gurkha brand earned the reputation of being the "Rolls Royce of Cigars," Sherpa was released to provide a great Gurkha cigar at a more than affordable price. Not only is this blend inexpensive by Gurkha's standards, but also a great tasting cigar most enthusiast should enjoy.

Gurkha's Sherpa boasts a combination of Cuban-seed long fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican's Cibao Valley. It is encased by a dark Habano wrapper, creating an enjoyable medium-body fo a well-balanced experience. Light pepper with hints of sweetness grace the palate, as this cigar provides an enjoyable earthy flavor with a medium finish. Only available in one size and perfect in the morning with a cup of coffee or after a fine dinner, Gurkha's Sherpa is excellent, especially when considering the price.

Toro (6" x 50) This parejo burned evenly from start to finish, as expected. Slightly complex, the flavors and strength build from start to finish but never cross over to a full body. The aftertaste is great as cedar and earth blend perfectly and rest on the palate for a short time after the cigar is extinguished. Light hints of citrus and sugarcane are noticable as well. 89/100 [Buy Now]

Oliva Connecticut Reserve - Oliva Connecticut Reserve is a mild to medium-bodied cigar featuring a silky, luscious Connecticut wrapper; the only Connecticut in Oliva's line up.

A. Fernandez - A. Fernandez is a full-bodied blend utilizing a rich Habano Ecuador wrapper with a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran ligeros to bring a wide array of flavors and aromas to the palate.

Man O' War Ruination - Yet another potent blend coming from Tabacalera Fernandez, Man O’ War Ruination pushes the envelope for full-bodied blends by perfectly matching strength, flavor, and body for a complex, yet balanced experience.

ACID Opulence 3 - Uniquely infused, ACID Opulence 3 is the rarest of all ACID cigars and brings a whole new blend to the ACID lineup in a rich, oily maduro.

04/15/2009: Tim and Kim sit down and enjoy the brand spankin' new A. Fernandez. A long overdue release from the new face of Nicaraguan cigars, I have to admit the more of these I smoke, the more I like 'em. Now watch the review already! [Listen Now]

With today's increasing trend toward ever stronger, fuller, darker and more robust cigars, it's easy to forget about Connecticut shade wrappers. So let’s take a step back and have a closer look at these traditional premium wrappers, long-considered one of the very finest wrapper leaves available.

Connecticut shade leaf is still the most popular wrapper of choice for premium cigar enthusiasts in America, despite the recent tilt toward such full-bodied and powerful wrappers such as sun grown, maduro, Corojo, Habano and other options on the market today. The popularity of Connecticut shade leaf is due to its attractive appearance, color, texture, taste, burning qualities and aroma, as well as its characteristically smooth, creamy taste. Never overpowering but usually full-flavored, it's often associated with mild and medium-bodied cigars.

For certain, the state of Connecticut is not the first region you associate with cigars. Mention cigars the next time you're on the golf course with some friends and most likely thoughts of Cuba, Nicaraguan, Dominican Republic and Honduras will arise. Yet, Connecticut wrappers from the Connecticut River Valley right here in the USA, are some of the most sought after leaf in the world.

Connecticut "shade" tobacco received its name because it is grown under large tents that protect the leaves from the sun. If grown in direct sunlight, the leaf would be coarse and tough. But by shading it, the sunlight is effectively filtered; yielding a thinner, more elastic leaf that cures to a lighter, even color. Today, shade-grown Connecticut wrapper leaf is one of the world's most expensive agricultural commodities. Since the wrapper provides a major portion of a cigar’s taste, what is it about this region that makes this leaf so sought after? For one, it's gorgeous. Aesthetically, the sight of the silky, smooth, thin and elastic look of Connecticut shade wrappers is beyond compare. Another is the even burn. The thin, elastic nature of this leaf offers a smooth, slow and even burn while providing balance.

Of all places, why has Connecticut historically been the source for such prized wrapper leaves? A combination of good soil, adequate rainfall and abundant sunshine has made it one of the world's premium tobacco growing regions. Although experiments have been performed by transplanting wrapper leaf seed varieties from Connecticut to grow in other regions such as Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and others, no one has yet been able to duplicate the color, flavor and texture of the Connecticut Valley leaf.