Cigar: A.J. Fernandez New World Puro Especial
Size: Toro, 6½ x 52
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: Medium to Full
This is a true Nicaraguan puro, with the tobacco sourced from Estelí. The blend was developed by A.J. Fernandez and his father, Ismael, and uses aged tobaccos from Fernandez farms. The Toro earned 93 points and No. 12 in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of 2017.
The Experience
The Puro Especial is a cigar that delivers exactly what you expect from an Estelí puro: pepper, earth, wood, coffee and roasted character, but with enough sweetness and nuttiness to keep it from becoming one dimensional.
It has that unmistakable A.J. Fernandez DNA. Bold without being reckless.
First Third
The opening comes in with black pepper and cedar, followed quickly by earth and roasted coffee.
There is a slight mineral quality underneath the smoke that gives it depth. Retrohale brings the pepper forward considerably, while the finish develops a subtle cocoa and nut character.
The Toro starts with authority.
Second Third
This is where the cigar really settles in.
The pepper begins to soften and the profile becomes more balanced, bringing forward coffee, cocoa, roasted nuts and cedar. There is a subtle sweetness underneath the darker flavors that keeps the cigar interesting.
The smoke becomes thicker and creamier as the cigar progresses.
Final Third
The final third brings the strength up another notch.
Dark coffee, earth, pepper and cocoa dominate, with the cedar remaining in the background. The retrohale becomes considerably more intense, but the cigar maintains its balance if you slow your smoking pace.
This is the point where the Puro Especial reminds you that it is still an Estelí puro.
Construction & Burn
The Toro is generally known for solid construction, with a firm pack and a good draw. A.J. Fernandez’s attention to construction is evident when the cigar is properly stored and prepared.
The 6½ x 52 format also gives the blend enough room to evolve without becoming an unnecessarily long commitment.
Overall Experience
The New World Puro Especial Toro is a classic example of what A.J. Fernandez does extremely well.
It is Nicaraguan, bold, earthy, spicy and flavorful, but there is enough coffee, cocoa and nuttiness to keep the experience balanced.
And the fact that it was a Top 25 cigar of the year wasn’t an accident. This is one of those cigars that has earned its place in the humidor rather than simply riding on the A.J. Fernandez name.
Why It Stands Out
The biggest selling point is its purity of profile.
Everything comes from Nicaragua, and specifically the Estelí region. You’re getting a very direct expression of Nicaraguan tobacco without another country’s wrapper or filler being used to reshape the profile.
It’s also a great example of a cigar that can be appreciated by someone who wants complexity without needing a dozen different flavors thrown at them.
Pairing Suggestions
Espresso: Brings out the roasted coffee and cocoa.
Black coffee: Excellent with the earth and pepper.
Bourbon: The oak and caramel characteristics complement the darker tobacco notes.
Aged rum: Works particularly well with the cigar’s earthy sweetness.
Burnt Leaf Insight
The New World Puro Especial Toro is one of those cigars that deserves to be smoked slowly.
Don’t chase the smoke. Let the Estelí tobacco do the work.
This is a straight-up Nicaraguan cigar with character, and at 6½ x 52, the Toro gives you enough smoking time to watch that character evolve from pepper and cedar into coffee, cocoa, earth and roasted nuts.
