It’s a New World for A.J. Fernandez
A.J. Fernandez, blender of the highly praised San Lotano Oval, is adding to his portfolio a value-priced Nicaraguan puro that his father helped create.
Named in honor of the discovery of tobacco by the Christopher Columbus expedition in 1492, New World will debut at next week's International Cigars & Pipe Retailers trade show in Las Vegas. Fernandez collaborated with his father, Ismael, on the cigar, which is comprised of a wrapper from Nicaragua that covers binder from the Jalapa Valley and a filler blend of Ometepe, Condega and Estelí tobaccos.
Unlike the signature ovular shape of the A.J.'s San Lotano Oval, New World is box-pressed and will come in four sizes. Navegante is 5 1/2 inches long by 55 ring gauge, with a suggested retail price of $5.94; Almirante, 5 1/2 inches by 55 ring gauge with a belicoso tip that is priced at $6.20; Gobernador, 6 1/2 inches by 55 ring priced at $6.14; and Virrey, a 6 inch by 58 ring cigar that carries a pricetag of $6.74.
The cigars will be rolled at the A.J. Fernandez factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, and will be packaged in boxes of 21.
A.J. Fernandez's cigars have scored well in various Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Insider tastings, as his San Lotano Oval was named Cigar Aficionado's No. 25 best cigar of 2012 with a rating of 91 points.
To view the full vertical tasting of the San Lotano Oval line, click here.
