AJ Fernandez Archives - Best cigars - site for the best cigars

Viva La Vida Connecticut Robusto 5×54

Best Cigars — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 10:30:09 +0000

In March 2019, the new Nicaraguan cigar brand Viva La Vida was introduced to the U.S. market. Created by Artesano del Tobacco and cigar manufacturer AJ Fernandez, these cigars are rolled in Nicaragua using an all-Nicaraguan blend.

Everything began in 2016 when the Artesano Del Tobacco team sought the expertise of renowned cigar maker AJ Fernandez to bring their project to life. Through innovative blending techniques, unique fermentation processes, and meticulous aging methods, AJ Fernandez created these cigars, which promise an unforgettable smoking experience.

The blend features an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper, while the binder and filler tobaccos come from AJ Fernandez’s plantations in Nicaragua. Viva La Vida is a mild-to-medium-bodied cigar with fresh notes of earth, cedar, cream, and citrus fruits.

These cigars are made at AJ Fernandez’s factory in Nicaragua

Viva La Vida Toro 6″ x 54

Best Cigars — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 09:41:45 +0000

The blend features a Habano Oscuro 2000 wrapper, a Corojo binder, and Criollo ’98 fillers from AJ Fernandez’s plantations in Nicaragua. Viva La Vida is a full-bodied cigar with rich flavors of black pepper, leather, and notes of citrus and dark chocolate.

These cigars are made at AJ Fernandez’s factory in Nicaragua.

El Pulpo Belicoso Grande 5 3/4″ x 58

Best Cigars — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:47:45 +0000

At the beginning of 2023, Artesano Del Tobacco announced the release of the highly anticipated EL Pulpo cigar line, a project that had been in development for years. The name “EL Pulpo,” which means “The Octopus” in Spanish, symbolizes versatility and complexity, which perfectly defines these cigars. Everything began in 2016 when the Artesano Del Tobacco team sought the expertise of renowned cigar maker AJ Fernandez to bring their project to life. Through innovative blending techniques, unique fermentation processes, and meticulous aging methods, AJ Fernandez created a cigar that promises an unforgettable smoking experience.

The blend features a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, with binder and filler tobaccos sourced from AJ Fernandez’s plantations in Nicaragua. These cigars are medium to full-bodied, offering rich notes of coffee beans, nuts, spices, and dark chocolate. They are made at AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano factory in Nicaragua.

Ranked among the Top 25 Cigars of 2023 by Cigar Aficionado.

El Pulpo Robusto Grande 5″ x 56

Best Cigars — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:18:36 +0000

At the beginning of 2023, Artesano Del Tobacco announced the launch of the highly anticipated EL Pulpo cigar line, a project that had been in development for years. The name “EL Pulpo,” which means “The Octopus” in Spanish, symbolizes versatility and complexity, which is the perfect definition of these cigars. It all began in 2016, when the Artesano Del Tobacco team sought the expertise of renowned cigar manufacturer AJ Fernandez to bring their project to life. Through innovative blending techniques, unique fermentation processes, and careful aging methods, AJ Fernandez created a cigar that promises an unforgettable smoking experience.

The blend features a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, with binder and filler tobaccos from AJ Fernandez’s plantations in Nicaragua. These cigars are medium to full-bodied, offering rich flavors of coffee beans, nuts, spices, and dark chocolate. They are made at AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano factory in Nicaragua.

EL Pulpo was ranked the No. 10 Cigar of 2023 by Cigar Aficionado.

AJ Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Habano Gran Toro 6″ x 60

Best Cigars — Fri, 22 May 2026 12:49:00 +0000

San Lotano Habano is a full-bodied, classic blend of aged long filler tobaccos from Nicaragua, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and a Nicaraguan binder tobacco. The San Lotano cigars receive their name from the name of the Nicaraguan plantation owned by AJ Fernandez, as well as from a factory they opened in 2017. A distinctive feature of San Lotano Habano is its dark and rare Brazilian Habano wrapper leaf, grown from Cuban Ligero seeds. A strong cigar with a slow and smooth burn, a long finish, and notes of wood, nuts, and spices.

Rated with:
91 points by Cigar Aficionado
92 points by Cigar Snob Magazine

AJ Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Maduro Robusto 5″ x 52

Best Cigars — Fri, 22 May 2026 12:39:32 +0000

Made in the traditional Cuban style, San Lotano Maduro is medium-bodied, featuring a stunning dark, oily-brown San Andrés wrapper leaf surrounding a blend of Honduran binder tobacco and Nicaraguan and Honduran filler tobaccos. From the very beginning, notes of cocoa and espresso create the foundation for a complex flavor profile, complemented by nuances of black pepper and sweet spices. The balance is impeccable, with a smooth and slow burn.

Rated with:
92 points by Cigar Aficionado
91 points by Cigar Snob Magazine

AJ Fernandez Decenio Robusto 5 1/2″ x 54 – OUT OF STOCK

Best Cigars — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:51:46 +0000

In 2014, Abdel Fernandez and his father Ismael Fernandez developed a new blend called New World, which became the company’s best-selling brand. Over the years, New World has expanded with multiple lines, including Connecticut, Cameroon, Puro Especial, and Dorado. In early 2025, AJ Fernandez announced the release of a new blend in honor of the tenth anniversary of New World, named New World Decenio (“decade” in Spanish). The blend features a dark brown San Andrés Maduro wrapper from Mexico, enclosing a Nicaraguan binder and a filler blend from Nicaragua and Honduras. Medium to full-bodied, it offers an exceptionally rich and intriguing flavor profile with notes of natural cocoa, black pepper, espresso beans, cedar, and hints of cinnamon.

AJ Fernandez Enclave Connecticut Figurado 6″1/2 x 52

Best Cigars — Fri, 23 May 2025 15:41:36 +0000

Box of 20

AJ Fernandez 20th Anniversary Toro 6 x 56

Best Cigars — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:46:49 +0000

Box with 20 cigars.

AJ Fernandez Dias de Gloria Brazil Figurado 6 1/2 x 52

Best Cigars — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:28:05 +0000

Box with 20 cigars.