Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Size: 6.5 x 54 “Oval”

Body: Full

Price: ???

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This behemoth comes in an 8 pack sampler of AJ Fernandez cigars all in the 6.5 x 54 size and all in the oval shape made famous by San Lotano. I have no idea if you can even purchase these cigars separately. I found absolutely nothing on the web to indicate an inkling of information.

Normally, the Authentico comes in a small size of 5 x 42 at $6 a pop. They come in boxes of 10.

The 8 pack sampler of these huge Fernandez cigars can be had at:

http://cigarsinternational.com/proddisp.asp?item=SP-SLEASST01&stext=puro%20authentico

The price for all 8 cigars? $30. This is insane for the quality of cigars you are getting and they won’t last long so get to it.

I have smoked this cigar before but only in the tiny corona size and loved it but felt it wasn’t enough. A 20-30 minute smoke, at best.

This is a good 90 minute- 2 hour smoke in my hand.

Construction is not bad….lots of veins everywhere. Very tooth. Some nice oiliness. Well-made cap.

The sniff test detects barnyard as the most prominent aroma, then cocoa. And a bit of creaminess.

Time to snip the cap and light ‘er up.

Right away, it’s sweet. And very creamy. The spice is ramping on a journey all its own. I have noticed that within the 8 pack, the oval shape at the foot varies as much as a rectangle with curved corners to a bona fide oval. This is an oval.

This stick is way better than the little corona. While I expected a long haul to the showing off of flavors so apparent in the small cigar, it is just the opposite. It hits you like you’re driving into headlights on a dark, rural road…and there is nothing you can do to stop it. You’re doomed.

This is going to be one hell of an experience and possible the best one of the litter. I quickly gulped a bowl of Kashi cereal into me in hope of keeping the spins at bay during the last third. Kashi is basically like eating the wind, but I’m not hungry, so Que Sera Sera!

The cigar is packed very tightly but still has just the right amount of give. And as a result, is a very slow smoking piece of dynamite. I have been smoking for 5 minutes and only made a 3/8” dent into the cigar.

The sweetness smacks of some sort of fruitiness…it makes my lips feel sticky in some sort of ethereal way.

My 27 year old daughter just came down stairs for some cereal and with a shower cap on so as not to get cigar smoke in her hair, tells me that this is possibly the worst smelling cigars she has ever smelled. LOL. In truth, she says that about every cigar I smoke. But since she pays no rent, my attitude is that it’s my house and don’t let the door hit you on the ass. She has a job. She is an EMT. Just lazy, I suppose, when Mommy and Daddy let her get away with murder.

Back to the reason we are here.

I do most of my reviews in the morning so I can get sunshine through the window where I sit and therefore get better photos. In the sunlit scheme, the cigar glistens with oils.

The first third takes 35 minutes. The flavors that are omnipotent are red pepper, cocoa, creaminess, sweet blackberry, leather, and cedar. Not very complex at this point but very distinct and savory good.

The second third brings about balance and finesse. The spice has tamped down a bit allowing the other flavors to have their turn. The creaminess and cocoa and blackberry are coalescing like crazy.

It’s a shame that CI has not made this cigar available by the box yet…maybe they will, but the little 5 x 42’s cost $6. What in the hell is a 6.5 x 54 going to cost? Yikes!

I’m guessing this would be a $10-$12 stick…maybe more.

All of a sudden, the red pepper explodes in my mouth. My eyes are watering. My sinuses have opened up. And the Kleenex box is near at hand.

The flavors are doing the mind meld. They are intertwining and getting complex in nature. Now I am only smoking this after a couple weeks rest so I imagine that with a lot more rest and aging, this cigar will continue to get better.

The last third is what this cigar is all about. The complexity grows in strength. The flavors become one with the universe.

The cigar takes me a good two hours to smoke because I take it easy and don’t rush it. And by doing so, avoid the nicotine spins.

In summary, this cigar rates as an experience and should be savored by locking yourself in a dark closet and hand a do not disturb sign on the handle.

I truly hope they bring this cigar to market, but in the meantime, you can treat yourself to 8 huge Man O War Ovals from CI for $30.

And now for something completely different:

I love to tell stories about my rock god years because I like to hear them from others as well.

I have told quite a few stories and all this happened between 30-35 years ago, so the memory on this old man has trouble remembering.

I’ve told this one before, but long ago and far away.

Curved Air was playing some giant gig somewhere in Great Britain.

We did one song that I got a solo and then drummer, Stewart Copeland, did a solo.

We all stood back to give him so alone time in the spotlight. Stew always soloed through every song, like Keith Moon. Drove the other members of the band nuts. He would get fired once a month, and then the chick singer, Sonja, would quit. They were an item and if he got fired, she would always quit. They stayed married for almost 20 years when Stew found a much younger girl than Sonja.

Anyway, at about the 10 minute mark, Darryl, our leader, gave Stew the knock it off sign by giving the slit throat maneuver.

With a 60 second mad man flourish, he stopped. His hands were straight up in the air.  And then they came down with such thunder, he knocked himself off his drum stool…falling backwards, off the riser and on to the floor behind the stage about 8 feet.

Fortunately, for him, that’s where the roadies stored his drum cases, so he fell on them working his way to the concrete floor. I unplugged and rushed to see if he was OK. The music stopped and the crowd hushed.

The roadies came a’ runnin’. Stewart is a big guy, about 6’-3. And lanky. He struggle like a crazy man to get out from under.

The roadies helped him to his feet and revealed that all the skin on the underside of his arms was gone. Ripped clean from the fall. His eyes were as big as saucers. Everyone was asking if he was OK? He couldn’t speak, just nodded to the affirm.

Blood was everywhere, and even evil Darryl suggested they call it a night. Stew croaked a loud “NO!”

He came from around the stage and back on to the riser and raised his arms in victory. The crowd went absolutely nuts in their cheering and applause. It was like “Apocalypse Now” with the music of “The Valkyrie.”

An audience member was a nurse and came up to offer her help. Her offer was accepted and she ran to her car and grabbed her first aid bag.

She had his arms wrapped in gauze and bandage in no time.

Stew settled into his drum stool, nodded to Darryl, and then we heard Darryl yell, “1-2-3 and 4”

And we were off and running once more.

During Darryl’s extended violin solo, we all went off stage. The roadies had grabbed my hash pipe and filled it. Someone lit in perfect sequence with us coming off stage and handed the lit pipe to Stew who took about 5 huge puffs. He said a few minutes later that it helped with the pain.

Even with all his braggadocio and ego, Stew never pulled a stunt like that again.

But he did continue to get fired every week.

From the left: Darryl Way, Mick Jacques, Stewart Copeland, Sonja Kristina, Me.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS