AJ Fernandez 1844 Review

[Browns7213]

Manufacturer: AJ Fernandez
Brand: 1844 Anejado #50-Xtra
Size: 6x50
Cost: Acquired Via Trade
Rest Time: 3-Weeks
Burn Time: 1:50


Prelight: The cigar has a dark chocolate wrapper with some pronounced veining and a firm, dense uneven pack. Prelight aroma is bitter chocolate with some barnyard. The dual tapered ends reminds of the Davidoff Diadema, which, for whatever reason I find very visually appealing. I use my Xikar cutter to cut the cap and off we go. Prelight draw is a raisins, balsa wood and musty tobacco.

1st 3rd:

On first draw I get very dark chocolate that fades into a bitter, almost sour, chocolate with a touch of pepper on the finish. Once the cigar settles down the flavors remain the same with the bitterness lingering long after the smoke has been exhaled. The draw is perfect with just the right amount of resistance. The tapered portion of the ash falls off almost immediately.

2nd 3rd:

Entering the second third the dense white ash holds on for about almost 2 inches before dropping on my IPad.

The flavors now are chocolate, roasted peanuts, spice and a creamy earth. The wrapper itself has a very salty flavor that clings to my lips with each draw. The bitterness on the finish has softened a bit, but still there. Its morphed into a salty coffee almost like an over pulled shot off espresso. The aroma of the cigar is phenomenal, it reminds of the first time I smelled cigar smoke as a child.

Final Third:

The flavors remain the same entering the final third with the addition of some leather on the draw. The bitterness on the finish continues to become less pronounced now just a slightly bitter earth.

Summary:

The burn line on the 1844 was perfect with no relights or touch ups needed. The body was med-full with no detectable strength. This cigar was a conundrum for me I loved the aroma and flavors on the draw, but the bitter finish took away from the overall experience. If AJ could blend this stick so the finish matched the initial flavors this would be one of my favorite budget cigars.

[Tobias Lutz]

IME, these smoke much better with at least a year's rest. A friend sent me a couple last fall that had slept for two years, and there wasn't the slightest offending bitterness in them. Great sticks for the pricepoint, IMO.

[cheaphumidors]

Thanks David! Super concise and honest review. Now I suppose I'm going to have to smoke one of these bad boys.

[Sweet Cigars]

Great review!

[Tombstone]

I have yet to have one of these but being the AJ fan I am, I may have to get a box and just put it to rest for a while to see how good they can be.

[herman]

Thanks for posting. One reason I have steered away from these is a common bitter description I have spotted among the other positive flavors mentioned in other reviews. AJ has plenty of other sticks out there I'd rather try, but perhaps this could be a worthy budget smoke. I find the UHC to be a little rough and smoke it intentionally slower but still love em for what they are. Maybe this could add to the variety.

[jhedrick83]

David, nice review! Any idea how old it was when it came to you? I had a fairly fresh one a few years ago and was disappointed.

[Brimy]

IME, these smoke much better with at least a year's rest. A friend sent me a couple last fall that had slept for two years, and there wasn't the slightest offending bitterness in them. Great sticks for the pricepoint, IMO.

Thanks for he review Dave!
I have to agree with Tobias because my 1st had a year on it & I got no bitterness whatsoever!

I ran out & bought a sampler (6 cigars for $13; gotta love it for a nice smoke)! They only have 5 months on them with me or I would send you another sample.

[Jordan23]

Thanks for the review, David! I may have to try this one.

[projectsunfire]

Nice review. They are still one of my favorite budget smokes. looking forward to the rest of the AJ reviews!