Why are we smoking the AJ Fernandez Last Call Maduro today? Well, just a few days ago we had a bit of a warm spell with temperatures almost hitting 40 degrees. It was enough to get my hopes up high that spring was right around the corner. Then Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and we all have to suffer 6 more weeks of winter just because it was a sunny day in Pennsylvania. I don’t normally put faith in a groundhog until the forecast came out for my neck of the woods. You see, tomorrow it is predicted that we will get 8-12 inches of snow. So with cold weather here for a while longer, I decided to review something that should be an option if you need a quick dog walk cigar or something to light up that will help you avoid frostbite.
Cigar Review: Last Call by AJ Fernandez
Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 3.5
Ring Gauge: 50
Size: Chiquitas
The Look: When you compare the box of the Last Call Maduro vs the Last Call Rosado, the Maduro fans got the short end of the stick in terms of the wood finish. But let’s face it the box really has nothing to do with the smoke itself and only matters if you are building a cigar box lamp, or something else crafty. Inside the 25 count boxes, the cigars are covered in a white band with mustard color text. The Pennsylvania wrapper is closed around the foot of the cigar and is flawlessly rolled. There are few oils present and it feels gritty under the fingers.
The Notes: Once the cigar is cut with my bumble bee Lotus Jaws Cutter, the first note of the cigar reminds me of cashews and a touch of cedar. The cedar is noticeable on the aroma off the foot of the cigar and with its covered foot it was quick to light. Once lit, the first flavor is nuttiness, specifically the aforementioned cashews.
We the cigar only measuring 3.5 inches we will break down the cigar in halves. The first half of the cigar sees a profile that consists of cedar, leather and spice. They all blend well together, but the leathery finish of the cigar helps dominate the palate. The retrohale sees some pepper and cedar on a relatively short finish.
Moving into the second half of the cigar some sweetness begins to develop reminding me of molasses while still having a leathery finish with some cedar undertones. Its a short to moderate finish with some pepper on the retrohale.
The Finish: Looking for a short smoke on a cold winter night while walking the dog can be a challenging endeavor. The AJ Fernandez Last Call Maduro Chiquita offers a nice balance of flavor and strength without the longer finish that will linger the rest of the evening. When you factor in the price of these it pays to keep a box on hand for when you don’t have the time to commit for a longer engagement with a cigar.
Score: 91
Price: $4.69 / $99.99
AJ Fernandez Last Call Maduro Chiquitas
AJ Fernandez Last Call Maduro Chiquitas Foot
AJ Fernandez Last Call Maduro Chiquitas Burn
