AJ Fernandez Enclave Cigar Review

Today’s cigar comes to me from one of the Principals of Creativas Group, who handles public relations, branding and events for some of the top cigar makers today including AJ Fernandez. Based in Miami the company represents restaurants and spirits companies as well, and is perhaps one of the easiest to deal with when trying to find out information about those they represent.

According to the AJ Fernandez website Enclave is available in four sizes and “the spirit of the Enclave cigar lays within the special brotherhood created by those who enjoy a great cigar. Rich Habano Rosado Wrapper from Ecuador compliments the decadent Cameroon Binder. The AJF Piloto Cubano and AJF Select Nicaraguan Fillers greets the cigar aficionado with notes of pepper, spice, cedar, and cinnamon.”

Cigar Review: AJ Fernandez Enclave
Size: 5 x 52 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano Rosado
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua (AJF Select, Piloto Cubano)
Strength: Medium-Full
Source: AJ Fernandez

The Look: Whoever is doing the art for AJ Fernandez is designing in my opinion some of the best looking bands in the industry. The band which depicts an Indian on horseback has an old world feel to it, and a band that should be considered an instant classic. However you can’t smoke the band. The foot of the cigar is covered and the roasado wrapper has more of a milk chocolate appearance to it. There are no soft spots and an average weight to the cigar.

The Notes: The cold draw of the Enclave is sweet with elements of raisins and chocolate, but also a note that tastes like raw carrots. The aroma off the foot of the cigar served up some more sweetness of chocolate and figs.

Once the cigar is cut and lit, the initial pepper catches me off guard as there was no evidence of it on the prelight ritual, I guess I should have paid attention to the company calling this a medium-full cigar. Once I got past the pepper note the cigar also offered a contrast of salt. Working deeper into the first third the cigar served up some cedar notes with a slight sweetness developing in the background from the use of the Cameroon binder.

The second third of the AJ Fernandez Enclave sees the sweetness intensify along the lines of vanilla which are incredibly creamy and reminds of slightly melted ice cream. The pepper remains on the retrohale and the cedar notes become stronger when you exhale through the nose. Around the half way point of the cigar the notes of vanilla slowly transitions into cinnamon.

The last third of the cigar sees the pepper overpower any sweetness that was remaining and the cigar develops a long finish of earth and cedar. In a poll we ran a couple of months back it seems however that the majority like the long finish.

The Burn: The cigar which offers up a razor-thin combustion line had a relatively straight burn. The light color ash dropped off the cigar at the end of the first third while it was resting in my ashtray and than again when I removed each band. The draw was fluid, and a little bit more so than my comfort level prefers but I wouldn’t classify it as loose. The cigar remained lit from first light to last puff and needed no touch-ups.

The Finish: The first two-thirds of the Enclave really had me engaged with the sweetness from the Cameroon binder noticeable in the flavor profile, while the last third served up some strength and a lack of complexity. Did this detract the overall experience of the cigar, not really. I thoroughly enjoyed the Enclave and can envision the last third mellowing out with some age.

Score: 90
Price: $6.50

Bullet Points

• I can’t say enough about the band, and it makes me think that more companies should be spending the extra money on an artist that creates a true work of art circa the early 1900s. While modern works in some instances, there is something about the old look that if done right is classic.
• I wish more cigars would have a covered foot, for no other reason than i like it.
• This might be my favorite release to date from AJ Fernandez.
• I didn’t pair the cigar with a beverage but before I performed the prelight ritual, I did down an energy drink.
• Maybe the drink had something do with it, but I finished the cigar in 1 hour 20 minutes.