While I have smoked and enjoyed the AJ Fernandez Enclave many a time before, I can’t remember smoking the Figarado vitola. This morning I decided to take a gamble with this particular size. I say gamble, because the Figurado can be the most rewarding size or the most frustrating. There is something about the way the cigar channels from the small perfecto tip to the full chamber that creates a nice flavor experience if the cigar is properly constructed. However, the way you light the cigar, or poor construction can create a miserable experience.
Cigar Review: Enclave by AJ Fernandez
Wrapper: Ecuador Rosado
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 6.5″
Ring Gauge: 52
Size: Figurado
The Look: The Enclave comes packaged in wooden boxes that holds 2 rows of 10 cigars. The artwork is Native American based and at the risk of not being politically correct it makes me want to watch on old western, or a comedy such as F-Troop. The artwork on the box carries over to the primary band, and there is a secondary band that denotes AJ Fernandez. The reddish-brown wrapper is seamlessly rolled and has a nice subtle oily sheen too it and there are no soft spots.
The Notes: I chose to clip the cap of the Figurado so there is a about a 42 ring gauge opening, and the cold draw of the cigar is slightly earthy with a touch of cedar, while the foot of the cigar is too small to pick up anything of note. Once the cigar is list, the first note is a subtle cedar note.
As we smoke past the nipple the cedar note remains with a touch of caramel. As we move into the full ring gauge part of the cigar, cedar remains dominant with a touch of red pepper. The caramel remains on the finish and the retrohale adds a touch of hay to the mix.
The second third of the Enclave continues to showcase notes of cedar with a touch of nuttiness that grows gradually until the halfway point when it takes over as the dominant note. The finish of the cigar is still a bit, sweet though the caramel transitions to chocolate. The retrohale sees a balanced mix of red pepper and cedar. As the second third comes to a close some cinnamon appears on the resting aroma.
The last third of the cigar from AJ Fernandez continues down the same path as the first two-thirds with notes of cedar and nuts, however a touch of cinnamon works its way into the mix. It remains on the aroma with a touch of red pepper.
The Finish: The Enclave gets a perfect score on the burn which was perfect throughout the cigar. As far as the cigar, it was a bit of a throwback to an old school smoke in my eyes. The notes were straight forward without much of a change, but as a person who likes a cigar with notes of cedar and nuts, it was an enjoyable experience. This is to makes it one of the better figurados on the market.
Score: 91
Price: $7.79 / $136.99
AJ Fernandez Enclave Salomon
AJ Fernandez Enclave Salomon Foot
AJ Fernandez Enclave Salomon Burn
