In anticipation of meeting AJ Fernandez where he will be visiting Two Guys Smoke Shop in Salem, NH on Saturday I opted to make my last review of the week the Last Call Habano Rosado. In addition to be being at the shop from 10am – 4pm he will be a guest on The Cigar Authority podcast which is broadcast right upstairs from Two Guys.
It’s closing time and the bartender announces Last Call. It’s usually the drink you down the quickest as it’s time to call it a day and the Last Call by AJ Fernandez follows that mantra. The line is composed of shorter and/or thin ring gauge smokes and perfect for that last cigar of the day.
Cigar Review: Last Call by AJ Fernandez
Wrapper: Ecuador Rosado Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 4.5
Ring Gauge: 48
Size: Geniales
The Look: The boxes the Last Call Habano comes in looks like the finish of a high-end humidor. The box is branded in gold foil with AJ Fernandez, the size, and the line name. It’s really one of the nicer boxes I’ve seen in the small slide top box format. Inside the cigars are san cello, and the rosado Habano wrapper is flawless with a nice amount of oils. The foot of the cigar is closer, and the band of red and beige reminds me of Cheers for some reason.
The Notes: The cold draw and the aroma are pretty much the same with notes of cookies and raisins, with an afterthought of earth thrown in to the mix. Upon lighting the cigar the first note is cedar.
As we smoke the cigar the cedar notes are joined by a subtle sweetness. As the first third continues the wood notes become darker, and take on an oak like quality with a hint of vanilla on the finish of the cigar while the retrohale is a pepper bomb.
On the second third of the AJ Fernandez Last Call notes of vanilla become dominant with continued notes of oak and abundance of pepper especially on the retrohale. The finish of the cigar is relatively short which would be ideal for the last cigar of the night.
The last third of the cigar sees some leather notes join the mix, as the sweetness of the cigar begins to take a backseat. The relatively short finish is woodsy, with notes of oak and the retrohale remains a pepper bomb.
The Finish: The Last Call is a very good smoke for the price, although the sizes aren’t popular outside those of us who are cigar geeks. It’s enjoyable and pretty straight forward, and definitely a value that is worth having in the humidor for when the time to enjoy a cigar is short.
Score: 90
Price: $5.19 / $112.99
AJ Fernandez Last Call Rosado Habano
AJ Fernandez Last Call Rosado Habano Foot
AJ Fernandez Last Call Rosado Habano Burn
