Relic by AJ Fernandez

Relic by AJ Fernandez

• Strength: 4 /  5
• Size: 5 x 54
• Origin: Nicaragua
• Price (local): $7.49
• Wrapper: Habano
• Flavor Text:
  

The mystery that is Relic.

Many claim to know old world Cuban cigars. AJ Fernandez lived them. Raised in Cuba, but born into the cigar industry, AJ worked in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, for nearly two decades. Here, he mastered the handmade cigar, from soil to ash, alongside some of the industry’s most knowledgeable minds. The result, some of the industry’s tastiest and most beloved morsels, including Diesel, San Lotano, Ave Maria, and Man O’ War.

What is Relic? Maybe it’s the secret processes and tradition-steeped methods passed down from teacher to student. Maybe it’s the rare Esteli-grown Habano wrapper that took nearly a decade to perfect. Maybe it’s an elusive recipe of savory tobaccos combining to pay homage to the cigar AJ based his lifetime of learnings upon. I can’t tell you what Relic means to AJ, but I can tell you what it means to you: an amazing experience unlike anything AJ has released to date.

On paper, Relic employs a generous dose of well-aged, Nicaraguan long-leaf ligeros. Skillfully blended for optimum flavor and strength, these thick, black leaves are secured within a bold Habano binder from Ecuador, then cloaked by AJ’s rarest wrapper and proudest accomplishment. A dark, toothy, shade grown Habano wrapper from the volcanic soils of Esteli, Nicaragua. Powerful yet graceful, this leaf is true to AJ form, and is only used to create Relic.

Once lit, each Relic consumes the palate with an immodest level of bold flavors. Perfectly executed from start to finish, the bouquet is robust throughout, offering deep notes of earth, leather, and espresso, made complete by underlying spices and hints of oak and rich chocolatey-tobacco goodness. Complexity is unwavering, and the strength satisfying.

Another pull from the AJ Fernandez Anthology Sampler brings us to the Relic, a medium to full body cigar made by the mastermind himself. It's a cigar that I have actually never seen at retail outside of this pack, and I am sort of confused by that because, admittedly, I wouldn't even know where to look to find these things. Another really formidable smoke from this pack, the Relic packs a ton of earthy flavors, with a delicious and spicy Habano wrapper. I really appreciated this cigar for it's basic design and construction, and I liked it for what it was. This isn't a cigar that's going to blow you away with flavor or satisfaction, but if you're just looking for a solid, flavorful medium body smoke, I think the Relic is a good place to land.

The Relic features a very nice, even burn and it required no maintenance or upkeep after lighting it. It was a little firm to the press initially, but that didn't do anything to influence the flavor or the draw. This cigar slaps pretty hard from the beginning, with some slight tones of pepper surrounded by wood, dark chocolate and leather. There is an earthiness throughout, and these other flavors rise from the background to provide some really nice draws and flavors. It smokes fast, and while that may be an issue to some, for the price of this one, I'd rate it as a spectacularly solid cigar that checks a lot of flavor and intensity boxes for those in the market for medium to full body offerings with the AJ pedigree behind it. Give it a shot if this body appeals to you!

Happy smoking! CB