AJ Fernandez Pinolero

Cigar ReviewNicaraguan CigarAJ FernandezPinoleroFiguradoEvent Only

16 Oct

📌 Brand: AJ Fernandez
📌 Line: Pinolero
📌 Size: Figurado (5 3/4" × 54)
📌 Weight: ~14.4 g
📌 Age: 4 years
📌 Origin: Nicaragua

Tasting Notes

Earth – Rustic, grounding core
Dark Chocolate – Bitter-sweet richness
Black Pepper – Strong spice on retrohale
Leather – Bold undertone with grit

First Impressions

The Pinolero Perfecto has a dark, mottled wrapper with firm construction and an artistic band. Pre-light aroma is earthy with hints of cocoa. Cold draw is easy, showing pepper and chocolate.

Smoking Experience

First Third – Earth and chocolate lead, pepper sharpens. Burn is unstable almost immediately.
Second Third – Leather joins the mix, cocoa lingers, but uneven combustion requires repeated corrections. Relights become necessary.
Final Third – Pepper grows harsher, bitterness creeps in, and constant relighting mars the experience.

Pairings

Alcohol – Armagnac Delord 25 Year , rich dried fruit and oak complexity to elevate the muted cigar.
Tea – Lapsang Souchong (China), smoky depth to complement the earthy, peppery profile.

Music Pairing

“London Calling” – The Clash

Raw energy reflecting the rough ride.

Final Thoughts

The AJ Fernandez Pinolero Perfecto shows promise with earth, chocolate, and spice but is plagued by burn issues, endless corrections, and relights. A frustrating smoke that never fully delivers.

Final Score: 5/10
Why not a 10?
Severe construction flaws — uneven burn, multiple relights, and harshness — overshadowed the flavor potential.

Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.