AJ Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Connecticut Toro - Box of 20

The lightest and most accessible of the three San Lotano Requiem variants. A mellow-medium Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade Toro that proves AJ Fernandez can build a compelling, complex smoke at any strength level. Box of 20, 6 x 52 parejo.

AJ Fernandez built his reputation on full-bodied, bold, spicy Nicaraguan blends. The San Lotano Requiem Connecticut is the variant that shows the other side of his ability. Where the Maduro and Habano variants target smokers who want power and complexity at full strength, the Connecticut is "mellow-medium bodied, but brimming with ample flavor and complexity." The wrapper does not carry the weight here. It provides the canvas. The Honduran Criollo binder and the Nicaraguan and Dominican long-filler blend do the actual work.

The Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper is grown in Ecuador under near-permanent cloud cover that provides natural shade, protecting the leaves from direct sunlight and allowing them to grow thin, light, and smooth. The result is the light-colored, velvety wrapper leaf that Connecticut Shade cigars are known for: consistent coloring, minimal texture, and a clean, mild contribution to the smoke that does not impose on the flavors coming from underneath. On this cigar, the wrapper delivers hay, leather, and a faint sweetness at the pre-light stage. Once lit, the cream and toasted nuts from the filler blend come forward immediately.

What buyers consistently note about the San Lotano Requiem Connecticut is the AJ Fernandez signature spice making itself known even in a lighter-bodied format. The cream, almond, pistachio, and cedar notes carry the session, but a thread of pepper and spice runs underneath and prevents the cigar from ever feeling flat or one-dimensional. One buyer's review captures it simply: "he has created a full-flavored medium cigar." Another: "generally Connecticut wrappers are a bit too mild for me without much flavor, this surprised me, it's mellow with some good flavor and spice." That is the value proposition of the San Lotano Connecticut: a cigar that performs well above what the wrapper category typically delivers.

Privada Cigar Club's description is the most complete: "polished, elegant, and full of layered nuance without overt strength, a daily companion cigar with thoughtful seasoning, perfect for ritual or reflective pause." It is an excellent morning cigar, a work-break option, and the choice for any situation where the Maduro or Habano would be too much.

Browse the full premium cigar selection at Smokenza or explore all tobacco products in the catalog.

Flavor progression:

1. First third: mild sweetness and smooth earth from the opening draw, coffee and cedar establishing alongside the AJ Fernandez signature spice
2. Second third: cream, toasted nuts, and citrus zest come forward, the coffee deepening with a latte-like sweetness
3. Final third: a buttery, smooth finish with cedar and a thin blanket of sweetness carrying through to the nub

Construction:

1. Round parejo Toro, 6 x 52, evenly packed with a consistent feel across the length
2. Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper, smooth, light natural color, minimal veining, velvety to the touch
3. Cold draw delivers leather, hay, and a touch of coffee before lighting
4. Even burn and excellent smoke output across the session

Key Features

1. Brand: AJ Fernandez
2. Line: San Lotano Requiem
3. Wrapper: Connecticut
4. Blender: Alejandro "AJ" Fernandez
5. Factory: Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A., Estelí
6. Country of Origin: Nicaragua
7. Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
8. Binder: Honduran Criollo
9. Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican long-fillers
10. Vitola: Toro
11. Size: 6 inches x 52 ring gauge
12. Construction: Parejo (round, handmade)
13. Strength: Mellow to Medium
14. Flavor Profile: Cream, toasted nuts, cedar, citrus zest, spice, coffee-latte sweetness, mild earth
15. Box Count: 20 cigars
16. Price per Cigar: approximately $5.85