AJ Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Habano Toro - Box of 20

A completely different cigar from the San Lotano Requiem Maduro. Where the Maduro is dark, sweet, and chocolate-forward, the Habano is spicy, earthy, and described by buyers as delivering Cubanesque flavors in a way that few non-Cuban cigars manage. Different wrapper, different filler composition, round parejo construction, and a distinctly different reason to buy it.

The wrapper on the San Lotano Requiem Habano is not a common leaf. It is a Cuban-seed Habano Ligero grown in Brazil by the Fuego family, a rare growing combination that puts the heat tolerance and body of Ligero tobacco into a Habano-seed leaf cultivated in Brazilian soil. Cuban-seed Habano tobacco grown in Dominican Republic or Ecuador is relatively well-known in the premium market. Brazilian Habano Ligero from one specific family's operation is considerably less common, which is part of why multiple retailers describe this wrapper as rare. The result is an oily, rich exterior leaf that contributes the pepper, spice, cedar, and earthy complexity that Habano wrappers are known for, amplified by the Ligero priming's natural body and intensity.

AJ Fernandez built the filler for the Habano variant differently from the Maduro. The Maduro uses Nicaraguan and Honduran long-fillers. The Habano adds Dominican Republic tobacco to the blend alongside Nicaraguan and Honduran leaves, giving the core a slightly different character that broadens the flavor profile in the direction of the cedar, leather, and earthy tones that make Habano blends distinctive.

The Toro in this line is 6 x 54, a slightly wider ring gauge than the Maduro Toro's 6 x 52. And unlike the Maduro, Robusto, and Gran Toro variants in the same line, the Habano is a round parejo construction rather than box-pressed. The classic round format burns at a slightly different rate than a box press and delivers the smoke in a more traditional manner, which suits the Habano's more "Cubanesque" character.

Buyers consistently describe the smoking experience as opening with waves of pepper and spice from the Brazilian wrapper, transitioning into sweet smokiness with orange zest and oak, and building through roasted coffee, cedar, and leather before arriving at a creamy finish with caramel and toasted nuts. One buyer's description is direct: "AJ has hit one out of the park here." Another simply called it "one of AJ Fernandez' best."

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Flavor progression:

1. First third: black pepper and wood spice from the Brazilian Habano wrapper, sweet smokiness and cinnamon toast building early, earthy undertones from the filler
2. Second third: roasted coffee and cedar take over, leather in the retrohale, orange zest and oak rounding the complexity
3. Final third: creamy finish with caramel and toasted nuts, the pepper and spice returning at the very end

Construction:

1. Round parejo Toro, 6 x 54, firm and well-packed
2. Brazilian Habano wrapper, oily, rich brown, slightly veiny but supple to the touch
3. Cold draw delivers wood, spice, and pepper before lighting
4. Burn rate is brisk compared to the Maduro, good smoke volume throughout

Key Features

1. Brand: AJ Fernandez
2. Line: San Lotano Requiem
3. Wrapper: Habano
4. Blender: Alejandro "AJ" Fernandez
5. Factory: Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A., Estelí
6. Country of Origin: Nicaragua
7. Wrapper: Brazilian-grown Cuban-seed Habano Ligero (Fuego family)
8. Binder: Nicaraguan
9. Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Dominican long-fillers
10. Vitola: Toro
11. Size: 6 inches x 54 ring gauge
12. Construction: Parejo (round, handmade)
13. Strength: Full
14. Flavor Profile: Black pepper, wood spice, cedar, cinnamon toast, roasted coffee, orange zest, leather, caramel, toasted nuts
15. Box Count: 20 cigars
16. Price per Cigar: approximately $6.20