In 2015, Casa Fernández and Tampa, Fla.-based retailer Thompson Cigar Co. collaborated on an exclusive release for the store called the Casa Fernández Reserva Connecticut. Last year it was revealed that they again got together to create it’s counterpart, the Casa Fernández Reserva Maduro.

Casa Fernandez Reserva Maduro Box 1

Casa Fernandez Reserva Maduro Box 2 Casa Fernandez Reserva Maduro Box 3

While they share the same size and pricing, the Maduro version features a different blend, notably capped off with a Mexican San Andrés wrapper. In addition, this release was limited to 500 boxes, while the Connecticut is regular production.

Casa Fernandez Reserva Maduro Connecticut

Casa Fernandez Reserva Maduro 1

  • Cigar Reviewed: Casa Fernández Reserva Maduro
  • Country of Origin: Nicaragua
  • Factory: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A.
  • Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Length: 6 Inches
  • Ring Gauge: 52
  • Vitola: Toro
  • MSRP: $8.75 (Boxes of 10, $87.50)
  • Release Date: July 2016
  • Number of Cigars Released: 500 Boxes of 10 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
  • Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

The dark, evenly colored wrapper contrasts nicely with the light silver and black bands that adorn the cigar. It has a smooth, oily feel to it and only has a bit of give when squeezed. There is a dense, earthy sweetness coming off the wrapper, though that seems to be all I can detect. The cold draw is slightly more complex, with sweet brownies, dried fruit, a touch of cedar and only a hint of the previously strong earth.

Starting into the first third, chocolate and spice make a strong appearance up front, followed by a bit of black pepper, some charred cedar and a touch of leather. The burn starts out nice and even, almost to the point of razor sharp, while the dense ash has a nice ring pattern and holds together nicely. There is plenty of smoke production with each draw, as the draw is right in the middle of ideal. About an inch in, the burn starts to go a little sideways, while the previously dense ash starts splintering off and gets a bit flaky. The light black pepper from before has grown along with the charred cedar, taking over and pushing the spice and chocolate down to the middle, while the leather continues in the background.

Casa Fernandez Reserva Maduro 2

Moving into the second third of the Casa Fernández Reserva Maduro and the cigar takes on a kind of meaty taste, with salt and pepper up front, along with the charred cedar and a bit of earth. The spice, chocolate and leather are still there, though much lighter than before. Despite a touch up in the first third, the burn has continued to want to burn quite jagged and uneven, prompting another touch up. While the ash started splitting off earlier, it’s returned to some semblance of normal and while the ash not very dense looking, it’s at least not flaking off everywhere anymore. The meatiness of the profile continues to dominate, though the spice does seem to be trying to make a comeback for the first time since the beginning of the cigar.

Casa Fernandez Reserva Maduro 3

The final third does see the full return of the spice note up front, and while the profile has lost some of that meatiness, the pepper and charred cedar are quick to follow still. Muddled in the background along with some growing bitterness is the earth, chocolate and leather. The burn continues to need babysat, while the ash has become somewhat flaky again. Finishing out the cigar the bitterness has muddied the notes further, with mostly the pepper and spice being the only flavors still discernible.

Casa Fernandez Reserva Maduro 4

Final Notes

  • The only way you would pay close to the MSRP of $87.50 for the box is if you bought 10 singles, as the price for a box seems to be permanently discounted at $49.95.
  • While none of the sample’s burn issues or flakiness seemed to happen identically, it did appear to be about the same frequency.
  • The Reserva Maduro is certainly a bold cigar, but I don’t think it ever reached above a medium in terms of strength.
  • I think these would be idea for a long term redux, I love seeing what a couple of years of rest do to bold cigars like this one.
  • I haven’t had a chance to smoke the Reserva Connecticut, so I can’t compare the two.
  • I did find it interesting however that Brooks Whittington’s review of the Reserva Connecticut seemed to have great construction and one sample that had muted flavors. Seemingly the opposite of my issues, where the flavors were present, but instead having more problems with the construction.
  • Casa Fernández advertises on halfwheel.
  • Cigars for this review were provided to halfwheel by Thompson Cigar Co.
  • Final smoking time averaged an hour and 40 minutes.
  • Thompson Cigar Co. has the Casa Fernández Reserva Maduro in stock.
84 Overall Score

The Casa Fernández Reserva Maduro was an enjoyable cigar, despite my apparent issues with the burn. The profile started out quite well rounded, developed throughout, and while it seemed to go slightly off track in the final third, overall it was a positive experience. It certainly wasn't the most complex cigar, and the changes in dominant flavors were about the only development, but the notes that were there complimented each other nicely. As we've stated before, pricing isn't taken into consideration for the scoring, but I’d be remiss in not mentioning how reasonably priced these are. At five dollars a cigar, it’s a deal that is hard to pass up, and combine that with the fact it’s a pretty good cigar makes it easy to recommend you go try these for yourself.

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Brian Burt

I have been smoking cigars since 2005 and reviewing them as a hobby since 2010. Initially, I started out small with a 50-count humidor and only smoking one or two cigars a month. Not knowing anybody else that smoked cigars, it was only an occasional hobby that I took part in. In March of 2010, I joined Nublive and Cigar Asylum, connecting me with many people who also shared an interest in cigars. Reading what they had to say about brands I had never heard of, I quickly immersed myself in the boutique brands of the industry and it was then that cigars transformed from a hobby into a passion.