AJ Fernandez 20th Anniversary Toro

AJ Fernandez

• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.
• Wrapper: Nicaragua
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 56
• Shape: Round
• MSRP: $25 (Box of 20, $500)
• Release Date: October 2024
• Number of Cigars Released: 7,500 Boxes of 20 (150,000 Total Cigars)
• Original Score: 91

As one of the most prolific cigar makers and tobacco growers of the moment, it should be no surprise that Abdel Fernández produced a cigar—or four—that would land on this list.

For this cigar, Fernández selected what he described as being the best leaves from his Nicaraguan farms, though he didn’t say which farms they came from nor the varietals of the leaves. His company released the 20th Anniversary in two sizes, this too—the more widely available size—and a 6 3/4 x 54 belicoso that was limited to just 250 numbered humidors of 50 cigars.

The flavor earned multiple compliments: a rich earthiness suggested there might be some Ometepe tobacco in the blend, while a rich, smoky campfire hit my senses well on a cold January evening and the retrohales turned my time with the cigar into a serendipitous moment. Others noticed earthiness combined with spice, cocoa and pepper, while the multiple changes in the profile also earned mentions. Brooks Whittington noted in his review that the cigar was  “everything I want in a commemorative blend to be: extremely complex, well-constructed and enjoyable.”  — Patrick Lagreid.