Vitola: Robusto- 5” x 50 ring gauge
- Price $6.49
- Purchased from Burns Tobacconist
Background
I don’t recall the New World by A.J. Fernandez being one of the most highly anticipated cigars of 2014. Not to take anything away from Fernandez…over the years he has shown a great touch in blending the Man O War series, the San Lotano series (including Bull and Ovals), and Pinolero, among others. It just didn’t seem like a low-to-mid-priced stick was going to be something to go nuts over.
It was, of course. New World combined a medium-plus bodied smoke, great flavor and very reasonable price point. It ended up being named to many cigar press end of year lists and continues to be a strong seller just about everywhere. What to do for a followup? Another New World line, of course! Late in 2014 the New World Connecticut had a launch party at Cigar Inn in New York City, but it took about 6 months for it to finally be ready for general release.
The original New World is a Nicaraguan puro, but this version does not follow that path. Of course, they don’t grow Connecticut Shade leaf in Nicaragua (at least, not that I’m aware of), but the Fernandez family ranged far and wide for the other leaves as well. the filler is from Nicaragua and Brazil and the binder is a San Andres leaf from Mexico. As for the wrapper, it isn’t the typical Ecuadorian Conny…they instead went with a U.S. Connecticut Shade.
Even with the U.S. wrapper leaf, they kept the pricing the same as the original line, ranging from $6.50 to $7.50 a stick. The original was box-pressed and this one is not. And while there are 4 sizes of New World Connecticut (Corona Gorda, Robusto, Toro, and Belicoso), they are slightly different than the 4 sizes of New World. After several delays, they finally shipped a few weeks ago. I had my first one courtesy of my boss, the owner of Burns Tobacconist. I bought a couple more, one of which I am using for this review.
On a personal note, I have smoked most of A.J. Fernandez’s previous “milder” cigar blends (Man O War Virtue, San Lotano Connecticut, SL Oval Connecticut, Emilio AF Suave) and found them all to be lacking in overall flavor. To me, it’s like this: A.J. has been phenomenal at blending full-bodied, full-flavored smokes for quite some time, but never quite cracked the code of the milder stick. Will this one be the one to change my mind on that? Read on…
Some background taken from the Big Lifestyle Rag website.
Prelight
The same band and basic imagery used on the original New World release makes a return on the Connecticut version. Sometimes this causes issues telling cigars apart, but when wrapper colors are as vastly separated as they are here, it really isn’t an issue. The box of the original was predominantly red, while here it is more of a cream color. Same with the foot band ribbons between the two releases. Overall, I liked the original, and I think this one looks good as well…not “high-end” but not “low-rent,” either. For the price point where this cigar lives, it’s just about perfect.
The Connecticut Shade wrapper is a bright golden hue with a decent amount of oiliness under my fingers. It was expertly rolled and laid flat. The aroma from the wrapper leaf was a rich hay and natural tobacco, while the foot gave off notes of earth and chocolate and hay.
The cold draw was excellent and I got sweet hay and honey flavors prelight.
Flavor
After I applied fire to foot, the New World Connecticut began with a big pepper note on the lips before creamy, sweeter notes covered the palate. I picked up on some grassy flavor as well as cedar and honey, along with just a pinch of pepper on the tongue. The retrohale was nutty and woody and very peppery. After the initial few puffs, the pepper settled down a bit and the cigar was in the high end of the mild-bodied range.
As I went through I definitely picked up on the citrus twang that is indicative of US Connecticut, but mostly I got grassy notes with touches of sweetness, pepper and earth.
The last third of saw earthiness grow in prominence, although there were still notes of sweet hay, cedar and citrus. The pepper also came back a bit toward the end.
Construction
I saw excellent construction on all samples of this cigar that I smoked.
Value
With a very good flavor, great construction and excellent price tag, the value quotient is very high here.
Conclusions
What we’ve got here is a very good mild-to-medium bodied Connecticut-wrapped cigar with a pleasing amount of complexity and excellent flavor from end to end. It was flavorful enough to satisfy seasoned leaf enthusiasts, but mild enough to recommend to newer cigar smokers as well. Top it off with a price that is bordering on ridiculously low, and you have one of the best products to hit retailer shelves since the original New World last year. I would also call it the best milder smoke from A.J. Fernandez to date.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
Yowza, great stuff! I can’t wait for these to hit the shelves here.
I am looking forward to trying this out. I’ve spent a long time on the darker wrapper side of cigars and a good BOTL has inspired me to revisit Connecticuts and what they have to offer.
Not much of a Connecticut fan, but this does sound pretty good. Add the price point, & it’s something I’ll def check out.
I like the fact some companies are putting together Connecticut’s with a bit bolder flavor. You get a smooth creamy taste , but bolder!! Can’t wait to try this one!
Where would you put this in terms of the EPC NW or the Camacho Connies?
Yes on this one, now I hope I can find it. Do enjoy his first one.
Great review! I’ll have to check it out if I can. I find a lot of Connecticut smokes to have an almost chemical like taste, but perhaps it’s just an overpowering grassiness that some have.
Enjoyed the other New World, will have to find and give this one a go.
gonna have to give this one a try!! thanks for the review!
I’ve really been wanting to try this one, and this review doesn’t help. Nice price point so no reason I won’t be giving it a try.