Underwhelmed by A.J.?

[leonthebum]

I'm curious about some other BOTL's experience with A.J. Fernandez blends. I gotta say that I'm consistently underwhelmed...I've tried Man O War, Ruination, Virtue, Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet, Diesel...

The folks at CCom and CI can't seem to rave enough about him. Everything he touches they praise...Yet, I've found what I've tried to be relatively unexciting at best, and unpleasant at worst.

Am I the only one?

Cheers!
David

 

[smokemifugotem]

they sell well...that is the only reason! same with Rp and acid...they sell so they hype them all the time. it is quite annoying though...i get 6-8 emails a day from all the retailers and only about 1% is good stuff (edit...good to me no disrespect intended)

 

[blooz4u]

Whew... I thought you were talking about me :grin:

 

[dannysguitar]

Welcome to BOTL. FWIW I like most things AJ Fernandez...

 

[Pietastervw]

Could be that I don't have a refined palette but I love the Diesels, the whole line with the unlimited being one of my new favorites, Man 'O War Ruination 1 and 2 and the La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte is also one of my fav's.

 

[megladon8]

No way. A.J. Fernandez may very well be my favorite blender.

Virtue is by far the greatest Connecticut I've ever smoked.

 

[smokemifugotem]

mow is not too bad at all. good everyday stick. i am actually excited to try a diesel that I got bombed recently. Hope my post did not sound too bashing....just my .02 on why the retailers sell the ways they do. It is all about cash and I think the average smoker really like the AJs, RPs, and Acids. Nothing wrong with that at all. just not my speed.

 

[Sin]

I like his Man O War lines and I hear Diesel is pretty good. Not too big on his newer blends like San Miguel and Ave Marias though.

 

[megladon8]

I think AJ makes genuinely great sticks, though, that stack up nicely beside the super premiums from DPG, Padron, etc.

Diesel Unholy Cocktail is an incredible stick, and the price is killer to boot.

I like that even his strongest sticks are still more about flavour than just the strength. Ruination is delicious. The fact that it's a butt-kicker is just an aside.

I will agree with Sin, though, that San Miguel left something to be desired. That being said, it's so new, I'll try another one in a year or so and see how they evolve.

 

[ahbroody]

I think they are good for the price point. Thought the mow and diesel were good. Didn't like thr ruination. Need to try the unholy cocktail.

That said I prefer illusione and liga to DPG and and Tat I wouldn't put A.J. in DPG or Tat company. They are good, but the others are clearly better. Atleast to my pallet.

 

[VillageIdiot]

I like the Diesel UC. I haven't tried the other Diesel cigars yet. I have 10 UCs that I've been aging since last October. I think in 2 more years they ought to be really smooth. They are fine now, but I'm tasting improvement with age. MOW is good. I'm not really into his signature blend though.

 

[CAJoe]

I think AJ makes some fantastic cigars at a decent price. The new Lotano he put out for the B&M's are also good. I would definately give anything he makes a try.

 

[dpricenator]

whew... I thought you were talking about me :grin:

lol mee too

 

[Dave]

I gotta say that I'm consistently underwhelmed...I've tried Man O War, Ruination, Virtue, Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet, Diesel...unexciting at best, and unpleasant at worst.

+1!! Thought about posting the same thing. Padilla is another for me. Except for the old Miami 8/11, you can have them all.

5V AAA is the only AJ Fernandez that I'll smoke anymore. Thought the Herencia Oscuro was OK, but too many burn problems and bitter endings. For just a little bit more, I'll get 5V AAA or an RP Patel Bros if I want a PA broadleaf maduro.

 

[danthebugman]

I like the Diesel UC quite a bit and thought the MOW was decent. The Ave Maria was an alright cigar the first time around, though I've got to smoke a few more before my mind is made up. I have a San Miguel, MOW Virtue, and a few Diesel Unlimited (and probably a few others I'm forgetting about) sitting in the humi to try. In general I think CI and Cigar.com hype a lot of stuff (they are trying to sell cigars after all) which is why I take what they say with a grain of salt.

Dan

 

[megladon8]

One I haven't tried yet but am really interested in is the Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet.

Anyone care to share their experience(s) with those?

 

[38-50]

When I was new to the world of internet cigars I smoked through my share of Cuban Cabinets. The lancero is always very good and all of the vitolas were well constructed, medium strength, medium body everyday type cigars. I have several of these resting as they seemed to improve with even minimal aging. Might have to try one soon.

I also enjoy MOW Ruinaiton, La Herencia Cubana Natural Lonsdale(got nothing from the Oscuro but they were just released when I tried it), and the Diesel UC. Haven't tried the rest of his blends.

 

[Dread]

I like the Diesel UC and MOW Ruination, nothing else he makes does anything for me. Actually just about everything else he makes I dont like at all, they are cheap cigars and to me they taste like cheap cigars.

 

[theosprey247]

I like pretty much all AJ blends, but to each his own

 

[WMGF]

I like everything he's put out except the San Miguel it tasted 'cheap,' and the AAA was just a little one dimensional. The Ave Maria was good but I really like the Diesel Unlimited.

MoW was ok too, but the Ruination and Virtue are fantastic. I like his La Herencia as a regular budget smoke - same with the Diesel UC. The Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinets I had were pretty good. His signature line is in my rotation too.

I'm a pretty big fan.