AJ Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Habano

Purchased: Box of 20 Churchill (7 X 52)
Price: ~$35.00 (Yeah, I got ’em from the JR stackable coupon sale)
Store: JR Cigars
Buy Again: Yes
Box Worthy: Yes – probably the only way I’ll buy them
Experience Rating: 93

I remember the first time I smoked one of these. Several years ago, I was golfing in a tournament, and one of my playing partners was smoking one of these. I remarked that I had only had the New World line from AJ, plus a bunch of others he had blended for other brands, but hadn’t gotten around to the San Lotano. Upon hearing that, he went back to the cart, gave me a Churchill Maduro, and told me he bought boxes of them.

Long story short, I loved it. And a few days later, I went to my local shop and bought a few of each of the Habano and Maduro. And while I dug the Maduro, there was something about the Habano’s profile that resonated with me. As a result, it became a go-to shop stick for me when I couldn’t decide what I wanted to smoke, which is probably why I hadn’t bothered to buy a box, even though I’ve probably smoked through more than a box over the years.

The San Lotano Habano has always been like comfort food to me. I know what to expect when I smoke it. And like comfort food, it’s not something I have often, but when all else fails, and I can’t decide on what I want, I know I can always go back to it and never be disappointed. And from that perspective, it’s a tasty treat.

I love smelling the wrapper of this stick before lighting it up. There’s light barnyard, but this insane wintergreen-like aroma emanates from the wrapper and foot. That has always made me raise my eyebrows.

But what really appeals to me about this stick is that, unlike its Maduro sibling, it is not a flavor bomb. There’s nothing thick and rich, nor is it intensely flavored, as one would expect from a flavor bomb. But it’s not light either. What appeals to me is its precision and structured approach. It’s bright, with a pleasant cedar-forward red pepper spice and a citrusy foundation. This foundation is accented with roasted hazelnut, malt, toasted oats, and occasional floral notes.

It has a linear profile that doesn’t transition at all. It just builds up in strength and intensity over time, but never surpasses medium+ in strength. And that brightness translates to high-energy. This cigar would never be mistaken for dark and brooding.

But despite its linearity, that’s why I love this stick! I always know what I’m getting – just like comfort food. That said, I don’t want to imply that just because I compare it to comfort food, I’m equating it to fast food like McDonald’s or KFC. This is an elevated version, like cacio e pepe or risotto. And like those wonderful Italian dishes, there may only be a few ingredients, but the sum is greater than the parts.

For instance, last night I made a wonderful mushroom risotto for dinner. The ingredients I used were simple: rehydrated dried mushrooms, chicken broth combined with the reserved liquid from rehydrating the mushrooms, a little salt, a little olive oil, and arborio rice. Servings were topped with a little Parmigiano Reggiano and chopped parsley. Even without the cheese, the risotto was creamy and rich. It was wonderful!

And that’s what the San Lotano Requiem Habano is like for me. It may not have much to offer with respect to its flavor profile, but that doesn’t diminish how wonderful this cigar is.