Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 (San José farm)
Binder: Nicaraguan (La Soledad farm)
Filler: Nicaraguan (La Providencia + other Fernandez farms)
Size: 6 x 48 (Short Churchill)
Strength: Medium to Full
Price: ~$5–$7 per stick (often lower in bundles/boxes)
Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez
Blender: AJ Fernandez
Release Date: 2017
Experience Rating: 95
Next to the Decenio, the Puro Especial is my favorite in the line. It’s also the one no one seems to talk about. The Decenio, Oscuro, Cameroon, and Dorado get the attention. This one doesn’t. It should.
The first time I had one, the complexity stood out immediately. I didn’t understand how it worked, and I didn’t spend much time trying to figure it out. It was a great cigar. That was enough. Cut. Light. Enjoy. Rinse and repeat. I’ve gone through two boxes of them.
But it bugged me that there was very little chatter about it.
I think part of that is how this cigar behaves. It doesn’t line up with how most people evaluate cigars. The others in the line make a clear statement, then move in a way you can follow. This leads to that, which leads to something else.
The Puro Especial doesn’t do that.
And that creates a disconnect.
Everyone I’ve talked to loves this cigar. Like me, they just smoke it and enjoy it. That’s the point. But I wanted to understand it. And I’m glad I did.
The dark, toothy wrapper is rough to the touch. The stick is packed and solid, giving off rich aromas of earth and fruity sweetness. The foot presents vanilla, more fruity sweetness, and a hint of leather.
Signature AJ ignition.
Black pepper, charred cedar, earth, and coffee lead, with a light red-pepper spice accenting the initial profile. Less than half an inch in, black pepper, earth, and coffee form the core.
As the cigar settles in, the spice increases slightly, seeming to encircle the core. Then complexity kicks in as flavors begin to assemble and accumulate: vanilla, nougat, roasted cashew, fresh jalapeño (not spicy), molasses, cedar, and cocoa powder. These aren’t flickers. They appear, soften, and step to the side.
Coffee steps forward within the core, and it feels organized. The texture becomes creamy, and the spice no longer encircles; now it floats above the profile. As the spice lifts, the finish becomes clean.
Just before the halfway point, a transition brings in savory flavors: smoked pork, salt, beef tallow, and roasted, salted peanuts. They assemble with what’s already in place.
At the halfway point, the spice holds its position but intensifies slightly. Cocoa powder steps forward and attaches to the core, which tightens to further ground the profile. It feels like the blend is locking in.
Another transition brings in brighter notes: cinnamon, baking spices, fresh cedar, and lemon peel. The profile feels like it’s building toward something.
Coming into the home stretch, another transition introduces nutty flavors: marzipan, walnut, and cashew. These are followed by caramel, vanilla, molasses, nougat, graham cracker, and yeasty bread.
What stands out here is that, with all the transitions and layers accumulating, the profile remains articulate. It doesn’t turn muddy. The finish stays clean.
With a couple of inches to go, the cigar transitions again, adding stone fruit, brown sugar, and a hit of cinnamon. Now the profile feels complete.
Then complexity kicks in like a hoedown.
The flavors start dancing. Constant, but organized. Patterns form, break, and reform. It’s hard to keep up.
I stop trying to follow it and just enjoy the show.
Through it all, the core remains stable. It’s the dance floor. The spice is the music, driving everything. It comes in waves—mellower, then more dramatic—like shifts in a song.
In the last inch, the hoedown ends. A few stragglers linger: molasses, roasted nuts, yeasty bread, and vanilla.
The spice intensifies slightly but recedes into the background, like piped music over a PA.
The core remains. Still solid. Still articulate. With all the dancers gone, it’s easier to see.
It’s a smooth glide to the end.
Though it might not be obvious, the gradual uptick in spice is what throws people off. It stays out front, and if you’re not paying close attention, it’s easy to read this as one-dimensional. It isn’t. There’s a lot happening behind that spice.
I’ve smoked a lot of these, and for a long time, I just enjoyed them and moved on.
Now I know why I keep coming back.
You can buy these at affiliate Cigar Page. Highly recommended!
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