Robusto, 5.5" x 54 ring gauge / approx. $7.50
When I first heard of A.J. Fernandez's Oval cigar, my first reaction was..."What?" They promised a new blend and the name suggested a new shape, but to what end...and let's be clear that initial advertisements for the Oval did not specify that the cigar was actually pressed into an oval shape...I didn't know for sure on that until I saw them in pictures and even then I could not fathom why they would do such a thing. Then we received a couple bundles for the Chattanooga Tweet Up (thanks again, Clay!) and I smoked it...and all became clear. This review stick is the third of this size that I have burned, and I did have one in the Corona size as well. The Oval is made of "secret filler" from Nicaragua and Honduras, a Nicaraguan binder, and a four-year old Habano 2000 wrapper grown in Ecuador.
Where to start with the advantages I have found in an Oval shaped cigar? It feels good in the hand...comfortable and somehow right. It won't roll off the table of the ashtray when you set it down. And like the LFD Chisel, it smokes easy and comfortably, too. The wrapper was a gorgeously oily medium brown with minimal veining and expert construction in evidence. The banding is the same as the other San Lotano lines except it does not use the secondary band to declare the line, instead including "Oval" where there is a piece of art on the original bands. Holding the wrapper to my nose, I got notes of molasses, earth and leather, while the foot gave off more earthy manure-laced aromas. The prelight draw was excellent and had a sweet honey flavor mixed in with some earthiness and a bit of spice. This is one of those cigars that tastes so good cold that it's almost a shame to light it up.
From the start the San Lotano Oval is earthy and sweet on the palate, while giving a decent peppery kick to the nasal passages. The predominant flavor note on the palate is natural, sweet tobacco...but it uncommonly refined and smooth and flavorful natural tobacco. The Oval started off medium-bodied and very full-flavored. Through the rest of the first third, that somewhat sweet and earthy flavor continued. The finish was short and clean.
Every Oval I have smoked so far has had great construction attributes and this was no exception; it featured an even burn line, great draw and solid ash that held on for about three-quarters of an inch. The second third saw the earthiness increase along with a sort of vegetal note, but one that was not off-putting as these things often are for me. The body nudged up a bit into the medium-to-full range and toward the end of the third, I got a bit of a minerally, metallic note, but again, not so strong that it was unpleasant at all.
As the final third got burning, I noticed a building black pepper heat that complemented the earthier notes very well. I also got some flavor of cocoa powder and was still getting a molasses sweetness. How does this compare with the San Lotano Habano, which on paper has a similar makeup? In my opinion, this is miles better...but of course, it's hard to really compare the two since they probably share very little actual makeup in common. To me, this blend shows off the Habano wrapper in a far better manner, highlighting its sweetness. It also does not seem quite as full-bodied as the Habano, making it more accessible to a wider range of smokers. The Oval displays a superb flavor with a reasonable price tag in a shape that is unique and functional, not just a gimmick. For my money, this is the best blend A.J. Fernandez has put his name on.
Body: 7/10
Strength: 6/10
Complexity: 8/10
AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
When I first heard of A.J. Fernandez's Oval cigar, my first reaction was..."What?" They promised a new blend and the name suggested a new shape, but to what end...and let's be clear that initial advertisements for the Oval did not specify that the cigar was actually pressed into an oval shape...I didn't know for sure on that until I saw them in pictures and even then I could not fathom why they would do such a thing. Then we received a couple bundles for the Chattanooga Tweet Up (thanks again, Clay!) and I smoked it...and all became clear. This review stick is the third of this size that I have burned, and I did have one in the Corona size as well. The Oval is made of "secret filler" from Nicaragua and Honduras, a Nicaraguan binder, and a four-year old Habano 2000 wrapper grown in Ecuador.
Where to start with the advantages I have found in an Oval shaped cigar? It feels good in the hand...comfortable and somehow right. It won't roll off the table of the ashtray when you set it down. And like the LFD Chisel, it smokes easy and comfortably, too. The wrapper was a gorgeously oily medium brown with minimal veining and expert construction in evidence. The banding is the same as the other San Lotano lines except it does not use the secondary band to declare the line, instead including "Oval" where there is a piece of art on the original bands. Holding the wrapper to my nose, I got notes of molasses, earth and leather, while the foot gave off more earthy manure-laced aromas. The prelight draw was excellent and had a sweet honey flavor mixed in with some earthiness and a bit of spice. This is one of those cigars that tastes so good cold that it's almost a shame to light it up.
From the start the San Lotano Oval is earthy and sweet on the palate, while giving a decent peppery kick to the nasal passages. The predominant flavor note on the palate is natural, sweet tobacco...but it uncommonly refined and smooth and flavorful natural tobacco. The Oval started off medium-bodied and very full-flavored. Through the rest of the first third, that somewhat sweet and earthy flavor continued. The finish was short and clean.Every Oval I have smoked so far has had great construction attributes and this was no exception; it featured an even burn line, great draw and solid ash that held on for about three-quarters of an inch. The second third saw the earthiness increase along with a sort of vegetal note, but one that was not off-putting as these things often are for me. The body nudged up a bit into the medium-to-full range and toward the end of the third, I got a bit of a minerally, metallic note, but again, not so strong that it was unpleasant at all.
As the final third got burning, I noticed a building black pepper heat that complemented the earthier notes very well. I also got some flavor of cocoa powder and was still getting a molasses sweetness. How does this compare with the San Lotano Habano, which on paper has a similar makeup? In my opinion, this is miles better...but of course, it's hard to really compare the two since they probably share very little actual makeup in common. To me, this blend shows off the Habano wrapper in a far better manner, highlighting its sweetness. It also does not seem quite as full-bodied as the Habano, making it more accessible to a wider range of smokers. The Oval displays a superb flavor with a reasonable price tag in a shape that is unique and functional, not just a gimmick. For my money, this is the best blend A.J. Fernandez has put his name on.Body: 7/10
Strength: 6/10
Complexity: 8/10
AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
Never heard of them. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI finally picked one up yesterday and look forward to lighting it up. I really like the shape, very much like the Oliva MB3. Thanks for the great review.
ReplyDeleteGreat cigar. I was confused about the production, are they limited or just a smaller batch?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I've not heard of them being limited in any way, except for the initial shipment which did not seem to have enough to go around.
ReplyDelete