El Rey Del Mundo review by Don José
Hey team, Don José here back with another review.
Today we have the
El Rey Del Mundo
by AJ Fernandez
If this is your first time here, my reviews rate each cigar on 10 factors and each factor gets a rating out of 10 giving me an overall out of 100. The 10 factors are: Construction, Draw, Burn, Flavour, 1/3 overall, 2/3 overall, 3/3 overall, Journey (how well it flows), Complexity & Value for money.
Overview
El Rey del Mundo by A.J. Fernandez was released in the first half of 2022, with only 3,800 boxes of 10 produced. It uses a Nicaraguan habano wrapper over a Connecticut broadleaf binder and fillers from Nicaragua.
AJ Ferandez is producing the cigar in the company’s factory in Estelí, the largest cigar factory in Central America, and in the past few years, he has produced blends for Punch, Montecristo, H. Upmann, Romeo y Julieta, and now El Rey del Mundo. According to El Rey del Munndo, this will be more full-bodied than their typical cigars which are made in Honduras.
Details:
Brand: El Rey del Mundo (by AJ)
Size: Toro (Box-Pressed)
Factory: Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez Cigars
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: USA Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaragua
About the wrapper.
Habano cigar wrapper is a leaf grown from a Cuban seed, hence the word “Habano” or “Havano,” referring to Cuba's capitol. Habano tobacco wrapper is darker in colour, has a much spicier flavour, a richer aroma, and has been grown in Nicaragua's Jalapa Valley and Estelí since the 1990's.
More important than the pronunciation are the reasons we like Habano cigar wrappers. Mainly we like the Habano wrapper’s flavour. It’s spicy, rich and the colour is generally dark. Chocolate is commonly tasted in Habano wrappers. And the Habano cigar wrapper is going on many of your favourite cigars.
While Nicaragua Habano is less common than Ecuador Habano, the varietal can be found on a handful of stronger cigars.
let's get into the review.
First thoughts
Very 'classic' cigar look in the bands but then wrapped in paper. Not a huge fan of the band design.. but what does that matter really.. Its a nice looking box-press, and even construction. Cold draw gives me earth and cocoa.
Construction
Flawless construction!
Burn & Draw Awesome burn and draw as you would expect from AJ's team.
Flavour & Complexity Cocoa, pepper and earth continue throughout, not a huge change from start to finish, but a slight progression from each third to the next.
Strength 82% - Medium - Full
Enjoyment / Journey Great early afternoon cigar, nice balance and smoked well. I would have liked a little more complexity, but then how far off the formular can AJ really take a blend that is meant to resemble an existing cigar?
Overall There is no denying that AJ makes some amazing cigars and while I wouldn't say this is his best offering, it certainly delivers some damn good smoking. With such a small number of these made, it tells me to things; The tobacco shortage may very well be causing issues (normally a line like this I would expect to see 100,000 or even 200,000 sticks, not 38,000... ) & it will no be around for long! so get at them.
I rate this cigar 90 points.
A look at the numbers.
Construction -- 10/10
Burn -- 9/10
Draw -- 10/10
Flavour -- 8/10
Complexity -- 8/10
First 1/3 -- 8/10
Second 1/3 -- 9/10
Third 1/3 -- 10/10
Journey -- 9/10
Value -- 9/10
About the author
Joe Murdie aka Don José has been reviewing cigars in New Zealand for over 10 years now, originally as a writer for NZBlokes, a mens magazine.
Outside of Cigars Joe is an international award winning film-maker based in Wānaka, OTA.
