Cigar Reviewed: San Lotano Connecticut

Smoked at: West Chester, Ohio

Pairing the AJ Fernandez San Lotano Connecticut with a cup of Arabica this morning. Mild to med-mild Connecticuts usually work well with morning coffee.

Construction: Loose draw with enough resistance, tight solid ash and a very generous smoke output – especially for a mild Connecticut. The burn line was askew for most of the smoke – needed a couple of touchups. Other than that, the construction was near perfect.

The cigar opens with an unexpected blast of pepper for a mild, morning coffee stick. There are also notes of earth and coffee – kind of a gritty coffee taste for lack of a better term, some cream, coffee, honey, nuts (hard to identify – lick a can of mixed nuts), spice and vanilla as well. I was expecting a mild, creamy morning coffee cigar. I’ve just never experienced that surge of pepper on the first third. The pepper was finally under control by the second third, which allowed some of the other flavor notes to step forward. Now it has combination of Connecticut flavors I expect.

All of this didn’t reduce my enjoyment. The San Lotano Connecticut pairs nicely with coffee – just not quite the way I am accustomed.