Cigar names fascinate me. A requiem, at its simplest, is a song of remembrance for the dead. The AJ Fernandez San Lotano Requiem toro did strike a chord with me, and it was memorable. The cold draw tasted of chocolate, a flavor that continued once the San Lotano took flame. Decadent chocolate dominated the profile until about the midpoint when cedar and cream interceded. Later, robust hazelnut and chocolate notes, like a Ferrero Rocher candy, took over and carried through to a satisfying finish. The sweet and spicy retrohales enhanced the internal flavors of the cigar.

The last third begins. The nuttiness is much stronger. The caramel and sweetness and creaminess are pumping out bold flavors. The cigar is so toasty and nutty. There is now a peanut quality to the nuttiness. The flavor profile just goes nuts now. I have a huge smile on my puss. It is such a good cigar. Such a great blend.

AJ blends are the only brand that I never buy the robustos. I like the big sticks. They always turn out to be flavor bombs. The main cigar band is removed easily. Strength started out as medium bodied. By the halfway point, it was medium/full. By the last third, it hit full bodied. But it is so smooth it just creeps on you without any sudden jolts. And not a hint of nicotine kick.