AJ Fernandez Cigars
AJ Fernandez New World Puro Especial Robusto
Medium-Full Body · 55 x 5.5" (Robusto, Box-Pressed)
Named after Columbus's discovery of tobacco, the New World is AJ Fernandez's love letter to bold Nicaraguan puros—and at $7, it's the most generous love letter you'll ever receive.
Rating Breakdown
Flavor Profile
Tasting Journey
Aroma
Wood, earth, black pepper, dark tobacco, cocoa, subtle sweetness
Flavor
Wood, earth, black pepper, cocoa, espresso, Mexican hot chocolate, molasses, herbal notes
Finish
Length: Medium (60-75 minutes)Full-bodied espresso, chocolate, wood, earth, strong nicotine kick, satisfying and clean
Specs
Price / Value
MSRP: $7
Your Rating
Click to rate
Our Score: 90/100
Pairings
Food
- Grilled steak
- smoked ribs
- sharp cheddar
- dark beer
Beverage Pairings
- Bourbon (Wild Turkey 101)
- Mexican lager
- dark rum
- cold brew coffee
Our Verdict
The New World Puro Especial is the best $7 full-bodied cigar on the planet. AJ Fernandez's family collaboration produces bold Nicaraguan character that would justify a much higher price tag. Keep a box for yard work, golf, and every outdoor occasion that deserves better than a gas station cigar.
AJ Fernandez spent years as the cigar industry's most in-demand contract blender, creating hits for other brands while building his own reputation as a master of Nicaraguan tobacco. The New World Puro Especial is where he stepped fully into the spotlight, creating a cigar under his own name that would showcase everything he had learned—and he priced it at seven dollars, because apparently AJ Fernandez believes in making friends.
The dark Nicaraguan wrapper is rich and rustic, with a satisfying weight to the box-pressed robusto format. This is a cigar that looks like it means business, and it does. From the very first puff, bold Nicaraguan character announces itself: wood, earth, and a subtle black pepper finish that immediately signals you are not in Connecticut territory.
The second third is where the New World earns its reputation. Cocoa and espresso emerge like Mexican hot chocolate—rich, warm, and comforting—with molasses and herbal notes adding depth. The smoke is thick and chewy, and the flavors are layered in a way that $7 cigars are not supposed to achieve. AJ's father contributed to this blend, making it a genuine family creation.
The final third builds to a full-bodied amalgamation of espresso, chocolate, wood, and earth. There's a noticeable nicotine kick here that seasoned smokers will appreciate and newcomers should respect. The burn remains solid throughout, and the flavor profile holds steady without turning harsh or bitter—a hallmark of well-aged tobacco and expert blending.
The New World Puro Especial at $7 is, quite simply, the best full-bodied cigar for the money. It's the cigar you smoke while grilling steaks, watching the game, or sitting on the porch with a bourbon. It asks nothing of you except a light and an hour of your time, and it returns the investment tenfold.
