Cigar Review - Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva
Casa Fernandez – Miami Reserva
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5.2″
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Pairing: San Francisco Bay Fog Lifter coffee
While in St. Augustine recently I came across a cigar store tucked away in the back of a long corridor of other shops. They had the requisite collection of Acids and a few other brands that I didn't recognize and I wasn't finding what I really wanted, which was a Rocky Patel Decade (see previous review). Instead, this Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva caught my eye. It had a nice finished look to it and I am trying to expand my horizons and my palate. Little did I know...
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Fit and Finish: This cigar is nicely constructed but is a little coarser than a lot of cigars appear. There is not as much oily sheen, but it is nice and firm, a little heft to it, and the seams and cap are nice and tight. It's just not slick like so many appear. On the nose it is all earth, cedar and tobacco.
Draw: A v-cut gives a nice medium draw, right where I like it. The cold draw is all cocoa. I really think I'm going to like this one.
Toast/Light: Toasting goes great, with no need to puff at all to get this cigar lit. The first puff gives a bit of pepper. It is producing copious amounts of smoke with even the first puff and it is already creamy.
First third: The first third of this cigar concerns me and then delights me. The concern comes about ¼ inch into it when it suddenly goes out. No warning. Great smoke production, all is happiness and light and then just nothing. Not even a hint of a cherry. No more than 40 seconds between draws and then just out. Uh oh. But I clear the ash and re-toast. It starts right back up and then comes the delight. The pepper drops down a little, but stays just under everything else. Coming to the forefront is a kaleidoscope of flavors. It changes constantly. First is a bit of cocoa, then comes this savory flavor...I can't place it...for the life of me it tastes like steak sauce. Then it tastes like the steak itself. Then it's buttered toast. Back to the cocoa and it starts all over again. Every taste is slightly different but the underlying savory and creamy remains.
Second Third: In the second third I am starting to get a little uneven burn going but it seems to correct itself with proper rotation of the cigar with each draw. The pepper comes forward more as does a bit of cedar and a little saltiness. The savory sauce, steak, cocoa and toast continue to come and go and I'm wondering if there is something wrong with me. I've never been so confounded as to what is happening with a cigar. Anything I ever thought was complex in the past was but a shadow of this. I am loving it completely. I'm also getting a real kick from the strength of this cigar. I usually stay in the mild to medium range with my cigars because that's where I enjoy the flavors the most. This is well beyond my typical Olivas, Toranos and Excaliburs. It is more like the Fuente 8-5-8 maduros in strength.
Final Third: As the final third comes in the pepper leaps to the forefront and grabs my attention. The savory is now gone but the cocoa remains and then...yes, it is cinnamon making an appearance. I am now in love with this cigar. It finishes with these flavors, along with the cream and fantastic smoke production until there is about an inch left when it goes out once again. By this time it has kicked my butt and I am ok with not relighting because, well, I have to walk.
Final Thoughts: I am not used to anything like this. It is much stronger than I typically smoke and it is far more complex than anything I have ever had. That said...I loved this cigar. It was interesting and delicious all the way through. I don't know what the two issues were with it going out but it didn't detract from the cigar in any way other than concern about it happening again. I will absolutely buy more of these. I won't smoke them often, but will definitely pull one out on special occaisions or whenever I want something to just knock my socks off.
Total smoking time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
