San Lotano Requiem Habano Staff Review
Cuban cigarmaker AJ Fernandez produces a vast portfolio of premium Nicaraguan cigars, and San Lotano is one of the first lines he debuted when he launched his brand in 2011. Today, I’m smoking San Lotano Requiem Habano in a 6-by-54 Toro to tell you how this strong smoke stands up compared to other AJ cigars I’m fond of, as well as other potent Nicaraguan blends in general.
San Lotano Requiem Habano is an easy cigar to overlook on account of how many other cigars AJ makes. He has expanded all of his core lines, including Bellas Artes, New World, and Last Call, over the past decade, many of which have achieved notable ratings from the critics. AJ’s early San Lotano releases can get lost in the shuffle, but revisiting Requiem Habano is an opportunity to introduce another hearty Nicaraguan blend into my rotation for a reasonable price, around $10 per cigar.
San Lotano cigars come in two distinct blends: Requiem Maduro, finished in a dark San Andrés wrapper leaf, and the Requiem Habano I’m smoking now, which features a Cuban-seed wrapper grown in Brazil. A robust blend of vintage Nicaraguan and Honduran long-filler tobaccos completes the recipe for San Lotano Requiem Habano cigars. The Toro I’ve chosen from a fresh box looks dark and appealing with a subtle reddish gleam and a solid vein structure from head to foot. A quick pinch test reveals perfect density.
The cold draw is full of leather, earth, and spice after I clip the cap with my guillotine cutter and taste the initial flavor of San Lotano Requiem Habano before lighting it up. Woody spices characterize the first few minutes after I toast the foot and wait for the binder, filler, and wrapper to achieve a nice, even combustion.
Savory notes of dark chocolate, hickory, and burnt caramel balance the cigar’s spicy backbone. I don’t know that I would consider Requiem Habano a nicotine bomb, but it’s definitely strong and capable of being abrasive at times, especially if you smoke it too fast. You’ll want to eat beforehand and sit down to fully appreciate this dark and satisfying profile.
AJ also blends Dias de Gloria Brazil and Bellas Artes Maduro with Brazilian wrappers, both of which offer similarly earthy, peppery profiles. Requiem Habano is a notch stronger, however. In the second half, pleasant nuances of cocoa powder and molasses contrast with the lingering earthy intensity. By the time I remove the cigar bands and enjoy the nub, just over an hour has passed, which is a long smoke for a Toro.
San Lotano Requiem Habano concludes with a booming finish of earth, espresso bean, and black pepper, capable of provoking the nicotine sweats. This smoke exhibits all the hallmarks of quality, consistency, and intensity that have defined several of AJ’s finest cigars. However, I would not recommend this blend to a beginner.
Requiem Habano requires a healthy tolerance for strong cigars. The Toro’s razor-sharp burn and firm ash combine for a reliable performance. You could smoke this cigar outside without issue, thanks to its thick, vigorous wrapper leaf. If you’re looking for a robust Nicaraguan smoke or you’re just curious to taste a Brazilian wrapper leaf, add this blend to your next order.
