Welcome back to another edition of cigar reviews on Puff.com. Today we will take a closer look at the San Lotano Oval Robusto and the La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale Club.

San Lotano Oval Robusto

The San Lotano Oval is a line produced by A.J. Fernandez. It was introduced in 2011 and is characterized by its unique oval shape. I’m a rookie when it comes to A.J. Fernandez smokes, so I am hoping that the San Lotano Oval makes me a believer. It’s time to light up a Robusto to see how it measures up to the competition.

The San Lotano Oval Robusto measures 5 ½ x 54. Other sizes in the line include the 4 ½ x 54 Petite Robusto, 5 x 44 Corona, 6 x 54 Toro, 6 ½ x 60 Gordo, and 6 ½ x 54 Pyramid. The key to the cigar’s goodness is supposedly its ultra-premium aged tobacco. The filler comes from Honduras and Nicaragua, but that is as far as the details go. The company’s website lists the filler as being an “AJ Fernandez secret.” The binder is Nicaraguan, and a special Habano 2000 wrapper that has been aged for four years completes the composition. As far as strength it concerned, the San Lotano Oval seems to fall somewhere between medium and full-bodied.

At first glance, the San Lotano Oval Robusto is a very attractive cigar. The band stands out with its black, gold, and yellow coloring. It features the San Lotano Oval label as well as the A.J. Fernandez name. The dark brown wrapper is quite inviting thanks to its oils and silky smooth texture. Only a few small veins are present. As I take a closer look at the cigar, I notice the subtle oval shape. It’s similar to a box-press, only more unique and rounded. It appears to be done to perfection with this Robusto. Squeezing the cigar offers a little give, but no major soft spots. I pick up a pre-light scent of chocolate, while the taste is on the spicy side.

After lighting, the San Lotano Oval Robusto burns with ease. The easy draw is relaxing, and so is the sweet aroma that emanates from the thick smoke. The ash is solid and dark gray in nature. The burn line does get a tad uneven, but the cigar manages to correct itself without the need for any touch-ups. Re-lights are also unnecessary.