Amar by AJ Fernandez Torito

In an industry where new releases often focus on celebrating milestones or showcasing rare tobaccos, the Amar by AJ Fernandez takes a more personal approach. Introduced during the 2026 PCA Trade Show, the cigar was created in the aftermath of the fire that impacted Fernández’s Estelí operations in 2025. Rather than serving as a commemorative project tied to an anniversary or limited event, Amar was developed as an acknowledgment of the support received from employees, retail partners, and cigar hobbyists throughout the recovery process.

The name “Amar” carries dual significance. In Spanish, the translation is to love, while in Arabic it means moon, reflecting Fernández’s Cuban and Lebanese family roots. The blend is produced at the San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua, and is a Nicaraguan puro wrapped in a Nicaraguan Habano leaf.

Today, AJ Fernandez Cigar Co. remains one of Nicaragua’s largest tobacco growers and cigar manufacturers, producing cigars for both its own brands and numerous industry partners. With Amar, the company adds another regular-production offering to its lineup, being built around themes of gratitude, resilience, and moving forward after a challenging chapter in the brand’s history.

Amar by AJ Fernandez Torito Breakdown

Appearance

The Amar wrapper immediately reminds me of blonde-roast coffee beans. The color falls into that lighter brown range, with enough variation throughout the leaf to keep it interesting. The fine veins work together with the lightly wrinkled texture of the wrapper, while the leaf itself carries a subtle oily appearance that further reinforces the coffee bean comparison. Construction appears solid overall, with neatly applied seams and a clean cap. The cigar feels consistently packed from head to foot, with no obvious soft spots or voids when gently squeezed.

From the wrapper, aromas of sweet grassy hay, light raisin, and aged barnwood immediately stand out. There’s a freshness to the hay note that plays nicely against the darker wood character underneath. The foot shifts things in a more rustic direction, producing aromas of manure, dried alfalfa hay, and a healthy dose of white pepper. The latter is especially noticeable, lingering in the sinuses for several moments after each pull from the foot and adding a surprising amount of intensity to the pre-light experience.

The cold draw leans earthy with aged hardwood, dusty baker’s cocoa, and raw tobacco sweetness. There’s also a noticeable white pepper spice that tingles across the tongue and hangs around for a bit afterward, leaving me curious whether the cigar is about to open up into a full-on spice bomb once things get underway.

Smoking Experience

From first light, the Amar wastes no time getting going. The cigar lights easily without requiring much attention from the torch, quickly settling into a steady burn. The opening flavors remind me of Mexican hot chocolate, delivering a combination of cocoa powder and warm baking spices that carry just enough sweetness to keep things interesting without becoming dessert-like. A black pepper zing through the retrohale adds some life to the profile while staying well-behaved. The draw lands at an 8/10, producing plenty of smoke with a comfortable amount of resistance. Flavor starts at medium-plus, body is medium, and strength is just beginning to approach medium.

About an inch into the Torito, the spice becomes more noticeable, while cedar and old barnwood work their way into the mix. The sweetness is still hanging around, and when it combines with the spice it creates something that reminds me of cinnamon Red Hots candies. Not the sugary candy itself, but that familiar sweet-cinnamon heat. The retrohale continues bringing black pepper, though it remains subdued rather than dominant. Construction has been excellent so far, with a razor-sharp burn line and no waviness to speak of. The draw remains at an 8/10. Flavor continues at medium-plus, while the body has moved up to medium-plus and strength settles comfortably into medium territory.

Halfway through the Amar, the profile begins taking on a different character. A light petrichor note emerges alongside burnt coffee, while the sweetness that defined the first half starts slowly backing away. Bright cedar becomes more noticeable and is joined by a raw pecan flavor that adds a pleasant richness to the profile. The pepper is still there, but at this point it feels more like an afterthought than a primary flavor component. A zesty sourdough bread note also begins showing itself, which continues gaining ground as the cigar progresses. If the sweetness hadn’t started fading away, the profile would almost remind me of sitting down to a breakfast of pecan rolls, coffee, and toasted sourdough bread.

As I reach the band, the cinnamon note makes a return, though it’s no longer carrying any real sweetness behind it. Instead, it comes across as dry cinnamon powder mixed with freshly grated nutmeg. The draw begins tightening somewhat, dropping to around a 6/10, and the sourdough note starts leaning more toward sour than bread. A light creaminess develops, helping round everything out and creating a flavor combination that reminds me of a strong espresso with just a splash of milk. Flavor, body, and strength all remain fairly consistent through this portion of the cigar.

As I set down the nub, the sweetness has completely disappeared. What remains is hot, nutty smoke and dry black pepper. The creaminess is gone, the bread notes have faded, and the brighter cedar has largely stepped aside. The cigar never becomes harsh, but the profile narrows considerably compared to where it started. It’s not a bad finish, but it definitely gives the cigar a distinct stopping point.

Would I Smoke This Cigar Again?

I most definitely will smoke this again. The Amar Torito delivers a flavor profile that kept me interested through most of the experience, particularly during the first half, where the combination of cocoa, baking spices, cedar, and sweetness created a lot of depth without becoming heavy or overpowering. The cigar also performed exceptionally well from a construction standpoint, maintaining a sharp burn line and requiring very little attention throughout the smoking experience. While the profile became noticeably narrower toward the end, there was still enough complexity and evolution through the middle portions of the cigar to make the experience worthwhile. At its price point, Amar offers a different side of AJ Fernandez Cigar Co. than some of the bolder, heavier blends often associated with the company. I’d have no problem revisiting it, especially when I’m in the mood for something that balances sweetness, spice, and wood without pushing strength to the forefront.

• The Amar line is offered in four vitolas:
  • Robusto: 5½” x 54 | $10.40 (MSRP)
  • Toro: 6″ x 56 | $11.00 (MSRP)
  • Torito: 6½” x 50 | $10.70 (MSRP)
  • Gordo: 6″ x 60 | $11.30 (MSRP)
• Currently, the Amar by AJ Fernandez ranks on Dojoverse as “98% Smokable,” placing in the top 28 percent of cigars on the all-time leaderboard.

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