Mexican Chocolate

The Factory: This one starts at Tabacalera Annex, the joint factory built around AJ Fernandez and a simple idea: experiment with tobaccos that exist in quantities too small for national releases.

The Access: Since 2020, the Annex has given us exactly that kind of tobacco. The odd lots, the tiny harvests and the one off experiments that might never have had a home otherwise. They are perfect for something like the LCA or Privada Cigar Club.

The Binder: AJ had been talking up a particular binder he grew himself. The problem was, there was only one hectare of it. Not nearly enough for one of his national releases, so it made its way over to the Annex for us to play with.

The Build: We wrapped that rare binder in an extremely dark Mexican San Andrés wrapper, filled it with some of the usual suspects from AJ's tobacco arsenal, and box pressed the whole thing into a 6 x 54.

The Result: Extra chocolate. Four years of age behind it, and a cigar that shows up right on time for the season.

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés

Binder: Nicaraguan (Estelí - AJ Fernandez grown)

Filler: Nicaraguan (Estelí)

Factory: Tabacalera Annex

Cigar Size: 6" x 54

Tasting Notes: Sweet molasses, cocoa, red pepper, cedar, espresso