Aj Fernandez The Goat Connecticut Toro

AJ Fernandez has been a renowned blender for years. His work on his own line of cigars, and other companies he's worked with, has been revered by cigar smokers all over. He's blended multiple award winning cigars, and given the cigar industry a vast catelog of blends and collaborations. He blended The Goat for the Nassir Cigar Lounge as an exclusive blend. Soon after, it was released to the rest of the world. A few years later, he blended and released The Goat Connecticut, which is the topic of this cigar review. Read the review, and try The Goat Connecticut the next time you want a more powerful Connecticut cigar with your morning coffee.

The Goat CT has a similar appearance to its predecessor, featuring the gold and red band, with a secondary band using the same color palate. There is a prominent image of a goat on the primary band, with nice ornamentation on the sides. "Nassir Cigars" can also be found on either side of the primary band. The secondary band is simple, displaying "AJ Fernandez" in gold lettering over a red background. The cigar itself is light tan in color, showing little veins and seems. The cigar is smooth to the touch as well. The cigar is rolled in a soft box press parejo.

The Goat CT is constructed with Nicaraguan Binder and Filler, and wrapped in an Ecuadorian Connecticut Wrapper. The draw is smooth and easy, allowing the smoke to hit the palate perfectly. There is a good smoke output throughout, providing a nice aroma to compliment the flavor of the cigar. The burn line throughout the smoke stays straight and consistent, allowing for a stress free experience. The ash is sturdy and white, remaining on the cigar until it gets to about an inch and a half long. The foot doesn't flake after ashing, so your shirts will be fine.

The flavor profile of The Goat CT is where this cigar really shines. The cold draw provides notes of dried apricot, dry hay, and almond. Upon first light, the palate gets primonent notes of coffee, almond, and nougat. The first third provides prominent notes of earth and almond. Underneath, there are hints of white pepper and honey. There are also undertones of graham cracker, fig, and coffee. Throughout the first third, there is an underlying creaminess, which is complimented by the gradual increase of white pepper. The retrohale of the first third may have lingering notes of white pepper, coffee, and toast.

The second third may provide strong notes of coffee and white pepper. Hints of honey and fig linger on the palate, along with a mild saltiness. Dry hay and almond hit the palate about half way through, along with a very mild floral note. As the second third progresses, the white pepper notes become more subtle. The retrohale of the second third may have notes of earth, toast, and subtle white pepper.

The final third of the cigar may have front notes of earth and cream, with hints of pastry and coffee. Flavors of graham cracker and honey become more prominent on the palate, along with subtle notes of nougat and fig. Notes of almond and white pepper also linger, but do not overpower the other flavor notes. The retrohale of the final third may have notes of white pepper, toast, and coffee.

The Goat CT is priced reasonably, especially considering the rest of the market. A single toro can go for around $14.00, while a box of 20 can go for around $280. While this could be priced closer to $12, $14 is.a fair price, especially for the quality of the tobacco. Taking all this into account, the AJ Fernandez The Goat CT is a must try for cigar smokers just getting into the realm of medium bodied cigars. It's also a great option for seasoned cigar smokers who want something a little stronger to start their day. This cigar goes great with an espresso, or dark italian roast.

GC Rating: 91

Thanks to the Wooden Indian Tobacco Shop for sponsoring this review of the AJ Fernandez The Goat Ct. If you'd like to try The Goat CT, or anything else from the AJ Fernandez catelog, visit woodenindiantobacco.com, and use the coupon code to get 10% off your order plus free shipping.