Ave Maria Divinia

Smoked: Ave Maria Divinia

Smoked at: West Chester. Ohio

Ave Maria Divinia is a box-pressed smooth to rustic AJ Fernandez blended stick with Nicaraguan binder and filler and covered in a sun grown Habano wrapper with nearly invisible tiny veins. You’ve got to love the elegance of the cigar bands – very classy.

Flavors: cedar, coffee, cocoa, roasted hazelnuts, peanuts and cashews, earthy with a touch of leather sneaking into the background, spice/pepper. Quite a collection right from the start. Thank you, AJ. The pepper and sweetness are subtle. The sweetness was hard to identify until the second third. Even then I’m guessing, but I know I tasted caramel and cream – like a Werther’s candy drop. I’m pretty sure I picked up the taste of fruit on a few puffs – cherries and/or berries and some puffs of orange. The cocoa transitions into semi-sweet dark chocolate and the pepper and earthiness pick up some steam during the final third. Also, mint enters the array – unexpected, not unpleasant, just a surprise finale. The flavor notes are plentiful and well balanced.

This is a fast burning cigar. The construction would be worthy of a place of honor at the table of the cigar band’s Crusaders. Perfect draw, abundant smoke and decent layered grey ash that held pretty well through most of the smoke. My only construction issue is a slightly askew burn line.

Ave Maria Divinia is medium-full bodied, medium-full strength, has complexity and perfect balance. The Divinia reminded me of the Caldwell Long Live The Queen I recently smoked. So, if you’re a fan of that cigar, try the Ave Maria Divinia and let’s compare notes.

BTW: One of my cigar buddies is a former boutique brand owner who has told me for years cold temperatures and low humidity is a cigar’s best friend. The humidor from which I plucked this Divinia has been running at 63 degrees and 62 percent humidity this past winter. My fear was the stick would be hard and losing flavor. Nope! This cigar was perfect. Thanks for the advice, Jay.