Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Alfonso Añejo No. 1 by Selected Tobacco. This is a cigar blend previously assessed in the No.2 size back in May 2023.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Filler: Peruvian & Nicaraguan Ligero
Country of Origin: Costa Rica
Factory: Tabacos De Costa Rica
No. 1: 4 x 50
In 2022, Selected Tobacco would launch its fourth brand, Alfonso. The brand gets its name from Nelson Alfonso, who is the owner of Selected Tobacco. Alfonso is an ultra-premium brand that revolves around exquisite packaging and extra aging. The first line to be released under the Alfonso brand is known as the Alfonso Añejo. Nelson Alfonso is known for meticulous aging processes. Normally Nelson has aged his cigars in cedar-lined rooms for two to five years. During that process, the humidity is raised and lowered throughout the aging period. With the Alfonso Añejo, the process also included aging the cigars in French Oak with a total aging process of five years. Today we take a look at the Alfonso Añejo in the No.1 (Petite Robusto) size.
The Alfonso Añejo utilizes Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf for the wrapper and binder. The filler is a combination of Peruvian and Nicaraguan tobaccos. As with all Selected Tobacco products, production comes from Tabacos de Costa Rica in the Puriscal region of Costa Rica. The No. 1 size measures 4 x 50. For Alfonso Añejo, Selected Tobacco has many packaging options in terms of boxes, packs, tubes, and jars. In terms of boxes – Selected Tobacco offers two-25-count boxes: a dress box and a rustic box.
Flavorwise the Alfonso Añejo No. 1 started out with a flavor profile of natural tobacco, cream, cedar, black pepper, and a slight amount of peanut. Early on in the flavor profile, the cream and natural tobacco became the primary notes. A berry sweetness joined the cedar, black pepper, and peanut in the background. As the cigar experience progressed into the second third, the primary notes became more in the way of cream and cedar. During the phase, the berry notes were present on the finish, and the black pepper increased. By the final third, the cedar notes took over as the primary note, but were balanced by the other notes. Meanwhile, the retro-hale delivered notes of cedar and black pepper.
Throughout the smoking experience, I found the Alfonso Añejo No. 1 delivered strength and body on the lower side of medium. Throughout the smoking experience, the body had a very slight edge over the strength. Both the burn and draw performed excellently requiring little maintenance.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Final Thoughts
The Alfonso Añejo No. 1 delivered a high-caliber experience firing on all cylinders – flavor, construction, and complexity. Coming in at $29.99, it’s not an inexpensive cigar. One thing the Alfonso Añejo No. 1 does extremely well is that it delivers an ultra-premium smoking experience without being rushed. You can smoke the Alfonso Añejo No. 1 in 45 minutes. However, for the extra five dollars, I’m still inclined to reach for the 5 x 52 Alfonso Añejo No. 2 first – which is $35.00 and performs at an even higher level. Still, the Alfonso Añejo No. 1 does its job, and does it well and I would recommend the Alfonso Añejo No. 1 to any cigar enthusiast. It’s one of which I plan to keep multiples in my humidor. Coming in at 91 points, the Alfonso Añejo No. 1 exceeds the Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence.
Summary
Key Flavors: Natural Tobacco, Cream, Cedar, Peanut, Berry, Black Pepper
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium Plus
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium
Finish: Excellent
Rating
Value: Buy Multiples
Score: 91
Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence
REFERENCES
Previous Assessment: Alfonso Añejo No. 2 by Selected Tobacco
News: Selected Tobacco Begins Shipping Alfonso Añejos
Price: $29.99
Source: Purchased
Brand Reference: Alfonso
Photo Credits: Cigar Coop
Originally posted on September 15, 2023 @ 6:20 am