Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto Review: Cigar Experience

The Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto carries a story worth knowing before you light it. In March 2025, a fire tore through Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua in Estelí, the factory where AJ built his reputation. What followed was an outpouring of support from across the cigar world. Amar is his answer to that support, and he hid the message inside the cigar itself, behind the band, where only the person who smokes it will find it.

Table of Contents

Construction of the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto

The cigar arrives firm and even in the hand with a light, silky oiliness across the wrapper. The build is clean throughout, with no soft spots or imperfections. It is the kind of construction you expect from an AJ Fernandez factory, and it holds up to that expectation before you have even cut it.

Band Impression

The band gives an impression of calm. There is something in the deep blue and gold, with its moon phases running along the bottom, that feels like a fairy tale that came true, and like greatness quietly arrived at. It is a relaxing band to look at, and knowing the story behind the cigar only deepens that feeling.

The Hidden Message Behind the Band

Underneath the gold foot band, hidden until you remove it, is a printed message: Signature Blend, The Gold Standard in Premium Cigars, Handmade in Nicaragua by AJ Fernández. It is a small touch that most smokers will never see.

But the real find is behind the main band. Printed there in what looks like handwriting, and signed by AJ himself, are the words Gracias por tu apoyo con amor. Thank you for your support, with love.

That is the whole cigar in one line. Amar was made as a thank-you to the people who stood by AJ Fernández after the fire, and he hid that thank-you inside the cigar, where only the person who actually smokes it will ever find it. It is a quiet, personal gesture, and discovering it changes how the rest of the smoke feels.

Size of the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto

Length: 5.5 inches (140 mm)
Ring Gauge: 54 (21.4 mm)
Format: Robusto

A Robusto at 140 mm with a 54 ring gauge, smoked over approximately 75 minutes.

Blend of the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto

Amar is a Nicaraguan puro, with a Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler. While the Estelí factory rebuilds, the line is rolled at the San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

The Story Behind Amar

The name carries two meanings. In Spanish, amar means to love. In Arabic, it echoes qamar, the word for moon, a nod to AJ Fernandez’s Cuban and Lebanese heritage. The company describes it as representing the lunar phase that follows full illumination, a period of reflection, gratitude, and new beginnings.

That framing fits. After the fire, AJ could have focused on what was lost. Instead he made a cigar that reads as a thank-you letter to the people who stood by him. It debuted at PCA 2026 and arrives as one of his most personal releases.

Scent and Cold Draw of the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto

Before lighting, the wrapper gave off a farmyard character. The foot offered farmyard with a light florality.

The cold draw brought maltiness and a light florality. Clean and gentle.

1/3 — Let’s Light Up the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto

The first third opened with a rich and creamy texture on the palate.

The flavors I felt in the first third were hay with a light nuance of grass, a noticeable pepperiness with rose pepper and black pepper dominant, dried and fresh herbs, minerals, and florality. Underneath came a light anise, a light saltiness, and light roasted nuts.

The pepper leads here, and the combination of rose pepper with black pepper is unusual. Rose pepper is a note I rarely come across, and having it stand alongside black pepper rather than behind it gives the opening a distinctive character. The dried and fresh herbs together add a green, savory quality.

The retrohale in the first third had a tickle in the nose, with pepperiness and woodiness. If you are not yet retrohaling, you are missing notes like this entirely, and our complete guide to retrohaling walks you through it.

2/3 — The Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto Opens Up

The texture stayed creamy but became less rich in the second third. The profile shifted noticeably.

The flavors I felt in the second third were a florality leaning toward tulip that took up more space, woodiness, a woodiness toward cedar, anise, and a sweet nut mix with a suggestion of almonds. Underneath came a light citrus toward orange, a light fruity sweetness with a nuance of honey, light dried herbs, a light leather, and a light pepperiness.

The tulip florality stepping forward is what defines this section. The pepper recedes and lets the sweeter, more floral side of the blend come through, with the honey nuance and almond nut mix giving it a gentler character than the opening suggested.

The retrohale in the second third was smoother, with a lighter black pepper.

3/3 — Let’s See How the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto Finishes

The texture stayed as it was in the second third.

The flavors I felt in the final third were a woodiness toward cedar, leather, hay, a citrus toward orange, and citrus peel. Underneath came a light brightly roasted ground coffee bean, a light anise, a light florality, and a light saltiness.

The final third settles into cedar, leather, and orange citrus, with the light roasted coffee adding depth. It is a composed, balanced close.

The retrohale in the final third was smooth. Woodiness.

Nub

The nub is where the cigar delivers a final surprise. Dark chocolate, nougat, and a dark woodiness arrive together, with a light tanginess underneath. After a smoke that had been savory and floral, this rich, confectionary finish is unexpected and genuinely rewarding. It is worth smoking this one right down.

After Taste

The aftertaste lingered with walnuts and a light nuttiness. A clean, dry close.

Smoke Time

Approximately 75 minutes from lighting to the final puffs.

Draw

Excellent throughout. Open and consistent across all three thirds.

Burn Quality

Even and steady. The burn line stayed clean throughout the smoke, and no touch-ups were needed.

Body of the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto

Medium on the border of full. The body builds gradually across the 75 minutes, staying balanced without ever turning aggressive. That puts it in reach of the slightly more experienced smoker, and it also makes a good stepping stone for anyone curious about fuller-bodied cigars but not yet ready to commit to something heavier. If you want to understand what body actually means and how it differs from strength, our guide to the body of a cigar breaks it down.

Price of the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto

The Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto retails at around $10.40 per cigar. For a 75-minute smoke with this level of development, an unusual rose pepper opening, and that dark chocolate and nougat finish at the nub, that price is low compared to what you get. It belongs on any honest list of the best cigars for the money.

Conclusion

The Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto is a cigar with a story, and one that earns its place on flavor alone.

The first third opens with an unusual rose pepper and black pepper combination alongside herbs, minerals, and hay. The second third softens as tulip florality steps forward, joined by almond, honey, and orange citrus. The final third settles into cedar, leather, and light roasted coffee. And then the nub delivers dark chocolate, nougat, and dark wood, a rich surprise that makes it worth smoking to the very end.

If I compare price versus quality versus flavor, the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto is cheap compared to what you get. At around $10.40 for this much development and character, it is easy value to recommend.

And then there is the message behind the band. Gracias por tu apoyo con amor. A cigar that came out of a fire, made as a thank-you, with that thank-you hidden inside where only the smoker will find it. That is not something you can put a price on, and it is not something you forget.

For me, this cigar works as a reminder that anything is possible and that dreams can still be reached even when setbacks hit you. You must never give up. AJ Fernández lost a great deal in that fire, and what he chose to make from it was a thank-you letter. There is something in that worth carrying with you, long after the last puff.

FAQ

Is the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto worth buying?

Yes. At around $10.40 per cigar it delivers a well-developed 75-minute smoke with an unusual rose pepper opening, floral middle, and a dark chocolate and nougat finish at the nub. Strong value for the character it offers.

What does the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto taste like?

It opens with hay, grass, rose pepper and black pepper, dried and fresh herbs, minerals, florality, anise, and roasted nuts. The second third brings tulip florality, cedar, anise, a sweet almond nut mix, orange citrus, and honey sweetness. The final third closes with cedar, leather, hay, orange citrus, and light roasted coffee. The nub delivers dark chocolate, nougat, and dark wood. The aftertaste lingers with walnuts.

What does Amar mean?

Amar means “to love” in Spanish and echoes qamar, the Arabic word for moon.

Why was Amar by AJ Fernandez created?

It was made in response to the March 2025 fire that damaged AJ Fernandez’s main factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Rather than dwelling on the loss, AJ created Amar as a thank-you to the cigar community that supported him. It debuted at PCA 2026.

Is there a hidden message on the Amar by AJ Fernandez?

Yes. Behind the main band, printed in what looks like handwriting and signed by AJ Fernández, are the words Gracias por tu apoyo con amor, meaning thank you for your support, with love. There is also a printed message under the gold foot band reading Signature Blend, The Gold Standard in Premium Cigars, Handmade in Nicaragua by AJ Fernández.

Who is the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto for?

It suits the slightly more experienced smoker, and it works well for anyone curious about fuller-bodied cigars. Sitting at medium on the border of full, it offers real depth and development without the weight of a heavier cigar, which makes it a good stepping stone toward full body.

How strong is the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto?

Medium on the border of full. It builds gradually across the smoke while staying balanced.

How long does the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto smoke?

Approximately 75 minutes at a comfortable pace.

What tobacco is in the Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto?

A Nicaraguan puro, with a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler, rolled at the San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua.

The Amar by AJ Fernandez Robusto was purchased independently. No compensation was received for this review. At VDG Cigars, no cigar is reviewed because of who makes it or who asked. Only because it deserves to be.

About the author: Peter Stefanic is the editor of VDG Cigars and a certified cigar sommelier. He has personally reviewed a wide range of cigars and conducted exclusive interviews with brand owners and master blenders across the industry. Every cigar he reviews is smoked in full and assessed on its own merits. Read more about him here.