It was back in 2010 when AJ Fernandez Cigars made its debut at the IPCPR Trade Show launching the San Lotano line. Now seven years later, the San Lotano line had an all-new look at the 2017 IPCPR Trade Show.
The San Lotano brand is named for a Cuban brand made by AJ Fernandez’s grandfather prior to the revolution. The new art work reflects imagery from the Cuban town of San Luis, where Fernandez’s grandfather lived. The packaging was also set up to be more friendly when it comes to having to comply with FDA regulations regarding warning labels.
The San Lotano Requiem Connecticut received brown boxes:
The San Lotano Requiem Habano and Maduro boxes have a green color:
Both the San Lotano Oval and San Lotano Oval Maduro feature off-white packaging.
Finally, the San Lotano Bull boxes are red in color:
Photo Credit: Developing Palates
The bands are of each of the six blends of San Lotano are unique and match the box color.
Photo Credit: A.J. Fernandez Cigars
As for the blends, the company has said all remain the same.
Photo Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted
WENT INTO MY CIGAR SHOP LAST WEEK TO PICK UP A BOX OF SAN LOTANO CIGARS AND AS NORMAL THE OWNER KNOWS WHAT I LIKE AND HANDED ME A GREEN BOX. OHTER THAN THE CHANGE IN THE BOX AND THE WRAPPER I WAS TOLD THE CIGAR WAS THE SAME BUT IT WAS NOT THE SAME! THIS IS NOT THE CIGAR I’VE ENJOYED FOR YEARS, NOT THE TORO HAB I’VE GROWN TO LOVE. THE FEEL OF THE CIGAR WAS PERFECT, THE SMELL OF THE WRAPPER WAS NOT THE SAME. THE ROLL WAS NOT AS TIGHT, IT SMOKED LIKE A CHEAP ROLLED UP JUNK SMOKE! THE HEAT GOES RIGHT STRIGHT THROUGH BURNING WITH HEAT LEAVING A TASTE OF BURNING GRASS.
REGARDS
GLENN EDMONSON
I totally agree, San Lotano Habano was my absolute go to…now this green box requiem seems like a totally different blend. Did your whole box dissapoint or did you find any similarities?
I agree I think it has changed but I still love it great burn, great taste
100% agree with above two replies. SAN LOTANO OVAL MADURO was my FAVORITE cigar. I’ve smoked over 50 of them (old wrapper)…. tried out this new wrapper version released in 2017… and garbage. Garbage. Garbage. Flavor was mostly the same but quality of the tobacco was horrible. Still have a bad taste in my mouth from it. I’m so let down by my favorite cigar smoker. My mistake was I bought 10 of these with the new wrapper. I regret it. I’d be willing to buy the old wrapper version but CMON MR FERNANDEZ WHAT IS THIS CRAP?! He had to of been aware of this change. And didn’t bother letting the consumer know. This reduces Mr Fernadez’s credibility and reputation significantly in my eyes. With this cigar in the light, talk about riches to rags for the San lotano line. Two thumbs down!!!
Thank you for the update! Was curious @ these stoges. Unfortunately their is a lot of change in the industry. Too much IMHO.
AJ is a good blender but doesn’t have the last call when $$$ is involved. He’s paid to do a job. The conglomerate companies that are taken over establish the Brand. Ex Rocky Patel with all his cigars he puts out I don’t like a single one. I’ve ben smoking cigars over 25 yrs. I noticed these changes back when Perdomo green label Habano did the same thing. They kept the band but switched tobacco. Bait & switch. So we the consumer as you said get the short version. Crap!!! Not to take away from Rocky or Perdomo. They are established no question. But when too many changes happen the recipe and consumer can feel it.
I sincerely Thank You Gentlemen for your HONEST reviews. I WAS planning to purchase a box of
“My Favorite” maduros the Oval Maduro. Disappointed to read the blend was changed. Many companies have done the same w/o notifying Us the Connoisseur. CAO did the same with Brazilia. I cannot Thank You enough.
Yep, purchased a box of the S.L. Bull Toro and box of Bull Torpedo With the New Packaging over 6 months ago.
Quite Frankly they S—K. Unbelievably poor quality. Nothing like the S.L. Bull I had been smoking for years.
Only due to the fact that I had smoked countless numbers of the original version did I pull the trigger on the
box purchases. only good news is I got em on a 1/2 off deal bring the cost down to less that $3.75 a cigar
I will save em to smoke when I wanna just burn a cigar for a few puffs. One of the few A.J. Cigars that are
terrible. For now, his Enclave (original not broadleaf which is also substandard for A.J) is my go-to A.J. Smoke