Privada Cigar Club AJ Fernandez Scrooge Aged 2+ Years

Flavor Notes: Spicy honey, cedar, apricot, mocha, cinnamon fireball, cream, sesame oil Pairing Notes: Bourbon, apricot tea, Miller Lite, Fireball whiskey, caramel candies, Riesen chocolate, after spicy meals (avoid tomato-based foods) Manufacturer: AJ Fernandez Cigars (Nicaragua) Privada Storytelling April is that strange time between winter’s chill and summer’s scorch, when the rain feels like a reset. And what better way to mark the season than with a lancero that embodies both power and finesse? The AJ Fernandez Scrooge Aged 2+ Years is our quarterly nod to the lancero lovers out there, but this one carries a special weight. Crafted by the youngest-ever recipient of Cigar Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award, AJ Fernandez himself, this cigar shows why Nicaragua has claimed its throne as the modern cigar capital. The band art takes a nostalgic turn, reminding us of illustrated tales from childhood—ironic, given this cigar is anything but child’s play. It’s bold, deeply satisfying, and designed for the evening: the close of a long day, a hearty meal behind you, and a good whiskey in hand. This is the cigar you light when you want a moment to feel bigger than life, a reminder that tobacco is not just plant and paper—it’s story, memory, and mastery rolled together. Flavor Journey First Third: Opens with a surprising spicy honey note, accented by graham cracker sweetness, red pepper bite, apricot tang, and a hint of sesame seed oil. The retrohale pushes black pepper with a faint charcoal-like peatiness. Second Third: Cream and cedar dominate now, with mocha sliding in to enrich the texture. Red pepper remains persistent, balanced by apricot’s sharp fruitiness. A finish of cinnamon heat—like fireball candy—adds a playful kick. Final Third: Apricot resurfaces, entwined with black pepper, cream, and aged cedar. The profile closes with a deep, satisfying “cedar room” flavor, unique and unforgettable, like walking into a perfectly seasoned aging room. Why It Belongs in Privada Scrooge is more than a lancero—it’s proof of AJ Fernandez’s artistry, a window into the core of what makes Nicaraguan tobacco so revered worldwide. Aged two years to achieve perfect balance, it carries strength, sweetness, spice, and soul in every puff. This is the type of cigar that turns casual smokers into collectors and seasoned aficionados into believers.