Alfonso Anejo No.4

Summary

The Alfonso Añejo No.4 is a prominent vitola within the ultra-premium Añejos line from Selected Tobacco, a brand founded by Nelson Alfonso. These cigars are highly esteemed for their exquisite packaging and a rigorous aging process, which notably includes five years in both cedar and French oak aging rooms. This extensive aging is designed to create a truly luxurious and vintage smoking experience, setting a benchmark for quality, complexity, and extended enjoyment in the premium cigar market.

Specification

• Brand: Alfonso
• Line: Añejos No.4 / Extra Añejo No.4
• Size: No. 4 (Toro Extra / Gran Toro)
• Length: 6.75 inches
• Ring Gauge: 56
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
• Binder: Ecuadorian Connecticut
• Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero, Peruvian
• Strength: Medium to Full
• Origin: Costa Rica

Flavor Profile

The Alfonso Añejo No.4 delivers a profound and intricate flavor journey that evolves over its extended smoking time. Initial notes often include natural tobacco, creamy textures, cedar, black pepper, and a subtle hint of peanut. As the cigar progresses, the profile transitions to more pronounced cream and cedar, frequently accompanied by a pleasant berry sweetness on the finish. Further into the smoke, expect an intricate blend of pepper, caramel, sourdough, creamy dessert notes, and bready undertones. The influence of French oak aging introduces nuanced notes of honey, cherries, and a delightful vanilla sweetness, along with toasted nuts. Occasional citrus notes, reminiscent of lemon or honeysuckle, may appear. The retrohale typically presents a clear presence of cedar and black pepper. In the latter half, subtle hints of honey and graham cracker emerge, and the final third can bring a slight increase in strength while maintaining prominent wood and sweetness, with cherry undertones and a persistent buttery texture.

Construction

The Alfonso Añejo No.4 showcases impeccable construction, a hallmark of the Alfonso brand. Each cigar is solidly and flawlessly rolled, featuring a pristine, smooth, and often oily Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. Smokers can anticipate an excellent, consistent burn and a smooth draw, typically requiring minimal correction. The cigar produces a generous volume of thick, creamy smoke, ensuring a highly satisfying and even smoking experience from ignition to finish, which is particularly crucial for this larger format vitola. The construction and burn are consistently described as nearly flawless.

Pairing Suggestion

To best complement the rich and intricate flavors of the Alfonso Añejo No.4, consider pairing it with a medium roast coffee to accentuate its creamy and earthy notes. For those preferring spirits, an aged rum or a fine single malt Scotch whisky (such as a High West Midwinter Nights Dram) can elevate its complex profile, standing up robustly to the longer smoking duration. Alternatively, a sweet Moscato d'Asti offers a delightful counterpoint, enhancing the cigar's subtle sweetness and balancing its more robust characteristics over an extended period of enjoyment.