The collaboration between Altadis U.S.A. and master blender A.J. Fernandez is one of the most significant partnerships in the modern cigar industry. Altadis, which owns the non-Cuban rights to “Heritage” brands like Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta, leveraged Fernandez’s Nicaraguan expertise to revitalize these historic names with bolder, more contemporary profiles.
Below is a summary of their most notable collaborations and the impact they’ve had on the market.
Key Collaboration Brands
1. Montecristo
The Montecristo collaborations are often credited with bringing a “boutique” feel to a massive heritage brand.
- Montecristo Crafted by AJ Fernandez: One of the earliest and most popular entries, known for a dark, oily Mexican San Andrés wrapper and a rich, spicy-sweet profile.
- Montecristo Nicaragua Series: This became a core line addition, featuring 100% Nicaraguan tobacco. It is designed to be more powerful and complex than the traditional Montecristo White or Classic lines.
- Monte by Montecristo AJ Fernandez: A robust, box-pressed offering that focuses on a more intense, chocolatey, and peppery experience.
2. H. Upmann
These releases helped redefine H. Upmann as a brand capable of delivering “full-bodied” Nicaraguan strength.
- H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez: Features an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper and has received high critical acclaim (multiple 90+ ratings). It is known for notes of roasted nuts, cedar, and sweet spice.
- H. Upmann Nicaragua Heritage by AJ Fernandez: A more recent addition using a triple-fermented Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper, offering a deep, earthy, and complex profile.
3. Romeo y Julieta
Fernandez helped move this brand away from its “mild-to-medium” reputation toward something more adventurous.
- Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua: A bolder version of the best-selling Reserva Real, crafted entirely at Fernandez’s Tabacalera AJ Fernandez factory in Estelí.
- Romeo San Andrés by Romeo y Julieta: A collaboration utilizing a dark San Andrés wrapper to provide a rugged, savory alternative to the standard Romeo line.
4. Trinidad & Aging Room
- Trinidad Espiritu: A series designed to celebrate different Latin American tobacco cultures (Series No. 1 for Nicaragua, No. 2 for Brazil, No. 3 for Mexico), co-blended by AJ Fernandez and Rafael Nodal (of Aging Room/Altadis).
- Aging Room Blue Amber (New for 2025/2026): A high-end project between Rafael Nodal and Fernandez, utilizing rare Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos to celebrate the brand’s 15th anniversary.