AJ Fernandez's status

NightHawk

With all the popularity AJ has gotten among the online community, do you guys think he is still considered a boutique cigar manufactuer? Or is the label boutique more for individual brands/blends?

sightunseen

I consider the term "boutique" to be a function of volume, not necessarily popularity. Compared to General or Altadis, AJ is still definitely boutique.

lilwing88

......thought you were wondering if he was "single". With all the man-love for AJ on this forum, is it wrong????

sightunseen

lilwing88:

......thought you were wondering if he was "single". With all the man-love for AJ on this forum, is it wrong????

If it's wrong, then I don't want to be right.

sol1821

i wonder if Alex could hook AJ up with an account here

The Sniper

sol1821:

i wonder if Alex could hook AJ up with an account here

THAT would be badass - a chance to get some insight from the man himself would be priceless!

Krieg

sol1821:

i wonder if Alex could hook AJ up with an account here

im sure he could...question is...would he post?

cabinetmaker

Krieg:

sol1821:

i wonder if Alex could hook AJ up with an account here

im sure he could...question is...would he post?

I'm against this. I want him making cigars, not posts...

j0z3r

I seem to recall Alex saying that AJ's English isn't very good, so I doubt he would post, or, that if he did post, that we would understand. I'm with cabi, let the guy focus on blending and producing top quality cigars and Alex can be the update man.

Alex Svenson

j0z3r:

I seem to recall Alex saying that AJ's English isn't very good, so I doubt he would post, or, that if he did post, that we would understand. I'm with cabi, let the guy focus on blending and producing top quality cigars and Alex can be the update man.

He actually doesnt speak any english. Only "good smoke", "good flavor" and "thank you". that is one of the reasons I stick to his hip at events, he often needs help translating. His partner Kris Kachaturian speaks 5 languages though and is also with him at all events. That guy is a great guy also. If you ever get to an AJ event, be sure to meet kris. A tremendously generous and pleasant individual. He and abdel are like father and son.

bigharpoon

Alex Svenson:

j0z3r:

I seem to recall Alex saying that AJ's English isn't very good, so I doubt he would post, or, that if he did post, that we would understand. I'm with cabi, let the guy focus on blending and producing top quality cigars and Alex can be the update man.

He actually doesnt speak any english. Only "good smoke", "good flavor" and "thank you".

What else is there to say? That pretty much covers it...

fla-gypsy

Any guy that speaks 5 languages is a freaking genius in my book

Alex Svenson

To the question at hand, it all depends on what people think of as boutique. the largest brand owners that own all of their own production are General, Altadis, Davidoff, Fuente and Drew Estate and Oliva are probably tied for 5th. If you count plasencia and all the brands he makes, he would probably be top 3 but not many people think of him as he is 100% contract work for other brands. Abdel is the same way. 99% of his production is contract for other people. His only brand is San Lotano which is still very small. Conversely, General, Altadis, Davidoff, Fuente, Drew and Oliva are the opposite with maybe only 5% of their production for other customers. Two very different models. Still, Abdel is maybe only half the size of Oliva in terms of annual production so by any standard, still a small player. Even in Nicaragua in terms of annual production abdel ranks around 5th. The good thing about cigars though is that it is quality over quantity.

ejenne87

fla-gypsy:

Any guy that speaks 5 languages is a freaking genius in my book

No kidding! I learned French in high school and the Army attempted to teach me Russian. Let's just say it's hard to understand me when I've been drinking... I ramble and slur in three languages after a few

xmacro

ejenne87:

fla-gypsy:

Any guy that speaks 5 languages is a freaking genius in my book

No kidding! I learned French in high school and the Army attempted to teach me Russian. Let's just say it's hard to understand me when I've been drinking... I ramble and slur in three languages after a few

rofl. I took some Japanese in college and am currently trying to learn Spanish; every time I don't know a phrase in spanish, for some reason, I substitute japanese in without really thinking about it. I get some strange looks :P

ejenne87

xmacro:

ejenne87:

fla-gypsy:

Any guy that speaks 5 languages is a freaking genius in my book

No kidding! I learned French in high school and the Army attempted to teach me Russian. Let's just say it's hard to understand me when I've been drinking... I ramble and slur in three languages after a few

rofl. I took some Japanese in college and am currently trying to learn Spanish; every time I don't know a phrase in spanish, for some reason, I substitute japanese in without really thinking about it. I get some strange looks :P

My Russian teacher used to throw stuff at me cuz I did that so much! Now, I can't even tell the difference half the time.