The Whisper That Sang: Alfonso Extra Añejo No. 3

Alfonso Añejo No. 3 — A Review by The Retrohale

The Alfonso Añejo No. 3 is a 6.5 x 52 Toro Extra cigar crafted by Selected Tobacco under the meticulous eye of Nelson Alfonso, the visionary behind Atabey and Byron. Rolled at Tabacos de Costa Rica, it features an elegant Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper over a rare Peruvian binder, with filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Medium in strength and rich in finesse, the Añejo No. 3 is a limited-production cigar that delivers complexity without sacrificing its refined core. Though it remains difficult to find in many local shops, this under-the-radar masterpiece quietly asserts itself as one of the most polished and dignified shade-wrapped cigars in the ultra-premium category.

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Pre-Light Impressions:

Right away, the presentation is striking. The dual-color band, seemingly two separate labels, reveals itself to be a single, conjoined band—just one of many thoughtful design details. The wrapper is a light golden Connecticut shade, smooth with minimal seams and a soft sheen. A dry cedar aroma is present off the foot, matched by an incredibly clean but firm cold draw—sweet, maybe even floral. The whole cigar evokes a sense of restrained promise.

First Third:

From the first puffs, the Alfonso Añejo speaks in a soft voice—whispers of refined smoke that float like petals. Floral notes lead, subtle and complex, possibly magnolia or jasmine. There’s a dash of sweetness, but only just—like a toasted marshmallow gently kissed by oak embers, caramelized rather than scorched. On the retrohale, there’s the faintest pinch of white pepper, more a suggestion than a presence. This third is a masterclass in elegance: refined, delicate, and patient. As ambient jazz floated through the room, the cigar’s cadence felt perfectly aligned—restrained, balanced, lyrical.

Second Third:

A transition begins with a noticeable lift in strength, though the profile remains elegant. The floral qualities linger, but a toasty element begins to sing louder—warm, oak-driven, and almost musky in its grounding. The marshmallow sweetness reappears occasionally, never cloying, and now accented by a texture more akin to roasted nuts, though elusive. The smoke feels fuller—no longer wispy, but not yet creamy. Instead, the term “refined resonance” feels apt. Like a string softly humming after being plucked, the flavors gently vibrate and fade across the palate. The aftertaste is warming, like a good scotch—lingering not in flavor but in presence. The structure has become more defined, the song clearer, the spotlight brighter.

Final Third:

This last movement is a swelling crescendo. Oak emerges as the dominant voice, resolute and earthy. The retrohale grows thicker and stronger—clean, yes, but with a touch of bite, like the burn of toasted bread or the warmth of a gently cracking fire. The smoke thickens perceptibly, even as the flavor deepens. There’s still sweetness, but it’s matured—less floral now, more like dry red wine kissed with wood spice. The cognac I'm sipping, once overwhelming in contrast, now sits below the Alfonso, letting the cigar shine. The profile isn’t aggressive, but it is commanding—like a final bow after a quiet yet unforgettable performance.

As the last ash tumbles to the garage floor—another splash in the white mosaic of memory—the cigar coasts toward its end. The power eases off, the tone softens, and you can almost feel the wind in your hair as the journey slows to a graceful halt.

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Closing Thoughts:

The Alfonso Añejo No. 3 is a study in grace. For those who think they know Connecticut wrappers, this cigar might gently, but firmly, challenge that understanding. It opens like a whisper, blooms like a rose, and finishes with the confident poise of a maestro’s final note. Less known than its cousins in the Atabey and Byron lines, the Alfonso is, for now, a well-kept secret—but one worth sharing.

Smoking the Alfonso Añejo No. 3 after the Davidoff Winston Churchill Limited Edition 2025 felt like stepping from a refined chamber hall into the hush of a solitary aria. The Davidoff played like chamber music—structured, elegant, deeply harmonic—while the Alfonso began as a whisper, a petal-soft murmur that slowly gathered strength and color. It bloomed quietly, then boldly, until its voice rang clear and sweet, like a soloist in a sunlit cathedral. Each cigar, in its own way, illuminated the other’s virtues, revealing that beauty lives not only in strength or subtlety, but in the grace of their unfolding.

The Retrohale Score: A (94)

Graceful, elegant, and deeply resonant with a whisper-soft opening that blooms into a commanding, unforgettable finale.