During the 2018 IPCPR, one of the big announcements was the rebranding of Casa Fernández to AGANORSA Leaf. Not all cigars in the portfolio were quickly rebranded. The limited edition Casa Fernández Aniversario did not get it’s rebranding until June of last year (3 years later). The company received excellent feedback on the blend and late in 2021 they added two additional vitolas to the line, that originally included just one vitola – the 109 Maduro.
- 109 Maduro (6 1/4 x 54) – MSRP $13.09
- Short Churchill (5 3/8 x 48) – MSRP$13.75
- Toro (6 x 54) – MSRP $13.75
The each size comes packaged in 10-count boxes with the 109 limited to 250 boxes and the additional sizes limited to 1,000 and 1,500 boxes respectively.
The AGANORSA Leaf Aniversario Maduro Nicaraguan Puro blend is described simply as:
- Wrapper: Nicaragua (Corojo Maduro)
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
All vitolas are hand rolled at the company’s Casa Fernández Miami factory.
Pre-Light Examination
The AGANORSA Leaf Aniversario Maduro toro is a crisp box pressed cigar that sports a dark brown and slightly veiny and marbled wrapper. Closer examination I noted the slight reddish tinge in the leaf. The wrapper has a smooth feel to the touch and exhibits a solid packing of leaf. I found no soft spots along the barrel. A triple cap and semi closed foot finishes the presentation.
The cigar, like its two other brethren in the line, is heavily adorned, starting with a large vellum outer sleeve that brands this an AGANORSA Leaf Nicaragua product. Placed just above the sleeve is a secondary band that display silver coins on a white background and then the primary band, using the same silver and white motif, declares it as the AGANORSA Leaf Aniversario.
Once I slid the outer sleeve off, I ran the barrel along the nose and detected a lightly sweet and floral aroma which was similar to what I got from the foot.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I felt was decent, albeit a tad on the tighter side. The draw offered notes of growing pungent earthiness and pepper.
I moved onto lighting this one up using my double flame torch lighter. As I warmed the foot to an even orange glow, I drew in the first puffs of of a heavy burst of peppery smoke. Follow along as I burn the AGANORSA Leaf Aniversario Maduro Toro to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial puffs offer a heavy peppery burst of smoke
- A slight metallic note joins the early profile
- Medium volume of smoke filled the palate
- White ash forms on top of a crisp thin char line
- Earthy notes begin to evolve
- Cinnamon aroma wafts off the foot
- Just a mild wave in the burn
- Caramel notes sweeten and balance the blend
- Smoke Volume opens up to more full
- Ash fell in a decent chunk, revealing a flat but centered burn cone
- Dark Chocolate notes add to the caramel delight, deep in the second third
- Aroma shifts to a syrupy note
- There was not much additional development in the final third but still delivered the pleasant notes I was already experiencing
- Medium to Full in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
I found the AGANORSA Leaf Aniversario Maduro Toro to be a pleasant smoking experience with a decent flavor profile that was fairly well balanced and transitioned well. It was not overly complex and the flavors slowed in evolution as it moved into the final third but were still pleasing to the palate. It did have a slight metallic note early in the burn but that gave way after the first half inch or so. With a medium to full strength, this is a cigar I would smoke mid-day. I say it is worth picking up a fiver and I rate it a 90.
Point Deductions: (-1) Minor Wave in Burn; (-1) Flat but Centered Burn Cone; (-1) Metallic Notes early in the Burn; (-1) Tad Tight on the Cold Draw
