Originally released in 2016, the Aganorsa Leaf JFR Lunatic Torch line was revamped in 2020. The company decided to use a Corojo ’99 wrapper from Jalapa and a double binder and fillers from Esteli and Jalapa. All leaf used in this Nicaraguan puro were grown on Aganorsa farms. In addition to the updated blend the Aganorsa Leaf Lunatic Torch features revamped bands, that the company felt were more in line with the rest of the JFR line. For a point of information, JFR stands for “Just For Retailers“.
The full blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Nicaraguan Corojo ‘99 (Jalapa)
- Binder – Nicaraguan (Esteli and Jalapa)
- Filler – Nicaraguan (Esteli and Jalapa)
The Aganorsa Leaf JFR Lunatic Torch is expressed in 3 vitolas:
- Visionaries (6 1/2 x 52) – MSRP $9.99
- Dreamlands (6 1/2 x 60) – MSRP $10.50
- Mad Folk (4 3/4 by 70) – MSRP $10.50
For this review, I sampled two JFR Lunatic Torch Dreamlands, which I purchased from Tailored Smoke – Concord, NC as part of my keep the lights on mission in 2020.
Pre-Light Examination
The JFR Lunatic Torch Dreamlands is a bulky medium brown cigar that has some significant mottling through the wrapper. The wrapper is light on veins and is smooth to the touch. The cigar feels solidly packed and is heavy in the hand. Aganorsa Leaf chose to finish it with a shaggy (exposed binder) foot and a well applied triple cap.
Two bands adorn the cigar. The primary band uses a dark blue, gold, and white motif and boldly displays the name “Lunatic” in white on a dark blue circle bordered in gold and it notes “Nicaragua” in gold below. The secondary band is placed just below the primary and uses a dark blue and gold motif. It declares this as the “Torch” line and includes the company logo and and name “Aganorsa Leaf”.
I used my CigarMedics HumidiMeter to check the moisture content and got a reading of 68% – perfect to fire it up.
Running the Lunatic Torch across the nose, I detected a lightly pungent barrel along notes of naturally sweet tobacco and vanilla bean off the foot.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder and proceeded to take some cold draw puffs that were nicely restricted for a large ring gauge cigar and offered notes of mild spice and a touch of earth.
With the pre-light much to my liking, I reached for my triple flame torch to to get the journey started. The shaggy foot took to the heat quickly and delivered an initial peppery spice to the palate. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Slight pepper hit on the first puffs
- Medium grey ash forms on a thick wavy char line
- Full volume of smoke
- Creamy and mouth watering citrus notes enter as the pepper pulls back
- Ash fell early with rather flat burn cone
- A pleasant nut flavor enters to join the cream
- Slight off burn develops that eventually requires a precision touch up with my single flame torch
- Natural sweetness joins the well balance early array of notes
- Profile shifts to more of a spice dominance midway
- Another off burn developed that required yet another touchup
- Dry cocoa powder mixes with the spice near the end of the second third
- Sweet nut aroma has been filling the air for quite a good part of the journey
- Spice has evolved in cinnamon down to the nub
- Medium Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 2 hours and 10 Minutes
Overall, the Aganorsa Leaf JFR Lunatic Torch Dreamlands delivered a well balanced array of flavors and aromas through the journey. The pre-light sweetness kept the journey pleasurable with added notes of spice and nuances of nut, cream, cocoa, and citrus. It did have a number of off burns that required multiple touch-ups to keep the burn straight. This is a cigar that could be enjoyed anytime of the day and I would suggest picking up a fiver of these. I rate the Aganorsa Leaf JFR Lunatic Torch Dreamlands an 89.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Flat Ash Cone; (-1) Off Burn; (-2) Multiple Touch-ups
