Vitola: Robusto- 5” x 54 ring gauge
- MSRP $12.99
- Samples provided by local Aganorsa Leaf representative
Background
In 2018, the brand that had been known as Casa Fernandez started a major change-over in their naming and marketing. While the family name seemed a great way to brand a company at the time, another cigar maker with the same last name grew to ever-increasing prominence in the last decade or so, causing some confusion…so Aganorsa Leaf Cigars was born. The “Aganorsa” name had been used for some time, as well, but it now became the public-facing name of the company for all intents and purposes…and many of the lines began the process of changing over as well.
One of the last “Casa Fernandez” branded cigars they sold was the Aniversario line. This line had been growing by a vitola just about every year, with some sizes being retired along with way, as well. In 2021, the entire line was revamped as Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Corojo, available in 4 vitolas, including this new Robusto size that I’m looking at today.
The cigars are Nicaraguan puros, featuring all leaf grown by Aganorsa for their own use, crowned by one of their famous Nicaraguan Corojo wrappers. I’ve had at least two of these in the Robusto size before this review sample (as well as several others in various sizes over the years). This review sample was provided by my local Aganorsa Leaf rep.
Prelight
The old packaging was nice and elegant looking, but the new rendition steps it up a bit with a more elaborate artwork scheme in the silver foil embossed onto the white bands. The Aganorsa Leaf name and arm with fist holding a bunch of tobacco leaves logo are prominent. The use of the semi-opaque sheath on the cigar below the bands continues with just the type changing. It’s still elegant-looking…rich without looking like it’s trying too hard to be that way.
The wrapper leaf was a medium-dark brown color and extremely smooth to touch. Holding the cigar to my nose, I got rich, ripe earthiness and some woodiness on the wrapper, along with notes of hay, cedar, cocoa powder, and earth on the foot.
After clipping the head with a Xikar Xi straight cutter, I got a very good cold draw that had flavors of cedar and earth, with definite touches of semi-sweet chocolate and espresso bean.
Flavor
I fired up the Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Robusto and was greeted by that typical Corojo flavor of buttered popcorn, overlaying earth, dark fruit sweetness, and espresso bean. There was some black pepper on the finish and the retrohale was woody and nutty with more of a red pepper heat that dissipated very quickly. As I went through the first third, more flavor of toasted wood came through on the palate, pushing the popcorn and dark fruit notes down in the mix, while leaving ample earth and coffee.
The second third had the toasted wood notes coming on even stronger with a solid earthiness underneath. The buttered popcorn note from the Corojo leaf was still hanging on slightly and every now and then I would get some dark fruit sweetness mixed with coffee.
I got more earth and coffee coming through on the last third, along with a resurgence of sweetness in the form of dark chocolate and more pepper on the last third. Toasted wood was still strong in the mix, too.
Construction
I had a very good draw, even burn line, and solid ash throughout.
Value
This is billed as Aganorsa’s most premium cigar and it still sits in the low-to-middle part of the $10-20 range, which represents outstanding value.
Conclusions
The Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Corojo Robusto is a great addition to a lineup that was already very nice. I prefer the Lancero with its smaller ring gauge, but this is a great option to get a little more earth and wood in the profile. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys Aganorsa’s excellent catalog of cigars, but especially if you like their Corojo wrapper leaf.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
