Vitola: Visionaries (Toro)- 6.5” x 52 ring gauge
- MSRP $9.99
- Purchased at Burns Tobacconist
Background
It’s been over 2 years since I first looked at the JFR Lunatic Torch by Aganorsa Leaf. At the time it was a single-size, very limited distribution blend that we had been lucky enough to receive at Burns Tobacconist in Chattanooga, where I worked at the time. I flat-out loved the blend and the size, although the packaging was a little lackluster. When they announced it was going away, I was very sad. This year, the Lunatic Torch came back around, although not in the original Churchill size.
The Aganorsa Leaf website still shows the original Torch but the blend should remain the same: all Aganorsa-grown Nicaraguan leaf, with a Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 wrapper grown in Jalapa, as well as dual binders from Estleí and Jalapa. This time there are 3 sizes, all of which are larger in ring gauge than the original release. Visionaries (what I’m smoking today) is a 6.5 x 52 ring gauge Toro. Dreamlands is a 6.5 x 60, and Mad Folk is a 4.75 x 70. They all retail for $10.50 or less.
I’ve been smoking these whenever possible since they came back to the store’s shelves. I started with the 70 ring version since that was all they had, but when the Toro came in, I bought several and managed to save one for this review.
Prelight
The packaging is much better than the first time around. The shredded tobacco-leaf-lined box of the original was interesting, but messy to have around a shop. This time they used more-or-less standard boxes with hinged lids and fairly plain wood. The bands are better, following after the Lunatic Loco banding style, but with gold trim instead of silver. There is a secondary band here that reads “TORCH” and has the Aganora Leaf logo. Overall, it’s a much better look.
The wrapper leaf was a medium brown with a decidedly reddish tint and a smooth oiliness. I got notes of earth and cedar from it. The foot was richer and more complex with barnyard earthiness, coffee bean, and semisweet chocolate aromas.
After clipping the head, the draw was excellent and I got cold flavors of buttered popcorn, earth, cedar, and just a hint of something mildly sweet.
Flavor
Firing up the Lunatic Torch is always easy due to the signature shaggy foot. The slightly looser bunching of leaf at the foot makes ignition faster and easier, while also allowing you to taste what the filler/binder bunch tastes like without wrapper influence. This started off very cedary with notes of earth and pepper spice on the palate and nose. The shag on these new Torch vitolas is not as pronounced as on the original release, so you really only get a couple minutes before the wrapper is burning, and that changes the flavor profile. The wrapper added a tremendous amount of sweetness to the mix, mostly in molasses and floral notes. Pepper spice backed off on the palate, while remaining strong on the nose. Cedar moved slightly into the background. I continued to get cedar and spice, wrapped up in modestly sweet floral smoke for the rest of the first third.
As I made my way through the second third, I got more charred wood and earthy notes, with pepper and the sweeter floral notes backing off a bit.
The last third was a nice mix of floral and wood note with earth as a constant undercurrent. There was very little pepper at this point.
Construction
I had a great draw, very even burn line, and a solid ash.
Value
Sadly, with the larger ring gauges, and passage of more time, the pricing went up a bit since the last time I reviewed them. It’s still an outstanding value, though, because the blend is so good.
Conclusions
I am very happy to see this blend back on the shelves, although disappointed that they went with 52 as the smallest ring gauge. I felt like the original Churchill size delivered a better overall experience, even though this one was delicious and worth smoking over and over again. I’ve heard good things about the 60 and the 70 was not bad, but I won’t be smoking it again just because it took forever to get through. Very good Nicaraguan puro showcasing the quality of Aganorsa tobacco…now if they would just do it in a smaller ring gauge…
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
