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Vitola: Robusto - 5” x 52 ring gauge
- MSRP $9.95
- Purchased at Burns Tobacconist
Background
In December 2019, word began to filter down that Aganorsa Leaf had a new project that would be released at TPE 2020 (Tobacco Products Expo…that other cigar trade show…and the one that might end up getting most of the attention if the RTDA/IPCPR/PCA doesn’t watch out). Supreme Leaf was to be a blend of all Aganorsa-sourced Nicaraguan tobaccos that would be heavy on the Corojo ’99 leaf.
They didn’t say exactly how many the run would be limited to, but it was described as “limited production” and they are packaged 10 to a box. They shipped in late February, debuting at a couple of cigar events, one of which was at the Scenic City Cigar Club, which meets at Burns Tobacconist’s Downtown location. I got to smoke a couple Supreme Leafs that night and bought a box for later. Since then I’ve smoked one of the sticks from that box, so this review sample is my fourth one.
I sourced news from Cigar-Coop.
Prelight
Much was made about how the box and band used “a bold and assertive look that demands the consumer’s attention on the shelf.” I’m going to agree with the box and say it looks good in orange and purple, with the logo and blend name rendered in gold foil. On the other hand, the band looks kind of basic and cheap. I think they were aiming for simple and elegant here, but they really missed…look at their Signature Selection to see how it can be done much better, at least in my opinion. Really, almost every band they have in their catalog is more attractive than this one to me.
Moving on to the tobacco itself, the wrapper leaf was a medium-brown color with a little darker variation near the seams. It had a smooth and slightly oily feel to it and smelled of wet forest floor and natural tobacco. The foot was mostly closed, with the wrapper folded over it, but it still had a slightly stronger earthiness, along with a touch of sweetness.
I put a straight cut on the cigar and got a good prelight draw, hampered a bit by the closed foot. Cold flavors were of bell pepper, hay, leather, and a mild red pepper flake on my lips.
Flavor
A friend of mine suggested that Aganorsa’s Corojo leaf had a buttered popcorn flavor a while back. Ever since then, I taste it. With this blend heavy on the Corojo, there was plenty of it at the outset, along with cedar and earth as secondary notes, and a very nice amount of pepper spice at the finish. The retrohale had roasted peanuts and lots more red pepper.
As I got into the second third, the popcorn note faded a bit, replaced by charred wood up front with earth still coming in strongly behind, and some bell pepper in there with the red pepper on the finish.
The last third of Supreme Leaf had cedar up front with earth and char coming in as secondary notes. Pepper spice had faded to almost nothing, but there was a nice sweetness taking its place on the finish.
Construction
I had a good draw, vey even burn line and solid ash.
Value
Very good cigar for a very fair price, so solid value.
Conclusions
Supreme Leaf is a very good addition to the Aganorsa Leaf catalog, although it falls into the mid-range of cigars that I enjoy from them, right about the same level as the Aganorsa Leaf Habano.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
