Aganorsa Leaf has been in the game for a while, I just didn’t know how much they were into it… until recently. While smoking a few of their cigars I decided to do some homework and, before I get to the review, here’s a bit of what I found out.

Originally named Casa Fernandez it was in 1998 that Eduardo Fernandez went to Nicaragua with a dream: to grow the finest tobacco in the world that captured the very essence of the Cuban cigars of old.  To do this, he traveled to Cuba and assembled a world class team of Cuban agronomists who worked at the highest levels of Cubatobaco, in many cases for over half a century, and brought them to Nicaragua.  These men oversaw the production of tobacco during the heyday of Cuban cigars, knew exactly the taste they were famous for, and recognized they could recreate the style and aroma of Cuban leaf using traditional Cuban methods in conjunction with the resources available to them in Nicaragua. The tobacco they cultivated is named Aganorsa Leaf as an acronym for his farm named Agricola Ganadera Norteña S.A.

As a vertically integrated company, Aganorsa Leaf oversees the entire production process—from seed to ash—guaranteeing every cigar consistently produces maximum pleasure. Every cigar rolled in their factories in Nicaragua and Miami is composed their highest grade Aganorsa Leaf, and is crafted under the watchful eye of Eduardo, his son Max, and their team of Cuban supervisors. When you smoke one of our world class blends, you will experience the difference between ordinary tobacco and Aganorsa Leaf. Try one today and taste the superior flavor of AGANORSA.

OK, on to why you’re really here, how was this cigar?

Visually the Signature Selection Maduro is a great looking cigar. The wrapper is dark brown in color with hints of red when the light hits it just right. Light veining and seams that you have to search to find. It has a soft velvet finish to it and the body feels dense. The cap cuts easily and creates no damage to the body. The smell offers aromas of hay, cedar and leather with these notes stronger at the foot. The preflight draw had earthy flavors and a hint of cocoa.

The first half tasted of chocolate, earth, and a white pepper finish. With a profile in the medium body range it’s a smooth smoking cigar. It provides plenty of pleasant smelling smoke that has a good weight to it, burns evenly and produces a light grey ash that holds on for about an inch.

The second half is where the fuller flavors start to come into focus. at this point it transitions into flavors of coffee and chocolate with a spicy pepper finish. While these flavors are full it never feels overwhelming and remains a easy smoking, medium bodied cigar. Then burn is nothing short of perfect and the smoke gets more heavy and dense as you smoke, filling the room with its aroma.

In the end I thought this was a great cigar to smoke and now wish I had picked up more than just a few. I grabbed the Belicoso size and but I’m sure each size is equally as good. After looking into the blend I found that for this cigar they are using medio tiempo, which is not only rare but, very rich in flavor. If I had to guess this is the secrete ingredient to rounding out the overall flavor f this smoke. From novice to expert this is a solid stick to try out. When you see these in your local B&M make sure to pick some up.

Wrapper – Nicaraguan Corojo

Binder – Nicaraguan

Filler – Nicaraguan

Don’t Forget Medio Tempo is added in there

Price: $10.00

Website: Aganorsaleaf.com

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 pints