Cigars

Rare Leaf by Aganorsa Leaf
AGANORA RARE LEAF

First; I have been a big fan of Aganorsa Leaf for years, even before when the company was Casa Fernandez. I feel honored and humbled to share these next few moments with you in regards to this dynamite creation. 

When one thinks of rare leaf, what comes to mind? Well, that’s exactly what I typed into my search engine and you know what popped up? Two topics to be specific; mind altering plants AND the four leaf clover. In fact, there was a question that happened to appear in my search “what is the rarest leaf?” Answer: The Four Leaf Clover Collections and to be documented that the most leaves found on a clover stem was 56 found in Japan. But this article is not being typed up for you to learn about clovers, yet; this article will in fact assist in broadening your horizons AND maybe learn something new today in regards to this absolutely fine cigar by Aganorsa Leaf named “Rare Leaf”. 

It’s always nice when you have that moment to enjoy a tasty cigar. It’s even nicer when you have enjoyed that tasty cigar and then learn about the dedication that goes into making it. Which is why it gives me great joy to share my experience with you and learn about what serious dedication that not only goes into the process of day to day operations within Aganorsa Leaf BUT the utmost quality that Aganorsa Leaf produces within this “Rare Leaf” for YOU to enjoy. 

“First you crawl, then you walk, and then you run. It’s a process you can’t skip or else it comes back to haunt you” spoken from Eduardo Fernandez, owner of Aganorsa leaf. The man who had a dream and followed his dream; in 1998 his dream had become a reality. In 2021 Aganorsa Leaf introduced another reality into this world, the release of a new line of cigars named “Rare Leaf Reserve”. As the Name indicates, it is a line to showcase some of Aganorsa’s low-yield tobaccos. Typically when a blend uses a significant amount of low yield tobaccos, it will be limited. But for the Rare Leaf Reserve, Aganorsa Leaf wanted to showcase some of its rarer tobaccos as an ongoing production. In order to do this, the Rare Leaf Reserve was made available to retailers that are a part of the “Aganorsa Select” program. 

There are two tobacco crops that Aganorsa Leaf is known for; Corojo ‘99 and Criollo ’98. Over the past few years, it is the Corojo ’99 that has gotten much of the attention. The blend for the Rare Leaf Reserve is described as being predominantly Criollo ’98. The blend consists of 100% Aganorsa farm-grown tobacco. “A constant challenge is utilizing tobaccos to create blends which are outstanding expressions of our signature flavor and aroma while still producing them in quantities viable to sustain production consistently rather than just as one time limited editions or available only sporadically throughout the year,” said Terence Reilly, Aganorsa Leaf’s VP of sales and marketing “Rare leaf will be the first project using selections of our leaf in short supply that will be maintained in regular production. In order to achieve this, Rare Leaf will be available only to our Aganorsa Leaf Select Retail partners.” 

Lets get into this Aganorsa Café Nicaraguan wrapper, Criollo ’98 double binder, Criollo ’98 with a touch of Corojo’99 dubbed the “Rare Leaf Reserve”. After taking a few dry draws I discovered my palate was picking up a bakers chocolate, some dried fig with a hint of cedar notes. Not a bad profile (for me) to pick up before lighting up. Upon light up; immediately a full strength of flavor came through, not a super strong smack you in the head kind of strength but a very robust, swirling notes of salted milk chocolate, white/black peppers, and cinnamon. Certainly wasn’t expecting the explosion of goodness right off the rip but definitely peeked my curiosity to say “WOW, what’s next” 

The first 1/3rd calms down and settles in to a nice bakers spice profile with some dried dates, toasted walnuts, cocoa, and a super subtle hint of dried cherries . Very smooth, consistent, exactly what you would hope for on the start of an amazing journey. The second 1/3rd stayed consistent with certain profiles like milk chocolate, dried dates, cinnamon, nutmeg, with a very light cedar taste coming through. During this second 1/3rd session I did run into some tunneling issues, nothing that had taken away from the complete enjoyment of my experience, through my years of smoking cigars I’ve learned a few tricks to fix such issues without altering the cigars taste or construction. With that said, problem was fixed; a few touch ups with my single flame touch and moving on to the last 1/3rd of the cigar. Some notes that came back around were the hints of white and black peppers. I want to take a second to express what I mean when I say “White and Black” peppers. For me; white pepper has that soft subtle almost creamy kind of peppery taste, yet; black pepper, well, most of us know that profile of black pepper and I will say that I get more white pepper profiles then black pepper but that spice of the black pepper still lets my palate know what I’m experiencing. Continuing on my journey, I will say that some nice dark rich chocolate and molasses came through which was adding to the nice finish of this Rare Leaf Reserve cigar. 

There is currently three different sizes and come in boxes of 15 that are offered: Titan (6×60) $12.10, Toro (6×54) $11.50, Robusto (5 ¼ x 52) $10.99. So, your step is to find your nearest “Aganorsa Select” brick and mortar shop and pick yourself up one, two, or a box! You will not be disappointed! And I’ll leave you with another inspirational quote from the Owner of Aganorsa Leaf Eduardo Fernandez “Along the way, people say that it can’t be done… America taught me that it can be done.”

Wrapper –  Nicaraguan Jalapa

Binder – Nicaraguan Criollo

Filler – Nicaraguan

Website: www.aganorsaleaf.com

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 pints.

Drew Estate Expands Availability of Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo
Drew Estate Liga Privada H99

Drew Estate’s prized Liga Privada H99 (Hybrid 99) Connecticut Corojo is now available as a regular production cigar exclusively to qualifying Drew Diplomat Program participants.

While all Liga Privada cigars have limited production capacity due to the rarity of the tobacco leaves used in each of the offerings, the magnificent capa leaves from the Connecticut River Valley that stand as the hallmark for each Liga Privada expression remain by far the most difficult component to procure. This has been especially true for Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo. 

Just one Connecticut River Valley farmer cultivates Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo’s capa leaf, a hybrid derived from Stalk-Cut Habano and Connecticut Corojo tobaccos that’s grown exclusively for Drew Estate. Since introducing Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo cigars in 2018, Drew Estate has only periodically released small batches of them due to the rarity of the capa leaf. Working alongside this farmer, we planted more H99 hybrid tobacco every growing season, and we have steadily aged and stockpiled this precious leaf. We are ramping up Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo’s production, and it is now regularly available to all qualifying Drew Diplomat Program partners and their customers.

Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo’s capa leaf is naturally sweet and contrasts perfectly with the robust spiciness of the Mexican San Andres Otapan Negro Último Corte capote and the dense earthy notes from the well-aged blend of Nicaraguan, Honduran and Pennsylvania Green River One Sucker tripa tobaccos. These cigars offer complex earth, leather and espresso notes, which dance on the palate in a luxurious and deceptively full-bodied smoking experience that builds with every puff and climaxes in an attention-grabbing finish.

“The H99 Connecticut Corojo is the triumphant result of hybridity, including traits of … dysfunction, functionality, flexibility, adaptability, survival, replicability, and most importantly procreation,” says Drew Estate Founder and President, Jonathan Drew. “In all my 26 years of experience as a tobacco man, I have never witnessed a tobacco hybridization with the depth and body of this Stalk-Cut Habano and Connecticut Corojo leaf. It’s nice to walk into the storage area at the factory and finally see some bales aged and stacked up, ready for production. Get your lighters ready … let’s burn.”

Available exclusively at qualifying Drew Diplomat Program participants, Liga Privada H99 Connecticut is packaged in 24-count boxes with an MSRP of $382.80/box and $15.95/cigar.

601 Black From Espinosa Cigars
601 Black

With Valentine’s Day upon us, it’s a day that can bring back the memories that we love and sometimes within the cigar industry a certain cigar may be brought back to remind us how much we missed and loved that particular cigar. 

Here we have the 601 Black Connecticut.  The 601 Black had been out of production for several years.  In 2020 this cigar was reintroduced as an annual limited editiion.  The 601 Black is a cigar that traces back to EO Brands, the partnership between Espinosa Cigars founder Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega.  601 Black was one of the original 601 blends released in the EO portfolios.  At the time it was released, it was considered a groundbreaking cigar in that it was one of the early Connecticut Shade blends to break the mold of traditional, milder Connecticut Shades and as Espinosa Cigars Director of Operations Hector Alfonso quoted, “the 601 Black was a cigar ahead of its time”. 

The 601 Black is certainly a cigar that might change your view on Connecticut Shade cigars.  Underneath the Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper leaf is a core of perfectly aged Nicaraguan long filler and binder tobaccos, yielding a more powerful and bolder smoke than an old-school Connecticut smoke. 

Getting ready to light this cigar up I take a few dry pulls to get the FULL aspect of the experience I am about to have.  In my dry draws I was able to pick up some caramel, toasted nuts, and cedar notes.  The cigar definitely started to get my glands active with saliva which was all before the cigar was even lit. 

As I began to light up, right off the rip, I was getting some very rich and flavorful pepper, cream, cedar, toasted nuts and dried fruit.  I can immediately understand why this cigar is typically not your traditional Connecticut Shade cigar.  As I continue to smoke the first 1/3 of the cigar it was staying strong with robust flavors of caramel, toasted nuts, cedar with a hint of floral notes to enhance my experience.  Continuing on with the second 1/3 of the cigar a nice frothy latte with some cocoa powder came to mind; coffee, cocoa, hints of sweetness, and molasses certainly surprised me yet the transition was certainly enjoyable.  As I continue with the last 1/3 of the 601 Black the strength and flavor really became prominent; molasses, espresso, cocoa, with hints of brown sugar.  

This cigar certainly illustrates why it stands out above most traditional Connecticut Shade cigars.  This cigar will absolutely pair well with your drink of choice.  The 601 Black is offered in boxes of 10 and ONLY in a Toro Size.  This cigar is most certainly one you want to hunt for. I would rate this cigar 4.9 out of 5 which say’s a lot because I can be quite picky on a cigar from start to finish but this cigar was absolutely delicious and almost flawless.  I did have one tiny burn issue half way through but it didn’t last long and the flavor profile was impeccable. Check out your local B&M to track some of these down!

Wrapper –  Ecuadorian Connecticut

Binder – Nicaragua 

Filler – Nicaragua

Price: Around $9.00 a stick

Website: www.espinosacigars.com

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 pints.