Casa Fernandez Aganorsa Leaf

My first review of 2011 is the Casa Fernandez Aganorsa Leaf Torpedo! For some reason I thought I had already reviewed this cigar (probably because I have smoked a handful of these recently) but I was mistaken. The Casa Fernandez is blended by Arsenio Ramos and the tobacco is from the Aganorsa Farm in Esteli/Jalapa/Condega. This is a box pressed Nicaraguan Puro with a 2006 Sun Grown Corojo Wrapper. I am smoking the 6.5 X 52 Torpedo, but this also comes in a Robusto and Toro. These sell in boxes of 15. 

This box pressed cigar has leathery wrapper that has a rustic look to it and a few veins running the length of the cigar. This is a very solidly rolled cigar with very little give to it when squeezed. The aroma at the foot shows a little bit of cocoa and barnyard with some nose tingling spice. The prelight draw tastes of sweet hay. The draw has just the right amount of resistance to it. After lighting, the first few draws show leathery and toasted nut flavors. After getting into this Aganorsa leaf a little bit more,  cedar and a little bit of cocoa join the flavor profile. The retrohale brings out the nuttyness of this cigar and just a little bit of spice. The core flavor of this cigar is really nice, and reminds me just a little bit of Illusione, which isn't surprising because Illusione also uses leaf from the Fernandez farms. This is a nice smooth cigar and is burning slow and even. The firm ash fell just after an inch. This is a full bodied cigar and the strength seems to be building. 

At the halfway point the flavors are pretty much the same if not a little darker. It is worth mentioning that the retrohale is now much more intense than it was towards the beginning, with the spice being very pronounced through the sinuses. As I reach the final third, the flavor profile has turned to more of a savory one with some of that charred meat flavor, which I really enjoy in a cigar. The strength continues to build all the way to the end but it never gets to the point that it overpowers the great flavors coming out of this cigar.

If you haven't had a chance to try the Casa Fernandez Aganorsa Leaf you are missing out! This is one of those cigars that might get overlooked on the shelves of your local shop. They don't have any fancy packaging but once you smoke it you won't forget about it! If you enjoy full flavored Nicaraguan cigars like Illusione then this one won't disappoint. I picked up the Torpedo at Burning Leaf for $7.70, which is a great pricepoint for this cigar. I will be picking up a box of these in the future. I might go with either the Toro or Robusto though. All three sizes smoke great, I just prefer the other two over the torpedo.