Wrapper: Nicaraguan Café
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: Toro
Purchase Link: Aganorsa Rare Leaf
AGANORSA RARE LEAF REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: This cigar has some heft to it. I don’t usually sniff the foot, but I did this time and now I can’t stop sneezing. Wood and toast on the palate, and some serious pepper spice on the retro that persists (long finish on the nose?). An inch down, and the flavors have moved on from Pinocchio trying to escape the sperm whale: leather, coffee, nuts, and citrus. Despite a wavy burn, the ash is cinderblock solid. Jiminy Cricket! Am I tasting Parsley?
In the second half, the tasting notes normalize to leather and black coffee with sugar. Amaro for Geppetto at the close.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Poker with strangers.
Pairing Suggestion: Stout.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack.
AGANORSA RARE LEAF REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: This cigar is earthy, nutty, and spicy. It brings pepper and espresso to the table as it continues along. The flavors are bold, and not subtle. It ends by adding cocoa and cinnamon. Everything goes nicely together to create a harmonious whole.
Burn and draw are both perfect.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Chocolatey earth.
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.
AGANORSA RARE LEAF REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: Leather, some fruitiness and some grilled meat on the cold draw. It’s a nice smooth draw too. The wrapper is a mottled reddish brown.
Right out of the gate, a pretty decent peppery flavor on the palate. Pie cherry tartness and some mild floral notes start this out. Flavors of mild hickory smoke, and wood in the finish. The retro hale is rich with heavy wood and baking spice notes and carries a very long peppery finish. I’m all in on that. It has a slightly wavy burn but it’s sharp. I’m squeezing the cigar slightly and I feel some soft voids in the roll.
Finally at the midway mark…several
re-lights later. I was afraid the soft spots would result in a tunnel, and I was right. Smoke production is low, and the flavors are suffering. I’m getting wood notes and some harsh tobacco notes teetering on the bitter side.
The whole last third I’ve been working to salvage some tasting notes. When I can keep the cigar lit, it’s pretty good. Soft wood notes with lots of spiciness along with coffee and, in this end portion, finally tasting more of those cherry notes I tasted up front. Bad news is, multiple re-lights and the flavors cycle between decent and muted or harsh.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Brownies… burnt at the bottom.
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee with cream or an Irish Coffee in the evening.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
Participants in this blind review were completely unaware of the cigar they were evaluating until all submissions were received and processed. Each participant was asked to answer a summary paragraph, an if/than statement, a pairing suggestion, and a purchase suggestion. Cigars were provided by Small Batch with only the expectations of candid responses. All pictures, information, and formatting were completed by a Coordinator outside of the reviewing process.
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