The Aganorsa Rare Leaf Maduro was announced in the early part of 2023 as a three vitola line. Featuring a Robusto and Toro that are in the round, the Torpedo is the only one box pressed. People often ask how much a box press changes up a cigar and this line is the perfect cigar to do just that. The cigar is the follow up to the original Rare Leaf that made its debut in 2021 showcasing Criollo tobaccos.
According to Terence Reilly, VP of Sales and Marketing for Aganorsa Leaf, “When we launched Rare Leaf in 2021, the idea was to provide our retail partners who make the commitment to our Aganorsa Select Program with a special blend they would have exclusivity on. Due to the success of the original release and our Aganorsa Select retail partners’ enthusiasm for it, we are adding Rare Leaf Maduro, a truly powerful expression of Aganorsa tobacco and one I haven’t experienced before. This blend will make you sit up and pay attention while smoking or, as we say at Aganorsa, validating.”
Cigar Review: Aganorsa Rare Leaf Maduro
Size: 6.25 x 52 (Box Pressed Torpedo)
Wrapper: San Andres Mexico
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Debut: May 2023
Box Count: 15
The Cigar: The box pressed torpedo features two bands of black, gold and white. The first showcasing the Aganorsa Leaf flex logo and the second denoting Rare Leaf Reserve. In the hand the cigar is firm with no voids of tobacco and is perfectly box pressed. The San Andres wrapper has a milk chocolate hue to it and feels like fine sand paper under the fingers with some visible oils.
The Notes: The cold draw has an abundance of chocolate sweetness and leather with a subtle cedar component while the foot has and abundance of spice and cedar that causes me to sneeze. Once the cigar is toasted and lit there is and abundance of cayenne pepper to start.
As we smoke the first third and the cayenne from the initial light pulls back there are notes of earth, almonds, cocoa and espresso present. They are all balanced and in harmony with each other. The retrohale has a additional almond notes with some added pepper thrown in to the mix.
In the second third the almond note remains dominant with espresso, earth and brown sugar. There is an occasional leather component and a subtle saltiness from time to time. Meanwhile, the retrohale sees growing pepper with almond that serves as more of an afterthought.
The final third sees espresso become the dominant flavor profile with earth, almonds, cocoa and brown sugar. It is a wonderfully complex cigar with a subtle saltiness on the front end and a lingering sweet finish. The retrohale is pepper aggressive but enjoyable making this an outstanding cigar.
Conclusion: The Aganorsa Rare Leaf Maduro in the box pressed torpedo format is a winner. While a torpedo might not be a popular size the box press changes up the flavor profile of the cigar and enhances the complexity of this enjoyable smoke from Aganorsa Leaf. It also continues the string of great releases since Terence Reilly took over as VP of Sales and Marketing that has only had a few that fell flat for my palate. One of those was the original Rare Leaf. This one is much better and a must have.
Score: 94
Price: $15.20 (Before Local & State Taxes)
