Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Toro – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

Aganorsa Leaf announced a new line exclusive to Aganorsa Select Partners last December, Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve. This tobacco for this new cigar only comes from select lots on their best farms. Those lots produce a small amount of tobacco that is unique in flavor and aroma. The blend for Rare Leaf Reserve uses all Aganorsa tobacco. It starts with a café wrapper leaf from Jalapa, double binder and filler tobaccos of mostly Criollo 98 with small bit of Corojo 99.

Aganorsa says Rare Leaf Reserve is a regular production line, but is produced in only very small amounts and has been quite hard to find selling out quickly. This small amount is why it is only available at Select retail partners. It comes in three sizes: Robusto (5.25 x 52) $10.99, Toro (6 x 54) $11.50, and Titan (6 x 60) $12.10. All sizes come in boxes of 15.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Café from Jalapa
Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo ’98 and Criollo ’99
Filler: Nicaraguan Corojo ’98 and Criollo ’99
Factory: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA)
Blender: Eduardo Fernandez
Number of reviewers: 4 – Jason H. (Jokey Smurf) Isaac M. (The Nothing) Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi) Adam B. (Bushboi)
Price: $11.50
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: February 2021
Contributed by: Blind Man’s Puff

Initial Impressions – Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Toro

Appearance: 89

“A large cigar with many small veins throughout. It has a brown wrapper with reddish hues and some bruising. There are visible seams and a nice triple cap. It is oily and sports a fine-tooth from top to bottom.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

Aroma: 90

“The aroma on this cigar is very pleasant and consists diddly of slightly musty old hay with a hint of sweet compost.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

First Third

Flavor: 91
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“This cigar started off cranked up to eleven with flavors of pepper cream and cedar. It quickly backed off a bit and settled into an array of woods and kitchen spices.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

“This cigar definitely packs a punch. Flavors of licorice and chocolate dominate the first third. Has a little bit of spice and is quite delicious so far. The aroma is pleasant and has an edge to it. At times I can detect the faint aroma of a campfire coming off the burn line.” –Adam B. (Bushboi)

Second Third

Flavor: 91
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“There are not too many changes in this cigar so far. The smoke is getting meatier ramping the body and feel on the tongue. The Newton cookie has shifted to more of a graham cracker note. As the third comes to a close, I find that the strength has ramped way up. The finish and body has bumped up and the cigar has my full attention.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

“Into the second portion, the Fischer’s have intensified a bit with the white pepper morphing to black pepper and the wood becoming much more earthy… I’m really liking the change! The wrapper, on the other hand, is still a major problem and sticks to my lips on every puff…” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

Final Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Flavors have changed significantly and for the better. Dominant flavors are almost like sweet cherry wood and hard earth with a licorice finish. Burn has stayed dead straight since the beginning and the construction is flawless. I’ve had to back off a few times because of the strength.” –Adam B. (Bushboi)

“The first major change in the cigar has happened. The smoke on the palate has turned to cinnamon red hots. Once this happens the finish has turned long, with a wonderful tingle on the tip of my tongue. As I push more smoke through the nose, the cinnamon can be found there too. The strength has ramped even more. Making for a great finish to a good cigar.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

Overall Impressions – Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Toro

Draw: 93

“The draw was spot on for this sample… just a hint of resistance but plenty of and smoke.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

Burn: 90

“The first third ash stacked up quite nicely, but afterward the burn was a bit irregular. It didn’t require touch-ups or relights.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

Construction: 88

“This is where I had a hard time with the cigar. It was a very firmly packed cigar that might have been rolled too tight. The wrapper seemed to be very thin and I had to chase cracks and splits throughout, with the worst of it happening in the last third. The ash was flaky and never held on for more than an inch at a time.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Experience Overall: 90

“I enjoyed the flavors of this cigar but am so frustrated with the wrapper I couldn’t wait for it to finish. Hopefully, I’m the only one with problems. As it is, I will stay away from another.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

“This cigar was a solid smoker. Good flavors. Nice transitions. But, aside from lighting the cigar, never really commanded my attention. A good cigar for a lounge visit or herf.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

“This cigar is a perfect example of why you need to give a cigar a chance. I was very uninterested by the first inch and a half of this cigar, but after that, it had my full attention. That being said, I don’t see myself reaching for this again. If you are a fan of a sweeter profile than ramps in strength as you smoke it, this might be the cigar for you. As for me, I think I will pass. Enjoy.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

“I really enjoyed this cigar. The beginning didn’t wow me too much with the flavors, however, it developed into a delicious morsel of cigar goodness. Absolutely flawless construction and burn were superb. Smoked this one way past the band and it’s touching my fingers with a little heat now. Time to put it to bed and wait to hear what cigar I am smoking so I can buy more.” –Adam B. (Bushboi)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 87

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Toro – Blind Cigar Review