PCA Magazine 2022 Show Issue

PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG VOLUME 2 2022 | PCA The Magazine 23 T H E B L E N D which range frommedium- bodied and smooth to full- bodied and bold, all with a distinctive Aganorsa taste. Expanding on Aganorsa’s use of their proprietary tobacco, Reilly says, “We use Nicaraguan viso. It has the strength of some of the ligeros, but still maintains the complexity without being overbearing. The viso really highlights the flavors of the tobacco.” The artful blending of these tobaccos demonstrates the Aganorsa goal of cigar making. “We’re not blending toward putting out the strongest cigar on the market,” Reilly explains. “We’re always blending toward balance and complexity.” All of which brings us to the Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Corojo. Originally created in 2013, the cigar celebrated the 30 th anniversary of what was then called Tropical Tobacco. Different variations of shape, blend and wrapper leaf were made annually until 2015. “We’re not blending toward putting out the strongest cigar on the market. We’re always blending toward balance and complexity.” the quality of what it is. I think that’s a powerful combination.” Aganorsa Leaf will introduce the next phase of the rebranding at this summer’s PCA Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas. The core line of Aganorsa Leaf Corojo, Maduro, Connecticut and Habano will be presented in a refreshed package, under the series name Validación, which translates to validation. The name has a dual significance: It is a validation of the process of bringing the cigars under the company name to reinforce the brand’s image, and as an inside joke. When the company principals get together to review the product, checking the packaging and the finished cigars, it’s also an excuse to justify, or validate, smoking a cigar while working. Their slogan became: “We don’t smoke cigars. We validate!” Thereafter, all three versions were available until sold out. The 2014 blend was the most popular, and that is what has been recreated for this edition of the Aniversario. The blend consists of Aganorsa Leaf Corojo 99 and Criollo 98 for filler and binder, crowned with a Nicaraguan Shade Grown Corojo wrapper. The Aniversario is available in four box-pressed vitolas: robusto 5 x 54; toro 6 x 52; gran toro 6 x 58; and lancero 7 ½ x 40. Previously, this line was called the Casa Fernandez Miami Aniversario. The cigars are now made in the Aganorsa Leaf factory in Nicaragua, and the change in name is indicative of the transition of the formerly Casa Fernandez brands to the unifying Aganorsa Leaf re-branding. “It’s an excellent blend,” says Reilly. “It’s one of my favorite blends personally, and the way it looks really matches