Pre-light Experience

Aaron: The wrapper on the soft box pressed Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro is medium tan with some lightly raised veins. The wrapper portion from the secondary band to the foot is quite wrinkly and can be pressed down and feels as though there is a gap to the binder/filler. The seams are a bit raised while the caps are very well applied. There are three bands, with the primary and secondary carrying a blue and silver color combination. The primary denotes the company and line while the secondary denotes the company and country of origin. There is a parchment paper like sleeve that runs from below the secondary band to the foot and has the company name and logo in silver running down it. The aroma from the wrapper is a light mix of cedar and hay while the foot brings cedar and earth. The pre-light draw brings cedar, hay and earth along with a light floral note.
Seth: Take off all the fancy packaging and you are not left with a lovely Connecticut. There is an argument to be made about some Ecuadorian Connecticut’s and the wrappers not being attractive as genuine Connecticut offerings, but this Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro is ugly. Softly pressed, it has a wet silky texture. Small veins throughout with this off marbling between Claro and Natural. Aromas of tobacco, hay, earth and spices.
John: The Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro does not come in cellophane, but does have a cellophane sheath on half of the cigar indicating Aganorsa. There is a UPC sticker affixed to the sheath as well. The cigar has two bands, a primary Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario band and a secondary Nicaragua Aganorsa band underneath. Additionally, the cigar has an artisanal complication of a soft box press. I weighed the cigar at 18.4 grams and the humidity as measured with the HumidiMeter Pro was 58.5%. Aromas from the wrapper included sweet bread and wood. From the foot, I was smelling tobacco, light wood and bread.
Jiunn: The Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro has a mustard hue to the overall Claro wrapper shade. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll even and the head is well wrapped and capped. Aromas from the wrapper tell of hay and barnyard. Aromas from the foot give meat, bread and white pepper spice. Cold draws reveal cedar, black tea and hay.

Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro

First Third

Aaron: The cigar begins with toasted cedar and light amounts of earth and baking spice. At a half inch in, the earth has picked up a bit and a light mustiness joins the profile. At three quarters of an inch in, some hay joins the profile. The retrohale is toasted cedar, earth and hay with a lightly zingy baking spice. At an inch and a quarter, the earth is now right behind the toasted cedar. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar and earth are now even up front with hay and baking spice a bit behind and light mustiness in the background. The strength was right at medium.
Seth: The first third begins with those classic cream, hay, tobacco and earth qualities. Little bit of spice, but overall, a basic and classic Nicaraguan Connecticut. Core earthy and tobacco profile complimented by cream and hay. Medium in strength and body.
John: Creamy, sweet bread and wood lead off the first third with a delayed medium strength spices and wood into the post draw. A musty chocolate combination is in the center of the retrohale as the first third continues. The spices move down to light plus strength about an inch in as creamy bread begins to lead the profile. Spices and wood are finishing the draw at this point.
Jiunn: The first third has all the goodness of Connecticut shade that you want. Graham cracker, soft bread and rich in dried roasted nuts. There’s also some nice layered dried red pepper spice coming through. Retrohaling intensifies the red pepper spice as well as adds minerals. The finish is clean with soft bread. Strength and body is medium.

Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro

Second Third

Aaron: As the second third begins, the baking spice transitions to a slightly dull black pepper. At a half inch in, the earth takes a slight step back. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth and lightly zingy black pepper. At an inch in, the black pepper picks up a bit and has a long dull finish. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, with black pepper right behind the earth and a light mustiness in the background. The strength bumped up to slightly above medium.
Seth: The second third is identical to that of the first in flavor and strength.
John: Creamy bread starts the second third with baking spices in the middle and a spice and wood combination into the post draw taking on a mild drying aspect. Creamy bread and wood still lead as it continues with the spices becoming a background supporting note, and dry wood making up most of the post draw. Mild tannins join with the post draw wood by the bottom half of the second third.
Jiunn: The second third tastes a bit bland. Odd, since I expected it to be linear or ramp up. Much of the softness is gone, as I’m mainly now getting subtle mineral and dried red pepper spice influences. Strength and body remains medium.

Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro

Final Third

Aaron: As the final third begins, the earth has once again become even with the toasted cedar up front. At a half inch in, the toast level increases a bit. The retrohale is now toasted cedar and earth, with light black pepper. At an inch in, the black pepper mellows a bit. At an inch and a quarter, the toasted cedar becomes lightly charred. As the cigar comes to a close, the lightly charred cedar and earth are even up front, with black pepper in the middle and light mustiness in the background. The strength remained at slightly above medium.
Seth: Final third is in line with the first and second.
John: Creamy wood again on the last third with light plus spices to follow and spices and wood again into the post draw, but up to medium strength. Bread returns to the retrohale as it settles in. Light plus earth breaks into the finish by the halfway point. Some mild bitterness is present as the cigar continues.
Jiunn: The final third is similar to the second third. The soft/white notes are still an afterthought. The earthiness of minerals and dried red pepper spice is intensified, but never overbearing. Strength and body finish the same medium.

Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro

Burn

Aaron: The burn was a bit wavy throughout, and the cigar went out once, requiring a re-light. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.
Seth: Great burn from start to finish.
John: The burn was relatively straight in the first third, becoming uneven in the second third. The burn recovered by the last third and was relatively straight again. No interventions were required.
Jiunn: Burn performance was perfect. Even burn, ample smoke production, tight ashes and cool burning temperature.

Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro

Draw

Aaron: The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.
Seth: Very good draw.
John: The draw had some resistance to it, roughly 2-1/2 notches towards the resistant spectrum, which lands it at a good rating for a draw.
Jiunn: Draw performance was on point, providing the ideal balance between air flow and resistance.

Overall

Aaron: The cigar began with toasted cedar and light amounts of earth and baking spice. A light mustiness and hay joined a bit later. The second third saw the baking spice transition to black pepper. The final third saw the toast level increase and then transition to a light char. The Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro had an average flavor profile throughout. Very focused around toasted cedar, earth and baking spice/black pepper. Some transitioning of the levels of flavor, but nothing too exciting going on. Not a cigar I’d really see myself coming back to.
Seth: The Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro is a disappointing cigar in many ways. This appears to be a premium Connecticut with pricing and packaging, but under the packaging is a lacking Connecticut. With that, and more importantly, the flavor profile is underwhelming. This cigar fails to deliver a good and basic Connecticut release, which should not be hard. This is average at best. I could make the argument it is below average.
John: I enjoyed my review of the Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro, with a relatively consistent flavor profile in the first and second thirds, at times up to medium strength on some of the flavor components. The last third was still pleasant but not quite at the same engagement or dynamic flavor combinations that were delivered by the rest of the cigar. The burn was perfect while the draw had some resistance to it. I would smoke the Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro again, I think it presents well and delivers a substantial value proposition on the smoking time. Total smoking time was 3 hours and 5 minutes.
Jiunn: The Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro first third was the jam. It’s exactly what I look for in a Connecticut shade. Dominantly sweet and dessert like with plenty of soft/white notes but with just the right accented earthiness and spice levels. But past the first third, the profile fell flat, being mainly earthy. Almost good but not quite there.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.55

Cost/Point

$2.79

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

5.60

Cost/Point

$2.77

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

6.52

Cost/Point

$2.38

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$2.54

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro