Pre-light Experience

Aaron: The wrapper on the Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro Robusto is between medium and dark brown, has some lightly raised veins present and fine toothiness. The seams are a bit raised and the caps are pretty well applied. There are two bands, both in a black, gold and white color combination. The primary denotes the company and the secondary denotes the line. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of dark earth and cocoa powder while the foot brings cedar, stone fruit sweetness and chocolate syrup. The pre-light draw consists of cedar and breadiness, along with a mid-level spiciness on my lips.
Seth: Nice looking, the Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro Robusto is finished with a lighter maduro wrapper that is between Natural and Maduro, and sports tooth throughout. Small to medium sized veins present as well. The cigar is firm throughout and finished with a nice cap. Aromas of rich manure, leather, fruits and tobacco.
John: The Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro Robusto comes in cellophane and has a UPC sticker with an integrated tear space to remain intact when opened. There are two bands, with a primary Aganorsa Leaf which is white on black on gold and additionally a secondary band of Rare Leaf Reserve in the same motif. The cigar weighed in at 15.9 grams and the humidity measured by a HumidiMeter Pro was 59.5%. For aromas, I was picking up on bread, wood and sweet tobacco. From the foot, there was sweet tobacco, wood and hay.
Jiunn: The Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro Robusto gives a darker version of Colorado maduro. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll tight and the head is well wrapped and capped. Aromas from the wrapper tell of strong cedar and dry barnyard. Aromas from the foot give the same as the wrapper plus the addition of white pepper spice. Cold draws reveal cedar and slight metallic tones.

Team Cigar Review: Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro Robusto

First Third

Aaron: The cigar begins with toasted cedar, earth and cinnamon forward baking spice. At a quarter inch in, the baking spice has moved to the background, while a light bakers chocolate has joined the profile. The retrohale is a mirror image of the toasted cedar, earth and light baking spice and bakers chocolate. At an inch in, the bakers chocolate increases a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar and earth are even up front, with bakers chocolate in the middle and baking spice in the background. The strength was slightly below medium.
Seth: The first third starts out with some sharp mineral spices that are paired with some leather, tobacco and rich manure qualities. Medium-full in strength and body. The blend is a little sharp and mineral forward, but it is balanced out by the wrapper.
John: Spicy wood at medium strength gets the first third going, then builds to medium-full bringing the bread with it after just a few puffs. Creamy vegetal components are present through the retrohale. As the first third settles in, the spice calms back down to medium, with dry wood defining the post draw. The center becomes creamy wood as it continues. Sweet tobacco moves into the forefront and the center of the profile as it progresses towards the halfway point. At the halfway point, the baking spices are still present at medium strength. Through the bottom half, light-plus earth finishes the draw.
Jiunn: There’s a lot of rawness and sharpness in the flavor profile. Palate coating minerals, fresh seeded red pepper spice and hints of softness in toasted nuts. Retrohaling has fierce, sharp minerals and red pepper spice. The finish coats the palate with the same minerals and pepper spice. Strength is medium-full and body is medium.

Team Cigar Review: Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro Robusto

Second Third

Aaron: As the second third begins, the overall profile is a bit dry. At a half inch in, the earth takes a slight lead in the profile while a light chalkiness joins in. The retrohale is now toasted cedar and earth with a lightly zingy baking spice. At an inch in, the baking spice is barely holding on in the background. At an inch and a quarter, a light wood bitterness becomes present. As the third comes to a close, the earth has a slight lead over the toasted cedar. The bakers chocolate remains in the middle and there is wood bitterness, chalkiness and baking spice in the background. The strength bumped up to medium.
Seth: The second third delivers a profile of earth, mineral spices, tobacco and soft cocoa. Manure aspects present as well with some leather. Medium-full in strength and body.
John: Creamy baking spices and earth combine to lead off the second third. Mild tannic wood, earth and sweet tobacco finishes the draw into the post draw. There isn’t anything to remark on for flavor change ups as the second third continues, quite consistent to where it started off.
Jiunn: Within the second third, the rawness of minerals and pepper spice dies down a bit, but the flavor profile is lackluster, without anything to really accompany the minerals and spice. Strength and body remains medium-full and medium, respectively.

Team Cigar Review: Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro Robusto

Final Third

Aaron: As the final thirds begins, the baking spice has departed and the earth has increased its lead at the front of the profile. The retrohale remains toasted cedar and earth with a lightly zingy baking spice. At a half inch in, the baking spice returns and is in the middle of the profile. At an inch and a quarter, the retrohale gains some cocoa powder. As the cigar wraps up, the profile is earth a bit ahead of the toasted cedar, with bakers chocolate and baking spice in the middle and light chalkiness and wood bitterness in the background. The strength bumped up to slightly above medium.
Seth: The final third is right in line with the second. Earthy with some manure aspects. Cocoa, tobacco, mineral spices and leather. Medium-full in strength and body.
John: Medium to medium-plus strength baking spices start off, joined by wood and tannins through the finish. Some tannic wood and earth clearly defines the post draw as it settles. The earth moves up to medium strength and leads off the draw as it continues. Fresh wood and chocolate come through moving towards the halfway point. A subtle floral flavor is in the center in the bottom half.
Jiunn: The final third is cedar and baking spices, while the rawness of minerals and red pepper spice continues to be subdued. Strength and body finishes the same medium-full and medium, respectively.

Team Cigar Review: Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro Robusto

Burn

Aaron: The burn was straight throughout, but the cigar did go out once, requiring a re-light. The ash held on in near two inch increments.
Seth: Decent burn throughout.
John: The burn was straight in the first and second thirds, becoming uneven in the last third which eventually required a touch-up.
Jiunn: Burn performance was perfect. Even burn, ample smoke production, tight ashes and cool burning temperature.

Team Cigar Review: Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro Robusto

Draw

Aaron: The draw was quite snug through the first two thirds, but did open up in the final third.
Seth: Draw was good.
John: The draw was a minor amount into the resistant spectrum, roughly 1-1/2 to 2 notches.
Jiunn: Flawless draw, giving the best balance between air flow and resistance.

Overall

Aaron: The cigar began with toasted cedar, earth and cinnamon forward baking spice. A light bakers chocolate joined in fairly quickly. The second third saw a light wood bitterness become present. The final third saw the baking spice depart for a bit and then rejoin at a higher level. The Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro Robusto had a fairly average profile through the first two thirds as the tight draw I felt was choking the flavor delivery. As the draw in the final third opened up, the flavor profile took a step up. I’m really interested to see how this cigar smoked for the others to see if they had a better draw and thus an enjoyable flavor profile for a majority of the smoking time. I’d be interested in revisiting to see if a better drawing offering could present a good flavor profile throughout.
Seth: Thank goodness for Mexican San Andrés. I don’t think the blend is as good as the original Rare Leaf Reserve, even though it’s the same with a new wrapper, and this cigar was saved by the wrapper. The cocoa, earth and manure qualities of the wrapper saved the sharp mineral spices in the filler blend. An average release and a disappointing Mexican San Andres offering. AGANORSA use to be able to deliver some winners with Mexican wrappers, but that is not the case right now.
John: The Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro Robusto started out with some dynamic flavor combinations. By the second third, the profile was pleasant but linear, and that carried through the last third as well. The burn and draw had minor issues with the draw being slightly into the resistant spectrum and a touch-up required to address a wavy burn in the last third. While the price point on this cigar is quite reasonable for the market, there isn’t anything here that’s compelling for me that I’d choose over the other Aganorsa offerings. Total smoking time was 2 hours on the nose.
Jiunn: A couple thoughts here: 1) I still vote for MAGA (Make Aganorsa Great Again). The sharpness and rawness of tobacco still plagues this brand. 2) Something needs to drastically change to get the company back on track (new chef? new tobacco guru?, etc). MAGA.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.55

Cost/Point

$2.43

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

5.60

Cost/Point

$2.41

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

5.85

Cost/Point

$2.31

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

5.75

Cost/Point

$2.35

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro Robusto