Video review HERE.
(Description taken from Halfwheel.com website)
AGANORSA Leaf has released a new version of its Arsenio cigar, named for the late Arsenio Ramos, AGANORSA’s blender.
The new AGANORSA Leaf Arsenio is a follow-up to the discontinued Casa Fernandez Arsenio and Arsenio Oro lines. Blend-wise, it uses a corojo wrapper from Jalapa, Nicaragua and two binders: criollo 98 and tobacco from Estelí. The fillers come from the company’s farms in Condega and Jalapa.
It will be offered in three sizes:
AGANORSA Leaf Arsenio Corona (6 x 44) — $14.99 (Box of 15, $224.85) REVIEWED TODAY
AGANORSA Leaf Arsenio Robusto (5 1/4 x 54) — $15.99 (Box of 15, $239.85)
AGANORSA Leaf Arsenio Toro (6 x 52) — $16.99 (Box of 15, $254.85)
AGANORSA Leaf says that for 2024, there will be 2,000 boxes each of the Robusto and Toro, while there will be just 1,500 boxes of the Corona, which was Ramos’ favorite size.
Ramos was born in Cuba and spent more than four decades working for Cubatabaco, the state-run tobacco company in Cuba. Around 2000, he left the country and, like many other highly-skilled workers in the Cuban cigar industry, went to work for Eduardo Fernández in Nicaragua, who had recently purchased Tabacalera Tropical, which is now known as AGANORSA Leaf. Ramos would become the head of the manufacturing team for the company’s factory in Estelí, once known as TABSA but now known simply as Aganorsa. Before his passing, Arsenio’s name graced a couple of different blends released under the Casa Fernandez brand.
In 2018, Ramos passed away at the age of 83.
“Arsenio was a giant of the Cuban Tobacco Industry,” said Fernández, owner of Aganorsa, in a press release. “He was a self-taught man of humble means, a true craftsman. He was a great human being who was instrumental in creating the singular flavor that distinguishes the richness of Aganorsa’s leaf, taking us back to the traditions of a true Habano of old. This blend was his favorite and a tribute to his lifetime of work.”
The cigar is nicely made and has an average feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was good with some firmness. The initial flavors at light up were apricot with some citrus, brown sugar, nutmeg, and earthy leather. There was black pepper rated at 8. Pretty good start.
At the first third (29 minutes) I had the same notes but they break down like this: the apricot/citrus/brown sugar is quite sweet, there is a substantial amount of nutmeg that follows those, citrus peel with some bitterness, then earthy leather with some light black coffee. The cigar is full bodied. The finish is apricot and leather with very good lingering black pepper. The bitterness is holding the cigar score down somewhat. As it is I rated the first third 94.
As I moved through the second third (1 hour 2 minutes) the cigar has not changed much. I didn't have as much bitterness as the first third. There's still citrus peel in the mix but not as bitter. But the earthiness has greatly increased along with the black coffee. The cigar is full bodied. The finish is unchanged. With the increased earthiness I rated the second third 93.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 23 minutes. A good burn time for a Corona. The earthiness subsided which made the cigar better. The notes now are primarily orange citrus with apricot, brown sugar, nutmeg, earthy leather, and light black coffee. The cigar is full bodied. The finish is unchanged. I rated the final third 94. Another good cigar from Aganorsa Leaf.
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