Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Corojo Robusto. This is a cigar blend previously assessed in several sizes when it was branded the Casa Fernandez Aniversario – most recently back in November 2015 with the Casa Fernandez L.F. Celine release.

Wrapper: Aganorsa Corojo ’99
Binder: Aganorsa, Nicaragua
Filler: Aganorsa, Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Agricola Ganadera Norteña S.A.
Robusto: 5 x 54 (Box Pressed)

The Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario series has its roots back in 2013. At the time, the company was known as Casa Fernandez when it released a limited edition cigar to celebrate its 35th anniversary known as the Casa Fernandez Aniversario Series Boheme No. 35. The 35th milestone dates back to when Pedro Martin founded the original name of Casa Fernandez, Tabacalera Tropical. The Boheme No. 35 was a cigar that featured 100% Aganorsa grown tobaccos from Nicaragua highlighted by a Corojo ’99 wrapper. Since the Boheme No. 35, the Aniversario line expanded and underwent changes. Some follow-up vitolas were released, as well as a Maduro counterpart was released. Late in 2021, the line was rebranded to the Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Corojo (and its Maduro counterpart was rebranded Aganorsa Leaf Maduro). Now a regular production line, it would be streamlined to four sizes with a Robusto and Gran Toro size joining previously released Toro and Lancero sizes. Today we take a look at the Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Corojo in the Robusto size.

The blend of the Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Corojo remains the same as when this was first released under the Casa Fernandez name. As for the Robusto, it is a soft-box press that measures 5 x 54. The cigar itself is presented in ten-count boxes.

The Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Corojo Robusto opened up with notes of natural tobacco, graham cracker, citrus, and black pepper. The black pepper was present on both the retro-hale and the tongue. Early on the notes of natural tobacco and citrus were the dominant ones. Toward the end of the first third, the citrus and graham cracker notes diminished with the citrus notes going to the background. There was a gradual increase of the cedar and black pepper and an increase in black pepper on the retro-hale. By the midway point, some earth notes joined the natural tobacco in the forefront. As the Aniversario Corojo Robusto moved into the final third, the pepper joined the earth and natural tobacco. The citrus, cedar, and to a lesser extent the graham cracker, rounded out the flavor profile.

The cigar started out medium in strength and body and by the second half, both attributes progressed to medium to full. The burn required some touch-ups to maintain a straight burn path and straight burn line. The draw was a little more open than I prefer.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

In terms of the offerings in the Aganorsa Leaf portfolio, the Aniversario Corojo blend has delivered some of the company’s best offerings. The 5 x 54 Robusto size wasn’t necessarily my favorite representation of this blend, but it’s still quite good. This is a cigar that really excelled in the first third. In the end, this is a cigar I would steer toward a more experienced cigar enthusiast, but wouldn’t discourage a novice from trying. As for myself, while I still lean toward the Toro, this was still a fine offering and it is one I would purchase. At 90 points, it scores high enough to earn a Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence designation.

Summary

Key Flavors: Natural Tobacco, Citrus, Earth, Cedar, Graham Cracker, Black Pepper
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Very Good
Complexity: Medium Plus
Strength: Medium (1st Half), Medium to Full (2nd Half)
Body: Medium (1st Half), Medium to Full (2nd Half)
Finish: Very Good