All that on the table, it makes sense that a big cigar maker like Aganorsa would want to join forces with a beverage maker. But I’ll be honest, I did not expect that to happen between Aganorsa and MoneyBag soda — a Gene Simmons soda line. While there have been some strong proponents of this partnership, and very vocal, too, it’s still one of the zaniest things to happen in a while.

What is MoneyBag Soda and why is Aganorsa pairing up?

Gene Simmons of legendary KISS fame launched MoneyBag Soda as a craft brand. Purporting to only use the most elite of ingredients, you’ll find several mentions of “soda royalty” plastered all over the site. I don’t know about royalty, I’m just a crazy, cigar-loving Florida Man myself, but Leif Lunatic sure loves the stuff. Not to mention, the flavors sound delicious. Cola, diet cola, root beer, cream soda, ginger ale, blood orange, and options to mix and match, and they’re all made with natural cane sugar.

But as for those pairings, Aganorsa has thrown a few suggestions together. The Aniversario series seems to match up well with the branding and flavors of the colas and the creme variety. Root Beer is always really good to pair with a cigar, in general, so the MoneyBag Soda Root Beer should be divine.

This news has already been called out in a few places, including Cigar Aficionado and PCA. For those about to rock, oh, wait, that’s AC/DC. That was a joke, don’t come after me, I know the difference.

It makes sense, but also doesn’t, but also does

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Delicious cigars and delicious sodas, yes. It makes sense, but also, I still can’t stop shaking my head at how fucking insane this partnership is. I’m curious if the MoneyBag crew is going to come up with a unique soda just for Aganorsa or, if, alternatively, Aganorsa is going to come up with a unique cigar blend for MoneyBag.

Terence Reilly, VP of Sales and Marketing at Aganorsa, says, “We’re always looking for ways to bring a fresh energy to the premium cigar world.”

“MoneyBag Soda has a bold, authentic character that pairs perfectly with the complexity of Aganorsa cigars. This partnership is about enjoyment, flavor, and creating memorable moments for our customers.”

Aganorsa and MoneyBag Soda will be hosting exclusive pairing events with more information on locations forthcoming.

Either way, we’re the real winners here because it’s going to result in something awesome. I can feel it in my loins.

The post In the weirdest collab in history (that also makes sense) Aganorsa partners with MoneyBag soda appeared first on The BS Lounge.

Originally blended by Cuban legend and longtime master blender Arsenio Ramos for his own, personal enjoyment, the cigar features tobacco from Aganorsa seeds grown on the man’s favorite Aganorsa farms. Today, it’s reblended and packaged for everyone to enjoy, and enjoy it we shall. Sorry, the correct Aganorsa term is “validate.” We are going to validate the Arsenio.

Of course, that begs the question: What does this special smoke taste like? What does it smoke like? Is it really Cubanesque as promised? Pour yourself a nice tall glass of something cold and refreshing, cut the cap and light your stogie and let’s smoke this conversation out.

Storage and burn

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Yackity yack, I’m going to share my cigar sack. Okay, really, I’m just sharing how I store my cigars, like I always do. That gives you a baseline to follow when and if you smoke the same thing.

I keep my humidor’s relative humidity (RH) between 64 and 67 and the temps in my house stay around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, I always let my cigars rest. The Aganorsa Leaf Arsenio had well over four weeks of rest before I lit one up. I know, I know, that’s a long time, but I’ve been in and out of my depression for a turn now, and sometimes, I just don’t feel like lighting one up. I want to make sure I can enjoy it when I do. The mental drop makes it hard to enjoy even some of the things you love at times.

During testing I deployed my usual straight cut, V cut, and punch — but I prefer straight. I know some folks prefer other cuts, but I’ve talked to several master blenders who recommend the guillotine method. Anyway, I like the draw it provides. But don’t get your whiskers wet just yet, I do try out several types of cuts each time I review a cigar.

The Arsenio cut with no problems, no mess, and lit just as easily. Most importantly, I had no burn issues, no tunneling, and it never went out on me. It held a pristine ash line all the way down. Those are all positives that carried over through several smoking sessions. Any good cigar experience is a good day in my book, and the Arsenio made many days better thus far, at least for me.

Flavors and experience

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

The Arsenio is sweet. It almost seems like it has a sweet cap, but don’t worry, sweet cap haters, there isn’t one. It is bursting with flavor, though, sweet and spicy, with a bright hue of notes. It’s bright enough and complex enough that I would classify this one as a dessert outright — not unlike my favorite Rare Leaf Reserve. It would be a phenomenal smoke after a big steak dinner or a delicious Southern barbecue.

Starting with the vibrant Corojo wrapper, that surrounds a Criollo ’98 dual binder, mixed with leaf from Esteli, and mixed fillers from Condega and Jalapa, Nicaragua. It looks fantastic with the labels on, and also with the labels off. But the bright blue of the secondary band on this thing is captivating. The intricate designs remind me of tribal art, or for some weird fucking reason, mermaids. I dunno, that’s what I’m getting.

But then I see Arsenio’s handsome profile on the primary band, happily blowing out a smoke ring, and I’m reminded this has nothing to do with manatees, mermaids, or sea monkeys.

Diving further in, you’ll taste molasses or caramelized sugar, dried fruit, vanilla, hay, floral notes, peppercorn and saltiness, especially in the last third. But if you can, try to imagine that sweet goodness existing with the rest of those flavors, never quite muted. Almost like a sweet cream poured atop the rest of the dessert. It’s delectable. Joyful. Triumphant.

It does, in that respect, have a very Cubanesque flavor profile. Although if you’re looking for that Cuban twang, you’re not going to get it here, sadly. You will get that Cuban flavor-changing experience, with incredibly diverse medleys waning and peaking in volume harmoniously. You could call it a symphony of flavor. I’d venture to guess you don’t have to be a cigar pro to have a good time with this one, either. But I will always, always recommend learning to retrohale, and I will die on that hill.

Aganorsa Leaf Arsenio: Closing statements

If you like a smooth, medium smoke with some sweetness, plenty of pepper — on the tongue, not spice — and a growing list of flavors to add to your experience journal, the Arsenio is one to try. It cuts well, lights well, and smokes well. It does have a Cubanesque flavor profile, though it’s still New World-esque in experience. As long as you don’t go in expecting it to be an authentic Cuban, you’ll be fine.

Do I recommend it? Yes. For pretty much everyone who smokes cigars, because I know most of you out there like a variety. Will I smoke it again? Yes, absolutely, and I already have.

If you’re looking for more cigars like it, you can stay in the Aganorsa family or branch out a little, but you have to know, this one is fairly unique. If you like the Arsenio, stock up on the Arsenio.

Briley specifics

• Recommended: Yes
• Would I smoke it again? Yes.
• Will I buy more? Yes, I already have.
• My preferred size: Corona (6 by 44)

Arsenio specs

• Profile: Medium-bodied
• Approximate smoking time: 1 to 1.5 hours
• Box count: 15
• MSRP: $255 or ~$17 per stick (Toro size)

If you like this, you might also like: Aganorsa Rare Leaf Reserve Corojo, Aganorsa Rare Leaf Fusion, Aganorsa Supreme Leaf (any size), Guardian of the Farm Cerberus, Crafted by JR Aganorsa, Alec Bradley Prensado, C.L.E. Corojo, Warped La Colmena.

You’ll notice that my format is meant to be short and sweet, like this La Aurora Fuerte Sol review, or the previous Aganorsa Rare Leaf Maduro review. I don’t intend to keep up with the big leagues, I’m one guy. There won’t be any scores. However, I do want these reviews to be a resource for those looking for similar smokes or experiences.

The post Aganorsa Leaf Arsenio review appeared first on The BS Lounge.

They release Supreme Leaf only twice a year, typically in a different vitola. This year, we get the Gran Toro size (6 by 56) and it marks the 11th size change.

My all-time favorite vitola was the Supreme Leaf Robusto from 2022 (5 by 54). It was extra salty, with just enough sweetness to cut down on some of the harshness of the salt and pepper, and an all-around incredible smoke. Aganorsa’s Terence Reilly often refers to it as a “gusher,” because of how much saliva your mouth produces while imbibing. They did release a smaller Supreme Leaf Robusto (5 by 52) in 2020.

This year, I sat down with the Gran Toro, sampled some and got the lay of the land. More specifically, I compared the experience to previous vitolas, including my favorite. Let’s smoke this one out and see how it compares. Grab a cold beverage and light one up with me if you haven’t already.

Storage and burn

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

If you make a habit of reading my reviews, you’ll notice this section is pretty standard across them all. That’s because I like to share how I store my cigars, note the humidity range, so that you can take that information and compare when you eventually smoke the same blend.

I keep my humidor’s relative humidity (RH) between 64 and 67 and the temps in my house stay around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, I always let my cigars rest. The Supreme Leaf Gran Toro had two weeks to rest in my preferred humidity conditions before lighting. I will also admit there were one or two I did not let rest and chose to light them up right away. I know, I know, shame.

During testing I deployed my usual straight cut, V cut, and punch — but I prefer straight. I know there are some out there who prefer different cuts, but I’ve talked to several master blenders and they all recommend the guillotine method.

The Supreme Leaf Gran Toro cut with no issues, using all methods. There were very little, if any, tobacco shavings. Moreover, the burn was straight, reliable and I never once had the cigar(s) go out on me. That’s important here because the extra saltiness made me take some longer breaks towards the final third.

Flavors and experience

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

The Supreme Leaf is salty.

That has been a staple of the series since it first dropped, and it has been a driving part of the experience in every vitola. While Aganorsa blends to size, adjusting tobacco blends and fillers to match the cigar’s size to ensure parity across all vitolas, the larger Gran Toro size tones down the saltiness a little. That is not a bad thing.

That saltiness is thanks to the rich Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 wrapper. But it’s complemented well by notes of graham cracker, oak, charred wood, espresso, cinnamon, brown sugar, cayenne, peppercorn, black pepper and a lingering sweetness. Depending on what beverage you pair your cigar with, especially if it’s soda or a sweet drink, that sweetness tapers off a little and the saltiness comes out to play more.

It seems to ramp up as you smoke, growing stronger in the second and final third, but still leaving plenty of room for the other flavors to poke their heads in the door. It’s also rated as a medium to full-bodied cigar, closer to full by my count.

What I really like about the Gran Toro size is that it leaves plenty of smoking time for those flavors to dance and sing. In the Robusto and similar vitolas, the pepper and salt come to dominate, and it pretty much stays like that the entire time. I would say that for most, it’s going to be a matter of preference. If you prefer the heft of that salt and black pepper, or even peppercorns, you’ll want to go with one of the smaller vitolas — if you can get your hands on them. If you want that salt and pepper mellowed ever so slightly with more complex tonal variety, the Gran Toro is your guy.

Aganorsa Supreme Leaf Gran Toro review: Closing statements

Basically, the Supreme Leaf Gran Toro is more of the same delicious, salty gushiness of the previous releases. It’s slightly mellowed here, but subtle enough that I suspect most won’t discern the difference. That’s not a dig at anyone either. Aganorsa does a really good job of blending with each release.

If you’re not into the salty, peppery mixture of past Supreme Leaf launches, this one isn’t going to change your mind. If you love the label and want more, well, here you go. It’s always exciting to see what vitola they’re going to launch next. I think Terence has already hinted at some new options in the Aganorsa Acolytes group meetings.

They limited this batch to 3,000 boxes of 10 cigars. We’re not sure yet if there will be another release of this size, or if they’ll be moving on in the future. But if you can get your hands on some, I say go for it.

Briley specifics

• Recommended: Yes
• Would I smoke it again? Yes.
• Will I buy more? Yes, I already have.
• My preferred size: Robusto (5 by 54)

Supreme Leaf specs

• Profile: Full-bodied
• Approximate smoking time: 1.5 to 2 hours
• Box count: 10
• MSRP: $160 or ~$16 per stick (Gran Toro size)

If you like this, you might also like: Aganorsa Supreme Leaf (any size), Guardian of the Farm Cerberus, Crafted by JR Aganorsa, My Father Le Bijou 1922, Lampert Ocean Breeze, Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte, Don Pepin Garcia Blue, RomaCraft Neanderthal, Joya de Nicaragua Antaño.

You’ll notice that my format is meant to be short and sweet, like this La Aurora Fuerte Sol review, or the previous Aganorsa Rare Leaf Maduro review. I don’t intend to keep up with the big leagues, I’m one guy. There won’t be any scores. However, I do want these reviews to be a resource for those looking for similar smokes or experiences.

The post Aganorsa Supreme Leaf Gran Toro review appeared first on The BS Lounge.

JFR, if you didn’t know, stands for “Just for Retailers.” The goal of the brand was to be a retail-focused offering with premium quality tobacco, premium crafting, and all at an inexpensive price. When Aganorsa first hit the scene back in the day, most of its dealings were commercial. Hence, JFR.

Some love the brand, some hate it, I’ve seen a lot of speak on social media as you usually do, but as for myself, I’ve always been happy with it. I smoke the JFR Corojo all the time and it’s an excellent yard-gar.

But the JFR 20th is a little different. It’s celebrating the 20th anniversary of the brand, obviously, and it’s meant to be slightly more high-brow than usual offerings. Does it hold up? Is it a satisfying and delicious smoke? Am I happy with it? That’s precisely what we’re here to talk about.

Grab yourself a tall glass of something strong, or sweet, light up your choice of a stogie, and let’s smoke this thing out.

JFR 20th Anniversary — What is it?

As far as I know, the JFR 20th Anniversary is not a limited release. It is a regular production now, albeit new to Aganorsa’s lineup. It celebrates the twenty-year milestone of the JFR brand, as you’ve hopefully surmised at this point.

At the top, or head, you’ll notice a pigtail cap. That’s aligned with JFR’s core portfolio, including the Maduro, Connecticut and Corojo — pigtails up! It also has an unfinished foot, which means a leafy-like makeup as opposed to a smooth, sliced foot. It’s a nice little flair if you’re into that sort of thing. It doesn’t really affect the light or change the burn, it’s more of a novelty add.

The JFR 20th is medium to full-bodied and filled with Nicaraguan tobacco, something we’ve all come to know from both Aganorsa and JFR. The delectable San Andres wrapper shines here, both in appearance and the experience it offers. This cigar is packed with a peppery flavor. That said, it’s very much a flavor not a feeling, so you don’t have to worry about burning your face off if you retrohale.

The biggest difference here is that it’s available in boxes of 21, when the other JFR core lines come in boxes up to 50. That 50 count is one hell of a value.

Storage and burn

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

As always, I’ve had numerous cigars to balance out the review. They were stored in my humidor and allowed to rest, meaning I didn’t smoke them right away. I keep my humidor’s relative humidity (RH) between 64 and 67 and the temps in my house stay around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. That will give you some idea as to the conditions they’re stored in and hopefully, it will allow you to compare if and when you have your own experience.

Each one burned well, evenly, and with a relatively straight ash line. One of the evenings, which I’ll admit was windier than usual, the cigar had a little trouble keeping up and wouldn’t stay lit. The rest were fine, however. It didn’t affect the experience, or rather, the flavors, and I still enjoyed myself. There were no issues with tunneling, uneven burns or plugged draws.

When you’re talking about a more accessible stick like this, that’s very impressive to see. I would expect no less from Aganorsa, of course, but a lot of times there’s a quality tradeoff for going with something on the low-end of the pricing range. That’s not the case here and I’m very happy to report it as so. Not that this is a cheap cigar.

They cut well, too, using a straight cutter, V-cutter and punch. I didn’t notice any unraveling of tobacco at the head or much debris — meaning dry tobacco falling out after a cut.

Flavors and experience

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

I tend to like my cigars on the stronger side, with more pepper, more kick and a satisfying crescendo somewhere in the running time. I don’t care where. But if I get to the end of the cigar and it hasn’t kicked things up a notch, I usually feel let down, unless I’m specifically looking for something light and creamy. With the latter, I know what to grab and where to look for something like that.

What’s interesting about the JFR 20th is that the pepper is there, in full force, and it’s delicious. But it’s mostly flavor that you’ll pick up on your tongue. The retrohale does introduce some pepper, but again in flavor, not kick or spice. This is not a spice bomb that’s going to blow out your sinuses. For those of you out there who swear off pepper, you might still enjoy this one, so long as you’re okay with, again, the flavor.

It’s sweet, it’s salty, and it’s nuanced, just how I want my cigars to be. I picked up pepper off the cold draw and tasted pepper all the way through. I also recognized flavors like baking spices, cocoa, gingerbread, dough, and from the second-third on, kept getting strong cedar on every retrohale. These flavors are my jam, so, naturally, I enjoyed smoking this one.

It will pair well with sweet beverages, from Pepsi and soda to stronger offerings like bourbon. But actually, this one would go okay with scotch and more overpowering drinks. The pepper will definitely shine through, even with those smokey flavors.

JFR 20th Anniversary review: Closing statements

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

JFR has always been a go-to brand for me. I can’t speak for anyone else, though.

I have had some cigars from the brand burn wonky, but they usually even out over time. They’re versatile and they seem to hold up well in a variety of conditions, which is exactly why I use them as a yard-gar. The JFR 20th is a marked step-up from that.

Now, we’re still talking about a $10 to $12 stick here. For the money, I’d say it’s great value. There’s a lot of pepper flavor, some nuanced notes in there that keep the experience interesting, and it’s medium-to-full, which means, for me, it fits right into my evening line ups. This will certainly become a staple in my collection, as the core JFR lines have before it.

Would I recommend it? Yes, especially if you like what Aganorsa normally puts out. If you don’t like pepper at all, you might want to steer clear of this one. While it’s not the kind of pepper that burns your nose on a retrohale, it’s still a bold flavor that sticks around. I dig it, though.

Briley specifics

• Recommended: Yes
• Would I smoke it again? Yes.
• Will I buy more? Yes, definitely.
• My preferred size: Toro

JFR 20th Anniversary specs

• Profile: Medium to full-bodied
• Approximate smoking time: 1 to 1.5 hours
• Box count: 21
• MSRP: $210 or ~$10 per stick (Super Toro size)

If you like this, you might also like: JFR Maduro, JFR Corojo, JFR Lunatic Torch, Guardian of the Farm Cerberus, Boneshaker Full Body Cast, Aganorsa Rear Leaf Reserve Maduro, Tatuaje Black Label, My Father La Flor De Las Antillas, Oliva Serie V, 601 La Bomba, LFD Double Ligero.

You’ll notice that my format is meant to be short and sweet, like this La Aurora Fuerte Sol review, or the previous Aganorsa Rare Leaf Maduro review. I don’t intend to keep up with the big leagues, I’m one guy. There won’t be any scores. However, I do want these reviews to be a resource for those looking for similar smokes or experiences.

The post JFR 20th Anniversary review appeared first on The BS Lounge.

We were showing up for Terence, really, and to support Aganorsa. We usually go to local events when they’re happening.

Unfortunately, they had none of what I mentioned in stock. In fact, they barely had half of Aganorsa’s SKUs, if that. No Rare Leaf Reserve Corojo, no Supreme Leaf, no Validacion series — just the Habano — no Cerberus or standard Guardian of the Farm. I can understand some of the new options, especially if they’re brand new and tough to find. But to have so much missing for a named event, that’s just unacceptable.

When big cigar retailers drop the ball

What they did have was very limited, and for an event running from 4 PM to 8 PM, frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they ran out completely towards the end.

Sure, that’s usually par for the course with those corporate and sterile-style lounges. The cashier wasn’t particularly friendly, either. But it’s not wrong to expect just a little more. At the very least, they should have a much wider variety of the brand’s offerings when they’re having an event for that brand.

I don’t intend for this to be a Karen-style post where I drone on about negativities and, likely unsuccessfully, shame the store to do better. It wasn’t Aganorsa’s fault. In this case, it was the retailer’s.

If you’re going to support a brand, like Aganorsa, then support the damn brand. Don’t have the man show up and try to sell a bunch of singles from a handful of boxes. They didn’t have much on their actual shelves, either. If you’ve ever been to CI for an event, they usually have a front table in the walk-in humidor plus what’s on the shelves normally.

The Aganorsa Fumas experience is a real treat

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Switching gears, Terence was back to put some cigar newbies and locals through the beloved Fumas experience. If you’ve never done one before, it’s a lot of fun. They take individually wrapped cigar leaves like Criollo or Corojo, and have you smoke them separately. Then, you smoke them together to see how they complement the finished blends. It gives you a much better idea of how each of the tobacco types influence the flavors and experience.

Of course, Terence talks the entire time, walking you through it with his splendid animations and descriptors. Bonus points if you recognize the term “gusher,” from his vocabulary.

To end it on a high note, that’s always fun, and it’s always worth showing up. And the best part is he provides the Fumas supplies. You can usually spot him at events walking around with stacks of skinny cigars — skinnier than usual, anyway. I love that because it means everyone who wants to can participate.

I sat it out this time (by choice) and enjoyed watching everyone discuss it. My hope is that many of you reading this get to try it at some point, too, if you haven’t already.

As we were leaving, Terence handed us the new Supreme Leaf. You could say he saved the day.

The post When big cigar retailers drop the ball appeared first on The BS Lounge.

Of course, they also have their self-titled releases, with this next one making a splash on store shelves real soon. Like, now, soon. Introducing the Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario 25 Edición Limitada.

They’ll feature an MSRP of $30 per cigar, available in boxes of 10, and are limited to 1,000 boxes total. Select stores will start selling these bad boys real soon. Apparently, each store received a limit of no more than five boxes. That might make them tougher to find than most.

What is the Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario 25 Edición Limitada?

Shaped in a toro extra, at 6-1/4 inches by 52, the limited run celebrates and highlights Aganorsa Leaf’s 25 year anniversary. The anniversary actually happened in 2023, but this tobacco was aged two years, hence the delayed launch.

Inside, and outside, you’ll find all Nicaraguan tobaccos from the Aganorsa farms. What makes this one a bit different is that signature Aganorsa kick, and full-bodied experience, has been dialed back a bit. The Leaf Aniversario should be medium-bodied.

The brand’s owner, Eduardo Fernández, says the vision was “to bring the essence of traditional Cuban tobacco to Nicaragua by employing Cuban agricultural and fermentation methods, ultimately creating Aganorsa’s signature flavor profile.”

“This cigar celebrating our 25-year journey underscores a commitment to tradition and craftsmanship, showcasing Aganorsa’s dedication to authenticity in the tobacco industry.”

Sure, it might be a tough get, depending on where you are, but I’m also sure it’s going to be well worth it. If you get the chance, smoke one of these down to a nub.

Update: An earlier version mentioned the 25 year anniversary was in 2024. It actually happened in 2023.

The post Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario 25 Edición Limitada is available in select stores appeared first on The BS Lounge.

The Supreme Leaf is getting yet another upgrade with the launch of a Gran Toro vitola, in a 6 inches by 56 size. Don’t worry, it’s going to include the same blend of exclusive Aganorsa tobaccos we’ve grown to love, and it will be available in the same color shade as before. But it will also have a much more refined presentation, and, of course, the new size.

Tell me more about the new Supreme Leaf Gran Toro vitola

Back to share more is the ever-legendary Terence Reilly, Aganorsa’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. If you didn’t already know, this guy is everywhere, and it’s fantastic. Facebook (Meta). LinkedIn. Reddit. Twitter (X). But I digress.

“Supreme Leaf launched five years ago, and we wanted to offer a more sophisticated look to celebrate our most exciting brand. The packaging update is intended to capture the striking design of the original and add an elegance to the presentation. We selected a Gran Toro vitola for this special release because at 6 x 56 it will be the largest format we have ever released in this blend.”

The Supreme Leaf Gran Toro will be available in a limited release, launched with a total of 3,000 boxes, and bundled in tens. Retailers will get their hands on it first at PCA 2025 in New Orleans in April, as is customary for these beginning-of-the-year releases. It should be available on store shelves and in lounges for everyone else fairly soon after that.

The suggested MSRP is $15.99 per cigar, which puts a box of 10 around $160. That’s in line with Aganorsa’s general pricing, which, in my opinion, stays pretty damn accessible.

If you’ve never had the Supreme Leaf before, you’re in for a real treat. It’s what Terence would call a “gusher” because it’s salty, but it’s a phenomenal experience. Pair it with some peaty whiskey and it’s unreal.

The post Aganorsa Leaf to introduce a new Supreme Leaf Gran Toro vitola at PCA 2025 appeared first on The BS Lounge.

But JFR is just about over that 20 year hump, and to celebrate, Aganorsa is releasing a new line — it sounds delicious, as always. The JFR 20th Anniversary, aptly named, features a San Andrés Maduro wrapper atop an Aganorsa binder and fillers from Nicaragua. The cap has the signature JFR pigtail — pigtails up! Moreover, the foot will be unfinished with a fuzzy-style leaf seal.

The JFR 20th Anniversary are box pressed and available in four sizes: Toro (6.5 by 52), Titan (6 by 60), (4.75 by 70), and (7 by 70). Just remember, Aganorsa Leaf always blends to size.

Tell me more about the JFR 20th Anniversary

Who better to explain the new line’s decadence and intrigue than the frontman of the brand himself, Terence Reilly, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

“JFR has thrived over the past 20 years as our bestselling brand because it provides an unparalleled
value. In a market that has seen massive increases in cigar prices over the past few years, Aganorsa has remained dedicated to providing premium cigars that you can afford to enjoy. JFR 20th is proof of that commitment.”

Proof of its commitment, indeed. A new release is always exciting, of course, but a new release from Aganorsa and the JFR Line? That’s downright titillating.

The JFR 20th Anniversary cigars will come in boxes of 21, with a suggested MSRP of $9.50 to $12.50, depending on the vitola. Initially, they’ll be on display to everyone at PCA 2025 in New Orleans in April. They should be available to everyone else, and in lounges and on store shelves, shortly after.

Source: Aganorsa Leaf / JFR

Source: Aganorsa Leaf / JFR

Just one glance at those beautiful oily wrappers and I already know these are going to be delicious.

The post Aganorsa Leaf celebrates two decades of JFR with the JFR 20th Anniversary release appeared first on The BS Lounge.

Some cigars are worth keeping stocked in your humidor, no matter how much room you have, because they’re a bastion of decadence. Every time you light one up, they provide a unique, but memorable experience. Both the Aganorsa Rare Leaf Reserve versions — the Corojo and the Maduro — fit that bill. They are the equivalent of an after-meal dessert. Filled with sweetness, saltiness, and flavors abound, they’re not like anything else you can find on the shelves of a cigar shop either.

But while I could wax poetic all day, the real test, tried and true, is lighting one up for yourself, delving into those flavors that assault your senses, and coming out of the other side a changed person. Not necessarily someone with new world views, but someone who knows what they enjoy, knows what they want, and they just had it.

Maybe for you it’s different, but for me, I have to resist the urge to light up an Aganorsa Rare Leaf Reserve every day. I also have to resist the urge to light up another, right after I’ve just had one. Nevermind the flavors, nevermind the beverage pairing, to me that’s peak excellence. When a cigar can make you feel that way, make you desire another almost immediately and you can’t stop thinking about it — that’s a winner.

Storage and burn

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

I have yet to run into construction or burn issues and I’ve gone through several boxes now, primarily the Corojo, but also the Maduro. Since the latter is what we’re reviewing here today, that’s what I’ll focus on.

In regards to storage, these are not finicky cigars because they are well-constructed. A testament to the strength of Aganorsa’s Leaf. I keep my humidor’s relative humidity (RH) between 64 and 67 and the temps in my house stay around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. That will give you some idea as to the conditions they’re stored in and hopefully, it will allow you to compare if and when you have your own experience.

They’re easy to cut and don’t fall apart at the head — meaning the cap and underlying tobacco don’t come unraveled after a cut. I use guillotine or straight cuts, so that’s a big deal. Moreover, they’re just as easy to light, provided you have the right tools.

Flavors and experience

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

While the Maduro does have similar flavors to the Corojo, it’s still a unique experience. The wrapper is a San Andres Maduro from Mexico, and it blends well with the Nicaraguan binder. The fillers include tobacco from Esteli and Jalapa Valley in Nicaragua, as well. Both blends are available in three sizes: Robusto (5 by 52), Toro (6 by 54) and Torpedo Box Press (6 by 52). If you don’t know already, Aganorsa blends to size, so you will have a similar experience in all of those options.

The complexity and depth of flavor are unreal. The dark, oily maduro wrapper is responsible for a lot of toasty, delicious and sweet flavors. Every time I light one, I pick up chocolate, black pepper, dark coffee or espresso, cedar and some fruity notes like lemongrass or citrus. As you get further in, you’ll pick up nuttiness, like almonds, leather, and a creamy and pasty dough-like flavor. Depending on what you pair it with — and I hope it’s something sweet — you’ll get a lot of flavor beyond that. You might pick up some vanilla, sugar or molasses, hay, earth, and a little clove.

The flavors are dark and strong enough that you don’t have to smoke this first in your lineup. It works just fine as a second or third cigar of the day, or the evening. Moreover, I always like to have these after family dinner, so any food flavors still on your palate shouldn’t ruin the experience.

Aganorsa Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro review: Closing statements

This is a definite recommendation in my book, and it’s a cigar I keep going back to. If you haven’t had an Aganorsa Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro, or the Corojo, you’re in for a real treat when you do.

Briley specifics

• Recommended: Yes
• Would I smoke it again? Yes, I already do.
• Will I buy more? Yes, I already have.
• My preferred size: Toro

Aganorsa Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro specs

• Profile: Full-bodied
• Approximate smoking time: 1 to 1.5 hours
• Box count: 15
• MSRP: $232 or ~$15 per stick

If you like this, you might also like: E.P. Carrillo Pledge or Encore Black, Oliva Serie V Melanio, Aganorsa Supreme Leaf, Diesel Delirium, Any Padron

The post Aganorsa Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro review appeared first on The BS Lounge.

But not everyone has the privilege of community. By that, I mean, there are some who don’t have friends or family that smoke and don’t know many people who do. Maybe you don’t want that solitary experience and want to join some brothers or sisters of the leaf? I get it. So, it makes sense the next question would be how to find or meet people to enjoy cigars with? I have a few ideas on that, let’s discuss.

Head to a local lounge or shop

Cigar lounges especially are an excellent hot spot to engage with fellow cigar smokers. Everyone there is either already smoking or planning to at some point. Maybe they brought a few cigars of their own, or maybe they’re purchasing everything in the lounge. Either way, they are in there to smoke and enjoy themselves.

Now, that doesn’t mean that every single person you see in a lounge or cigar shop is approachable. Some of those folks might still want to smoke in peace. But I’m willing to bet most would be okay with discussing cigars and rubbing elbows with fellow cigar enthusiasts. Strike up a conversation. Ask what cigar they’re smoking, what their favorite labels or brands are, and maybe even where they come from. There’s no harm in trying. If they don’t want to be social, they’ll let you know.

Check out a cigar club

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

There are both local and remote cigar clubs, the latter of which you can join via social media networks, online communities and so forth. Local clubs usually meet up in your area to either smoke, trade cigars, or discuss the industry. Both options are great opportunities for meeting new people who love cigars as much as you.

Some of those clubs do have requirements, but it’s nothing crazy. Typically, it’s about being localized and being able to participate in events, gatherings, and beyond. By simply participating, you’ll meet a lot of new people, friends, and cigar lovers.

Engage on social media

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

X, formerly known as Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, all of these social networks have cigar-related communities you can join. You might not meet up with a lot of those people in person, they’re usually spread out across the country and sometimes even the globe, but you can still have some great conversations. Better yet, some of those communities have virtual events or v-herfs, where they meet up on camera and smoke and chat.

I’ve participated in a few v-herfs myself, including brand-organized events — like a virtual tasting with La Aurora — and they’re always a lot of fun. It’s a unique experience for sure, but it’s also a fantastic way to make some connections in the cigar community or the industry overall. There are a lot of communities like this centered on a particular brand. For example, the Aganorsa Acolytes page and community are perfect for anyone who enjoys Aganorsa Leaf cigars. You may also gain access to exclusive deals, merchandise and events.

This is also an excellent way to try new cigars, because the community — me, included — is always shipping new sticks to others to share our love of the leaf. We love when we can share our favorite hobby, nay, lifestyle with others.

Attend some cigar events

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

This one is a no-brainer, but you can attend local cigar events to meet like-minded people. Sometimes, they’re hosted by lounges or clubs, other times they’re actual brand-organized events like Big Smoke or the Tampa Cigar Bash, which I have a lot of fun at every year.

I’ve been to several events and every time I meet new people from varying places. Just last year, at the Tampa Cigar Bash, I met a group of guys from Wisconsin, Iowa, New York, and a few other states. The point is, you’ll get to spend some time with people that enjoy smoking and collecting cigars and they’re from all walks of life, which is phenomenal. The cigar community is as diverse as the cigars themselves.

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