62 TOBACCO BUSINESS | MARCH / APRIL | 22 In regard to Aganorsa specifically, Nicaragua was the best place to cultivate tobacco that was similar to that of the best tobacco grown in Cuba. “Jalapa, for instance, has very similar climate conditions to Vuelta Abajo in Cuba, which is the most famous growing region on the island,” says Reilly. “Aganorsa is truly a synthesis of tried and true Cuban methods and fertile Nicaraguan soil and resources.” In addition to its main factory in Estelí that opened in 2002, Aganorsa has a factory in Jalapa and a boutique-focused factory located in Miami, Florida. A majority of the company’s proprietary brands and private label products are made in its Estelí factory. One could say that it’s within these factories that the real “magic” happens. When speaking on the subject of what makes Aganorsa’s tobacco so sought after, the term “pre-industria” comes up a lot. Pre-industria refers to the facility where Aganorsa collects the tobacco after its been cured and puts it into pilones for fermentation. It’s here that the tobacco is sorted, deveined, and selected for binder and filler use. The entire process takes up to two years to complete. Any errors during the various pre-industria stages lead to a drop in tobacco quality, thus it’s here that Aganorsa places a great deal of its attention to ensure each phase of the process is done correctly and with great time and consideration. When retailers and consumers smoke an Aganorsa-produced cigar and note its exceptional quality, it’s because of the careful and meticulous attention to detail during this critical stage in the manufacturing process. When it comes to creating its various cigar blends, Aganorsa Leaf’s president, Paul Palmer, is often quoted as saying, “We blend for balance, flavor and aroma.” All cigar makers strive for balance when creating a blend, and this is no different for Aganorsa Leaf. In its quest for the perfect blend, the skilled team at Aganorsa knows that smokers will experience the best balance at the center of the palate, which will in turn create what Reilly refers to as a “gusher” of flavor that will make the smoker salivate. “We don’t like tobacco that leaves your palate dry,” he says. “We have a blending panel that consists of five or six people [that] we primarily rely on to develop the blends based on the style we feel will be well received in the market. When we are developing a blend, we look for areas of our portfolio where we are lacking and then create our expression of that style. For instance, our Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut is unlike any other. Connecticut-wrapped cigars tend to be very mild and often become harsh and unbalanced when you try to ratchet up the strength level. Our Connecticut is medium bodied, balanced, complex and [has] a clean finish. There is no Connecticut like it.” There are other blends in Aganorsa’s portfolio that demonstrate just how strong the company’s leaf growing and cigar manufacturing is. In recent years, Aganorsa’s Supreme Leaf and Rare Leaf Reserve have resonated with many retailers, selling out soon after their releases and creating an unprecedented demand among cigar consumers. Both of these special blends stood out even more so due to their vibrant, bold packaging that was purposefully chosen to reflect the quality of the blends and to catch a consumer’s attention while in a store’s humidor. They are also blends that Aganorsa produced in a limited quantity to ensure that the company could be extra selective with the material it Aganorsa Leaf’s Rare Leaf Reserve is a premium cigar blend crafted from low-yield tobaccos grown on tobacco farms owned and operated by Aganorsa.
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