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Blind Review: JFR Lunatic Torch Dreamland

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The JFR Torch Dreamland is a large 6’ ½ x 60 gauge smoke with a shaggy foot that reveals the filler tobaccos by having the shortened wrapper leave a part of the cigar exposed. I usually enjoy this type of roll as it gives you a chance to taste the filler first and then see how the wrapper compares to the overall flavor. This is typically a quick if not too elaborate way of getting to taste a component of a cigar.

Regarding the size I am admittedly not a fan of large gauge smokes as I find them uncomfortable to smoke which hurts the experience for me. However with blind smoking it’s not so much about my personal preferences as it is about the quality and flavor the cigar provides. So let’s get to the blind review.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: JFR Lunatic Torch Dreamland
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Size: 6 1/2 x 60

Appearance & Construction

This cigar has a medium brown Colorado wrapper with a shaggy foot. It’s a large, dense cigar with a few veins and a well-constructed cap. The smoke feels stuffed with tobacco showing no discernable soft spots anywhere. The shag foot is just that, a shaggy end of filler leaf sticking out the foot and brittle to the touch.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

Taking a wide straight cut I clip the cigar and take a dry draw that’s sweet, raisinated and with some woody notes. I light the shag foot and the filler tobaccos ignite delivering some gritty/earthy tones that leave saltiness on the lips. As the burn reaches the wrapper, pepper and char engulf the palate with a woody character on the finish. The retrohale gives off a bitter quality with a bit of toast that falls short. The cigar produces little smoke, which is surprising due to its size and amount of filler tobaccos involved.

By midway, there haven’t been a lot of changes in the profile. The flavors range from earthy, gritty with some vanilla bean sweetness that’s short on the finish. Construction wise, the cigar produces a solid gray ash with a decent burn line. The body continues to be in the medium range while the flavor comes in a bit rough with an oaky sharpness that is displeasing. As the cigar develops more, there are nuts and pepper going back and forth with a relentless roughness in the tobacco.

In the final third of the cigar, there is some drying on the palate along with hay and leather followed by earth and oak. A distinct return of the sharpness makes it a tough cigar to continue smoking, especially with its size.  Another retrohale gives off cedar and fruit which leaves a bitter note in the mouth. The strength is a solid medium, never straying much from the initial flavors of the cigar. As I draw the last few puffs, the wood and sharpness remain with a rough finish. A lackluster end to this smoke.

Conclusion

I’m not sure where the “Lunacy” lies in the JFR Lunatic Torch Dreamland. I didn’t find it all that dynamic or out there in terms of the flavor profile. What started off with some sweetness quickly turned gritty and earthy with a short finish. At times there was a sharpness that made it tough to enjoy as it overshadowed the other flavors that weren’t all that intense to begin with. The medium body added to the less than vibrant profile and the bitterness hurt the experience for me.

If you are looking to try a JFR Lunatic Torch I would suggest starting with a smaller vitola as perhaps the blend may be better suited for it. This size was more work than the flavor it delivered.

Final Rating: 86

Aganorsa Leaf Signature Selection Robusto Review

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Aganorsa Leaf Signature Selection Review 7

If you read the name “Aganorsa Leaf” and wondered what it was referring to, you aren’t the only one. The brand is actually the newest incarnation of Casa Fernandez,  maker of popular cigars like the original Casa Fernandez line, JFR, and Guardian of the Farm (which we reviewed here). I first experienced the company’s product (then Casa Fernandez) in 2012 on a trip to South Carolina and the quality of the product was immediately apparent.

The Signature Selection is the newest blend from the company and features tobaccos aged up to 7 years.

Product Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Aganorsa Leaf Signature Selection Robusto
  • Wrapper: Nicaragua (Corojo 99 Jalapa)
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua (Estelí & Jalapa)
  • Size: 5″ x 52 Robusto

Aganorsa Leaf Signature Selection Review 4

Appearance & Construction

The Aganorsa Leaf Signature Selection Robusto is a stunner of a cigar. After removing the gold foil encasement, the Corojo 99 Jalapa wrapper is revealed to be just beautiful, with an oak wood appearance, a light oily sheen, and an incredibly solid triple (or even quadruple) cap. The gold and white double band has a celebratory vibe reminiscent of many of Davidoff’s cigars, though its distinct enough to not feel like a copy.

Taking a whiff off of the foot, I pick up aromas of hay, sweet grass, caramel, and cedar. The cold draw has an interesting character, with assertive pepper, some creamy chocolate, and cedar. The restrictiveness of the draw is a touch tight, about an 8/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness.

Aganorsa Leaf Signature Selection Review 3

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Aganorsa Signature Series kicks off with medium bodied, full flavored smoke. Dominating everything are two notes: black pepper and charred oak, drying my palate and setting the back of my throat atingling. There’s a slight creamy sweetness below those two notes, but it’s faint and almost impossible to catch behind the heavy pepperiness. Not a bad start, but I’m looking for more balance and complexity from this cigar–hopefully that shows up soon. I also have a bit of trouble tolerating the retrohale, which is chock full of white pepper and dry wood. Smoke production is decent, but not quite as high as I’d like it to be, and 10 minutes in it seems the outer wrapper leaf is having some trouble staying lit.

Close to an inch in, the ash is holding strong with a very wavy burn. Thankfully, I’m beginning to pick up a bit of the complexity that I was hoping for. Although there’s still dominant charred oak,the black pepper has morphed into a number of cooking and grilling spices (garlic powder, paprika, sea salt). And every couple of puffs I get hints of cream and roasted nuts. It’s closer to being in balance at this point, but I’d still be grateful for a bit less charred oak.

Aganorsa Leaf Signature Selection Review 2

As the Aganorsa Leaf Signature Selection burns into the second third, the wrapper requires a touch up, and it seems that there’s a tunnel developing in the filler tobacco, which drops the smoke production to below average. On the palate and in the aroma, flavors of  graham cracker, cinnamon and Dijon mustard saddle up next to leather and charred oak. The retrohale has morphed as well, taking on a toasty, peppery character.

In the final third, the pepper finally dies down enough to allow the more nuanced flavors to take charge. Flavors on the palate include toasty bread, salt and pepper, generic wood, cream, and Dijon mustard. Construction improves as well, with a straight burn and good smoke production. It’s just too bad the cigar doesn’t find better balance before the end!

Conclusion

The Aganorsa Leaf Signature Selection is an enjoyable smoke but it has too many noticeable areas to improve on to merit an above-average rating. Lack of balance and finesse and construction issues take this from being a great cigar down to just good.

Final Score: 84

Guardian of the Farm JJ Review

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Guardian of the Farm Review

Brand owner Kyle Gellis owner of Warped Cigars collaborated with Max Fernandez of Casa Fernandez to create The Guardian of the Farm. The cigar pays homage to their dogs who live on the farm and “secure” its perimeters. Much more than just a fun attachment to their pets, the Guardian of the Farm is a well crafted cigar with serious flavor. This Nicaraguan puro once again demonstrates why the country continues to deliver some of the best smokes out there.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: The Guardian of the Farm
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Size: 5 1/4 x 50 (JJ)

Appearance and Construction

The Guardian of The Farm band is simple in it’s labeling, with “Guardian of the Farm” and a basic picture of a bulldog in the center. The understated band is a refreshing change from many of the flashier bands out there. The cigar is firm to the touch with just the right amount of heft and full of tobacco. There are some veins to this slightly light shaded wrapper which doesn’t detract from the apparent quality.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Upon first lighting the Guardian you are hit with a lot of spice that’s more Indian spice than pepper. The distinct taste of cardamom gives that citrus and spice character to start. The spice tapers off rather quickly to reveal leathery and savory notes.  The mouthfeel intertwines cedar and toast that coats the palate. The changes in this cigar from its onset are moving rather quickly.

The second half of the Guardian becomes rather silky on the palate with creamy and buttery notes. The spice soon returns along with earth and a swath of fresh tobacco. The flavors become really pronounced at this point with earth dominating along some salinity. The finish is of almond and wood.

The final third is where spice and leather return with a bit of drying on the palate. The toast picks up as well as a touch of minerality. Increased citrus along with leather keep this cigar interesting at its end. Cardamon returns with a coating of cedar that rounds out the final profile. The finish delivers much of the how this cigar began.

Conclusion

While the Guardian of the Farm does not deliver the most complexity I’ve experienced, the taste profile is quite satisfying. From spice to leather and earth, the style of this cigar hit the spot for me. I have enjoyed a lot of what Warped has put out and this smoke is an addition to the portfolio that differentiates rather than homogenizes itself into the other lines. I recommend this farm style cigar as another example of the various choices Warped offers its consumers.