Aganorsa Signature, The GOAT and Oz Family Cigars

First off I feel the need to point something out.  I received the press release for this year’s Punch Father’s Day release, Mr. Punch’s Weiners.  I thought the Dad Bod was a terrible concept just about all around, some folks liked it. The band was dumb, packaging them in a can was dumb, overall I thought it sent a bad message: it’s OK to let yourself go.  Not that I’m a fitness freak, I have a dad bod, but I don’t embrace it!  The Dad’s Home Videos was very good, not a problem. I have a problems with the weiner theme, aside form the obvious, it seems to be a little close to the Fratello Vice-Versa, down to saying it can be smoked from either end.  Now, it doesn’t claim to taste different depending on which way one smoked it, but the concept is the same. I know it’s not worth Omar’s time to do anything about it, both are limited editions, and General has deep enough pockets to defend themselves, but it would be a courtesy to look at things in the market and try not to blatantly copy them.  At least they put them in packs of 10.  I think Kevin (who played a big part in the Vice-Versa, by the way) should get on his 3D printer and make some hot dog roll cigar props and sell them in packs of eight!

That was a long way to get to the punch line, so let’s talk about some new-to-me cigars.  In a recent visit to The Wooden Indian I picked up an Aganorsa Leaf Signature Selection Maduro Toro.  This is a Nicaraguan Puro, mostly Nicaraguan Corojo with a touch of Nicaraguan Criollo 98 in the filler.  I struggle with the Aganorsa lines, some I like, some not so much and I can’t seem to ever remember which ones fall into which category.  I know I like the La Validation Maduro, that’s for sure. Will I remember the next time I’m faces with a choice?  Who’s to say?  I can say that I’m adding this to the list of Aganorsa cigars I like. It started with a dry cocoa powder kinda thing going on, and got sweeter as it went along. Burn and draw were great and it hit the spot.  $13.50 well spent.

Next up from my Wooden Indian foray was an A.J. Fernandez cigar that I’ve heard a lot about, The Goat.  This started life as a store exclusive for Nasser’s Lounge in Pétion-Ville, Haiti.  I’ve never been there.  It’s now in wider distribution, and is pricey for an A.J. Fernandez cigar , around $17.  Also pricey for me, but I was interested and looking for new things.  This has a San Andrés wrapper, Nicaraguan Corojo binder and Nicaraguan fillers.  What’s not to like, right?   Turns out, I liked it a lot.  It was a 6″ x 52 toro, It was heavy, earthy and had some sweet espresso notes.  It was very good, but outside my comfort zone price-wise.  I’m notoriously frugal.

Finally I picked up an Oz Family Cigars Firsat, in the F54 size.  This is a 7″ x 54 cigar, with a higher priming Ecuador Connecticut wrapper that I thought was pretty ugly.  Many times ugly wrappers are very tasty.  The binder is a Ecuador Habano with Nicaraguan fillers.  I believe this is made at Casa Carillo in the DR. It’s a big cigar, and I sat down to watch a movie figuring it was going to take a good two hours to smoke.  The flavors were nuts and leather, with a bit of creaminess and built up to a solid medium. This was a light (in weight) cigar, and was done in less than 90 minutes, which was a bit of a disappointment. $14 wasn’t a terrible price, it was a tasty cigar and it might work better in another size, or at least the same for less money.  

That’s all I have for today. Don’t forget to check out the Flatbed Cigar Co. Daily Deal, there’s always something good (left sidebar). Until the next time, 

CigarCraig