AGANORSA Leaf Ships La Validación Connecticut, Habano

Half of the new La Validación Series blends are now shipping to stores.

AGANORSA Leaf has begun shipping the La Validación Connecticut and La Validación Habano. These cigars were previously branded under the Casa Fernández AGANORSA Connecticut and Habano lines, but AGANORSA Leaf decided to completely rebrand the cigars as part of its transition away from the Casa Fernandez name. The new name is inspired by Paul Palmer, president of AGANORSA Leaf, and his use of the term validate to describe the process by which he smokes cigars to approve of their quality. Instead of saying smoking or testing, Palmer typically refers to the practice as validating.

While the names and packaging designs are new, the blends remain the same. The Connecticut uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Nicaragua. The Habano is a Nicaraguan puro with corojo 99 and criollo 98 fillers.

All four blends—there will also be Corojo and Maduro blends available in July—are offered in the same three sizes:

• La Validación Connecticut/Habano Gran Robusto (5 x 54) — $8.75 (Box of 15, $131.25)
• La Validación Connecticut/Habano Toro (6 1/4 x 52) — $8.99 (Box of 15, $134.85)
• La Validación Connecticut/Habano Gran Toro (6 x 58) — $9.50 (Box of 15, $142.50)

As part of the streamlining of the brands, AGANORSA Leaf discontinued some sizes from some of the blends.

“Last year we sent out a survey to our retail partners and the big take away is our cigars need to better reflect our company logo and image,” said Terence Reilly, AGANORSA Leaf’s vp of sales and marketing, in a press release last month. “We listened to this valuable feedback and have worked with a professional designer to create an image that is unmistakably AGANORSA. We think both retailers and consumers will be thrilled with this new look that captures the essence of AGANORSA: our leaf is our strength.”

The La Validación Corojo and La Validación Maduro are expected to begin shipping to stores in July.