Supreme Leaf Robusto (2020)

At the end of 2019, AGANORSA Leaf began teasing a new cigar in December 2019 before announcing that it would debut at the TPE 2020 trade show the following month. That cigar, named Supreme Leaf, would then begin heading to stores in early March.

It’s a cigar with a bold name—Supreme Leaf—but one the company stood by proudly.

“We believe our leaf is our strength and so we wanted the presentation clearly to reflect that confidence in the quality of our cigars,” said Terence Reilly, vp of sales and marketing, via a press release in December 2019. “The packaging has a bold and assertive look and feel that demands the consumer’s attention on the shelf. You don’t use colors like this unless you are confident in the product.”

Supreme Leaf uses an all-Nicaraguan blend that is described as being “corojo 99 dominant,” referring to one fo the two main seed varietals they grow, with the other being criollo 98. No other details about the blend were announced, but the company says the intent of the blend was to  “excite the palate with a complex balance of mouthwatering sweetness and potent spice.”

The line debuted in a box-pressed, 5 x 52 robusto vitola, and was a limited release with just 500 boxes of 10 cigars produced. However, the company noted that it was not a true limited edition, with more cigars planned for the future.

As of this review, the line has grown to nine vitolas, ranging from the 4 1/2 x 50 Rothschild to three releases that use a 6 x 54 vitola but come in different shapes: a toro, a torpedo, and a perfecto.

Additionally, vitolas have been re-released along the way, giving consumers the chance to pick up a size they may have missed out on, or restock their humidor with a size they liked.

Here’s what I said about the Supreme Leaf Robusto when I reviewed it in April 2020:

Superlative name or not, any cigar has to deliver the goods when it comes to flavor, balance and complexity, among other things. The Supreme Leaf starts off strong both in flavor and performance, showing a good amount of complexity and progression throughout its first half before picking up just enough irritation to overshadow whatever else the cigar might contain, at least distract from that offering. The second half of the cigar seems to have just as much to offer in the first, and maybe even more given its mellower profile, unfortunately, that won’t be what I remember about it. Everything else about the cigar is quite good, the occasional wavy burn line notwithstanding, so while I’m not shy about recommending the cigar, I do so only with a bit of restraint when it comes to its ability to live up to its name.

• Cigar Reviewed: Supreme Leaf Robusto (2020)
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A.*
• Wrapper: Nicaragua
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 5 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Vitola: Robusto
• MSRP: $9.95 (Box of 10, $99.50)
• Release Date: March 4, 2020
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Redux: 3

*This factory has been renamed to “AGANORSA.”

As is no surprise, the cellophane on this Supreme Leaf Robusto has yellowed quite a bit, which makes what’s inside—including the bands—look a bit darker than they actually are. Sliding the cigar out of the cellophane reveals that fairly vibrant band I remember, while the cigar itself looks like it might have just a bit of age on it, nothing suggests that assumption outright. The wrapper doesn’t have a lot of oiliness, offering a very fine and fairly soft texture for my fingers. The edges created by the box press remain pretty crisp, and the covered foot is still intact. The wrapper leaf is fairly even in color save for a small bit of mottling, while the veins are small and obtrusive and the seam lines are barely noticeable. The cigar is fairly dense and doesn’t show quite the same give that I consider to be the average for box-pressed cigars. The covered foot has an interesting aroma that makes me think of oily peanuts, then white cake, and then a smoked Old Fashioned. Air moves well on the cold draw, neither loose or with restriction, with a flavor that is a mixture of flavors I would describe as light woody, bread crust and peanut shells. It’s certainly not trying to mimic the aroma, and it’s also fairly mild and short, not leaving much of a sensation on the finish, though my lips do get a slight tingle from the tobacco.

While my pre-light experience with the Supreme Leaf Robusto might have been on the mild side, the first puffs come out swinging with black pepper that makes a beeline for my nostrils. Behind that pepper is a decently rich earth flavor, not the heaviest or richest that I’ve ever tasted, but one that complements the pepper well. I’m also impressed by a bit of creaminess in the profile, a trait that carries over to the texture and appearance of the smoke. Retrohales deliver a quick jab of pepper that dissipates fairly quickly but leaves just enough to offer a subtle tingle in my nostrils. While there’s not a discernible sweetness in the profile, the first third is quite good and plenty palate-stimulating. The burn line gets a bit off getting into the second third, which is fixed by a quick touch-up, but otherwise, I haven’t had any construction issues. The second third sees the black pepper become a bit more far-reaching, as now my eyes get a bit of irritation from it, an interesting change as it seems that pepper has subtly decreased in its intensity on my taste buds. Retrohales remain at about the same level as before, though the finish is more lingering and intense. I also sense a slight decrease in the creaminess as the overall flavor mellows just a touch ahead of the midway point. Flavor starts medium-full but backs down to medium, body is a thick, creamy medium-plus, and strength is mild thus far. Other than a quick touch-up to even out the burn line, I haven’t had a single construction issue, with the draw notably smooth and the cigar producing a solid amount of smoke.

The second half of the Supreme Leaf Robusto starts off impressively smooth, possibly reflective of the fact that this cigar has been sitting in a humidor for nearly four years. It’s something I’m also relieved to see, given that I noted how some irritation was part of the second half of the cigar when I smoked it back in 2020. Pepper begins to sharpen up and stand out more in the profile, hitting the taste buds and my nostrils with more focus after being a somewhat blunter expression in the first half. The woodiness in the profile is the next to make a similar change, and with it, it seems like the earthiness in the profile has diminished. There are still some threads of creaminess tying the layers together, yet it isn’t as forthcoming as earlier. It’s a very enjoyable profile, though one that has a bit more character than what was offered for much of the first half, a change that includes a more pronounced and lingering finish. The homestretch of the cigar gets just a touch smokier, not quite to the level of a campfire or charcoal grill, but enough to be noticeable. The flavor and smoke both fill out and round out in the final inches, giving the Supreme Leaf Robusto what may be the most enjoyable profile it has offered thus far. The flavor and body both finishes at medium-full, while strength is medium-minus. Construction is fantastic and nearly problem-free, with a leisurely smoking pace leading to a smoking time of about two hours and 15 minutes.