Casa Fernandez Brand Moves to Miami
When
Eduardo Fernandez opened a new Miami factory in June, he moved
production of the existing Casa Fernandez brand there as well. The line
has not only been relocated from Honduras to Florida, but renamed to
reflect the transition and is now called Casa Fernandez Miami.
Although
the brand is currently manufactured at the new 2,200 square foot U.S.
facility, its blend has not changed. All the cigars are still made with
the same Nicaraguan tobacco sourced from Aganorsa S.A., the agricultural
conglomerate owned by Fernandez.
The
core line consists of three sizes: Toro (6 1/2 inches by 52 ring),
Torpedo (6 1/4 by 52) and Petit Robusto (4 1/2 by 52). A special 6 by 54
Toro Reserva size, however, features four-year-old Nicaraguan medio
tiempo tobacco in the blend. According to Paul Palmer, president of
Tabacalera Tropical/Casa Fernandez, medio tiempo is very rare, growing
on only 80 plants out of every 15,000 or so. While the Casa Fernandez
Miami line retails from $6.80 to $7.70, the Reserva will cost $8.90, but
all come packaged in boxes of 15.
It should be noted that the Casa Fernandez Arsenio and Lancero (No. 21 on Cigar Aficionado's 2009 Top 25) sizes will still be made in Honduras at the Raices Cubanas factory, as will the Casa Fernandez "Aganorsa Leaf" brand.
For ratings on the Casa Fernandez Miami brand, see an upcoming issue of Cigar Insider.
