A major fire ravaged a crucial tobacco processing facility owned by Aganorsa Leaf, one of Nicaragua’s premier tobacco growers, on September 4, 2024. The devastating blaze destroyed thousands of pounds of premium tobacco destined for Aganorsa Leaf premium cigar brands and others including Warped and Illusione.
Located near La Barranca, south of Estelí, the facility served as a vital hub for sorting, fermenting, and aging tobacco. Despite the efforts of local firefighters and the army, the majority of the tobacco was lost to the flames, with only a few bales salvaged. The damage was compounded by smoke and water damage.
While the fire was a significant setback, it is unlikely to have a lasting impact on Aganorsa Leaf or its production operations. Terence Reilly, the company’s vice president of sales and marketing, assures cigar enthusiasts that their other Nicaraguan facilities have sufficient tobacco reserves to keep operations running smoothly.
“On Sept 4th, one of our pre-industrias caught fire. No one was hurt and although this is a great loss we are fortunate to have other facilities with lots of tobacco to minimize the impact on our operations,” Reilly shared in a statement to the Premium Cigar Association (PCA).
Aganorsa Leaf, founded by Eduardo Fernández, is a prominent figure in the premium cigar industry, with farms spanning across Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa. Some of Aganorsa Leaf’s premium cigar brands include Guardian of the Farm, Lunatic, JFR, and New Cuba.