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 issue of Cigar Insider.
