Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 Rosado

Binder: Nicaraguan 2 different blends (Entubado style)

Filler: Nicaraguan Aganorsa ‘98

Size: 5.5 x 42  “Corona”

Body: Medium

Price: $5.90

This is not a blend designed by A.J. Fernandez, the Master. But it is designed by the “Dream Team” at Casa Fernandez. With the goal in mind to blend Aganorsa tobacco with the rest of the eclectic leaves mentioned above.

A description from Atlantic Cigar about the La Mia:

“All La Mia cigars are rolled using the traditional Entubado style with two binders and wrapped with a Corojo ’99 Rosado wrapper finished with a traditional triple cap and flag head. The La Mia Farm is considered to be one the finest farms in all of Nicaragua. The La Mia cigar will be the first time tobacco from these fields will be used to create a cigar since the farms were acquired by Eduardo Fernandez from the Nicaraguan government. Rumor has it even the Cuban government had its eye on this outstanding farm, with its unique rich terroir that produces outstanding tobacco. La Mia cigars are a boutique small batch production rolled by Cuban Torecedores in Miami. The number of boxes will vary from year to year depending on the availability of tobacco needed to make this unique cigar.”

Over the last month they have become the rocks of Gibraltar. There is a nice oily sheen. There is a triple cap with a nice little pig tail. A bit on the rustic side with veins running up and down the stick. But seams are tight as my grandma’s choo choo.

I do the sniff-o-rama and detect spice, cocoa, and nutmeg. But all aromas were very faint. Mostly, it smelled like good tobacco.

I clip the baby and light up. Although, I hate removing the nice little pig tail from any cigar. They should put one on the side for you to admire during the length of your smoke. Normally, I would just twist the pigtail off creating a smoke port, but this is such a small cigar that clipping is necessary.

Garland at Atlantic Cigar told me that this La Mia Corona has become a huge success in sales. So I am about to find out why.

Wow! I get a huge blast of red pepper. This stick ain’t kidding around. The draw is perfect. Huge plumes of smoke emit from the tiny foot.

A huge wallop of creaminess and caramel slam into my palate. The sweetness is close to startling. The char line is dead nuts.

I’ve stated before that I have sort made a right turn in the sizes I prefer. I am at a robusto or smaller preference. The flavors are much more intense and they take a lot less time in your humidor to get there. And I get bored with the same cigar for over 2 hours. Unless, it is a tremendous cigar.

There are leather and cedar components. The creaminess keeps building and the pepper tamps down just a tad. The sweet buttery caramel is delicious. I can see why Garland told me this size was taking off. And I will be buying a box soon.

I’m less than an inch in and this cigar has already shown me that it is a flavor bomb.

The body is already at classic medium. The pepper creates an illusion of a higher strength.

It’s advertised that all the La Mia’s are rolled Entubado style. Not only do I have this tiny corona, but I have a few Perlas at 4 x 44. How can the hand of a torcedor be so steady as to roll the filler into a tube with such a small diameter? Man, this guy ain’t chewing on any coca leaves. But clearly, only the most experienced torecedores are able to do this.

I am floored by the flavor profile. It is simple…it isn’t unique…and it’s in your face. Plus the best part is that a premium stick like this goes for less than $6..or $5.30 by the box.

I am now going beyond the other flavors to baking spices and graham cracker. Honestly, with the creaminess and the baking flavors, this cigar tastes like cheesecake. Really. The char line is remaining on point with perfection.

Cinnamon and nutmeg exude from the stick. The buttery graham cracker crust component is fantastic.

I’m a huge fan of Casa Fernandez. I recently bought a box of the Miami Reserva from Atlantic and I am doling them out carefully as I don’t want to go through them too fast. The only beef I have with CF, is that they only box in quantities of 15, rather than 20. I don’t know if it’s an issue of scarce tobacco or just their style.

I have reviewed all of the Casa Fernandez line in this blog, so if you are interested, you can see what I think of the rest of the line.

The cigar is stuffed to the gills with tobacco so even a small stick like this is a slow burner. I’ve been on it for 15 minutes and I’ve only smoked a little over an inch.

As I close in on the halfway point, there is cocoa to be had. As well as espresso. All these flavors are crazy. I have one left in my humidor. I want more.

The triple cap is handling my chomping like a champ. Not a single piece of loose tobacco has come loose. Kudos.

I could smoke this cigar all day long. It contains all the flavors a man, or woman, could want.

At the halfway point, the spice ramps up quite a bit. My eyes are damp, my nose is running and the tip of my tongue tingles. Woo Hoo. It has taken me exactly 28 minutes to get here.

It is at this point, complexity enters the picture. Instead of one flavor standing out amongst the rest, the meld into one. The stick becomes oh so well balanced and the finish is long, my friend.

The cheesecake phenomena continues. Cheesecake con leche.

The body continues at medium. Smoke still pours from the foot, the draw is excellent and the char line is spot on.

While I enjoyed the Robusto (5.5 x 50), I am really digging the Corona.

Thankfully, the band comes off easily. I really hate it when there is too much glue on a band and you must shred it to release it.

I’m just past the halfway point and the cigar becomes richer and earthier. I can’t get enough of the flavors. After I finish this review, I plan to have a bowl of cereal, and light up my last one. Only this time, I am going to light up a Perla. That should be something.

The cigar finishes up just shy of an hour. The stick never gets hot or harsh. And I use my nub tool to finish the nub.

Obviously, I highly recommend this cigar, especially this size. Atlantic Cigar sells them by the stick, by the 5 pack and by the box. I’d get on it if I were you.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS