Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Dominican Corojo
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Size: 4.5 x 50 “Robusto”
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $6.75

The original La Aurora 107 was released in 2010 to celebrate 107 years of doing business from the same cigar factory in the Dominican Republic. As a follow up, the maduro line will be released at the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show.

I want to thank the lovely Barry Stein for sending me samples and the greatest gift of all: A Nestor Miranda Bobble Head Doll. Life is good.
I sniff away and get some delicious aromas…cinnamon, cocoa, vanilla, and spice.

I read that one reviewer smelled grape jelly. Now that’s an aroma I have never smelled but I respect this reviewer and twisted my little pea sized brain to come up with this aroma. Now I don’t know if it is just the power of suggestion, or not, but I swear I was taken back to those old Welch’s grape jelly jars with cartoon figures on them. I smelled grape jelly. Just goes to show how intricate and subjective a cigar’s impact can have.

Construction is impeccable. Seams are invisible. Very few veins. Solid as a rock but with the right amount of give. A beautiful single cap. A beautiful oily sheen.

I V cut the stick and light up.

The first puffs have a fair amount of red pepper. And a chalky taste arrives that is not unpleasant. It is very woody. With a deep, dark richness. I take a swig of bottled water to clear the overnight palate and get some sweet, buttery caramel.

The draw is excellent and the char line very close to perfect. I’m getting a hint of cinnamon now.

A small dose of creaminess shows up at the one inch mark; and the ash falls off too soon, methinks.

The La Aurora 107 maduro will be produced in five sizes:
Corona: 5.5 x 43
Robusto: 4.5 x 50
Toro: 5.5 x 54
Belicoso: 6.2 x 52

The char line has become a little erratic and I am hoping no help from me will become necessary.

The cigar basically begins at a classic medium body and through the first third, remains there. The woody taste and the sweet caramel and the spice are the cigar’s trifecta of flavors through that first third.

As I enter the second third, the strength begins to stretch its legs. The erratic burn line has caused me to remove the bottom secondary band a bit sooner than I should. I decide to touch up the burn line. I do want some nice photos.

As I begin the second half, the creaminess takes a bow. It becomes the main driver of the flavor profile. The sweetness increases, giving the caramel a whole new perspective. The spice has been in the same place since the beginning. I like that. It didn’t rear up and slap me in the puss. It has stayed at a nice even keel. Sort of a controlled burn.

The cigar is not a flavor bomb. But it is a hearty, earthy cigar with a special coterie of flavors to enhance the richness. From what I read, the blend went through several incarnations before arriving at the one I am smoking. This is a solid cigar. It finds its own niche in the cigar world of blends. The variations in the blend are more than noticeable. And appreciated. This is a great cigar for both aficionados and newbies, alike. It is not too strong but has subtlety and finesse that both spectrums of the cigar smoker can appreciate.

The spiciness begins to ramp up now. And a cocoa component joins the profile. That chalky taste only increases the nuances of the cigar. It creates a dry taste profile that is unusual and pleasant.

As the last third begins, the cigar’s flavors explode into the atmosphere. Everything is way out in the open now. The first two thirds of the cigar are a lesson in cigar tasting. Unusual, but highly, nuanced flavors permeate the cigar. But now, the cigar takes off.

There is a whole host of delicious flavors: cocoa, creaminess, sweet caramel, and wood. The ash has valiantly tried to ride the straight and narrow but never quite makes it. But only the one touch up was required and the balance of the cigar should do just fine with only the slightest of variation to the burn line.

The power now moves to full. I begin to slow down and savor all those flavors. A long finish is in place and the cigar is balanced perfectly.

I’d like to add that the price point on this cigar does the cigar smokers a big favor. It is an affordable premium cigar that everyone can enjoy. I can think of a dozen cigars at twice the price that don’t match up to the quality of this stick.

The cigar, being so packed with tobacco, is a slow burner; in spite of the diminutive size. I am still near the beginning of the last third and it has taken me 40 minutes to get here.

The flavors continue to enhance each other. The last couple inches see the spiciness take a big foot hold in the profile; while the creaminess and sweetness keep it under control.

The cigar finishes cool and without a hint of harshness. The flavors continue to bloom like wild flowers. The cocoa suddenly moves to the forefront.

I very much liked the original 107 but for my tastes, the maduro is better. For the reason that there is such a deep richness and flux of nuances produced as the cigar burns down.

I definitely love this cigar and highly recommend it. So keep an eye out for it when it hits the shelves. I confidently predict a high rating when Cigar Aficionado and the other cigar magazines get around to rating it.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS