La Aurora one of the oldest Dominican cigar brands. They have been making hand-rolled cigars for over 100 years and have had many new releases, even in recent years. This new release comes in an interesting age story. The La Aurora Embassador Habana Corojo has been aging for over 10 years and was released fairly under the radar.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
The La Aurora Embassador Habana Corojo contains tobacco from three different countries. The blend uses a Corojo wrapper, Dominican Corojo binder, and Dominican Corojo Ligero, Colombian Cubita, Nicaraguan Viso, and Criollo 98 Seco fillers. These only come in paper mazos of 10 in 6 sizes: Belicoso (6.2″x52), Churchill (7.0″x47), Corona (5.5″x42), Robusto (5.0″x50), Toro Box-Pressed (6.0″x54), and Corona Gorda (6′ x 46). These come very reasonably priced ranging from $4.70 to $6.00 a stick. These appear to be exclusive to Cigars International.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Corona Length: 6″ Ring Gauge: 46 Country of Origin: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo Binder: Dominican Corojo Filler: Dominican Corojo Ligero, Colombian Cubita, Nicaraguan Viso, and Criollo 98 Seco Factory: La Aurora Cigars S.A. Blender: Manuel Inoa Number of reviewers: 4 – Joseph S.(Bearded Bastard) Jake P.(Jake P.) Randy B.(randobush) Isaac M.(The Nothing) Price: $4.70 Age: 5 Months Release Date: March 2019 Contributed by: Blind Man’s Puff
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 90
“This cigar looked good with no obvious seams or veins. The cap was nicely applied and overall a bit light in hand.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)
Aroma: 88
“Barnyard and wet hay aroma at the foot.” –Randy B. (randobush)
First Third
Blind Cigar Review: La Aurora | Embassador Habana Corojo Corona
Flavor: 92 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“A lot going on, I got leather, woody, hint of molasses, a slight sweetness and black tea.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)
“First third has a nice chewy, creamy texture right off. Retrohale very smooth. Notes of butterscotch, black coffee, a wee bit of sweet paprika, and baking spice. Medium finish lasting between puffs. There’s a sweetness to the smoke that I like so far.” –Randy B. (randobush)
Second Third
Flavor: 88 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“Mellowed out to a smooth black tea and a hint of pepper.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)
“For whatever reason the second third, I don’t know, screamed pizza. There was a vegetable quality, herbal flavors, kitchen spices, just like it’s a deep dish pepperoni pizza. The retrohale had a scorched oak quality.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)
Blind Cigar Review: La Aurora | Embassador Habana Corojo Corona
Final Third
Flavor: 90 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“Salted roasted sunflower seeds come in at the beginning of the final third, and a light cocoa. The sweet paprika flavor seems to have picked up a cinnamon mix. Creamy baking spices still dominate, but the other flavors mesh nicely. Espresso beans and now a hint of black pepper join the finish.” –Randy B. (randobush)
“Fantastic end to this cigar. The Earth and cedar ran most of the flavor at the end but you also got a creamy butter flavored that just put it over the top.” –Jake P. (Jake P.)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 92
“Draw was outstanding from start to finish. Plenty of satisfying smoke to chew on.” –Randy B. (randobush)
Blind Cigar Review: La Aurora | Embassador Habana Corojo Corona
Burn: 92
“Razor sharp with no need for touch ups.” –Jake P. (Jake P.)
Construction: 88
“This cigar was pretty from beginning to end. Minus the couple of noticeable veins that did not affect the burn whatsoever. Smoked like a champ ” –Randy B. (randobush)
Overall Strength: Medium Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full Experience Overall: 89
“A good smoke for sure, I enjoyed the complexity, great burn and draw, a good medium strength, I liked it and nubbed it down.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)
“This was a very earth and wood flavor heavy cigar with some fruity zest and a wonderful creamy butter to end.” –Jake P. (Jake P.)
“I really enjoyed this cigar. Transition of flavors was noticeable, but subtle. Draw, burn, finish, flavors, construction, complexity, all admirable. Ultimately, I would buy this cigar.” –Randy B. (randobush)
“It was the middle of this cigar that really wowed me. I could have lived without the rest of it–those being about average. I would smoke this again only to see if I got the same flavor combos in the second third. ” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)
"I really enjoyed this cigar. Transition of flavors was noticeable, but subtle. Draw, burn, finish, flavors, construction, complexity, all admirable. Ultimately, I would buy this cigar." -Randy B. (randobush)
