La Aurora Small Batch Lot No. 003 – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

Last year, La Aurora announced its Small Batch Series, featuring limited quantities of different blends. The latest in this series, Small Batch Lot No. 003, is a 5.75″ x 58 toro gordo with an Ecuadorian wrapper, dual binders from Cameroon and the Dominican Republic, and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Peru. These cigars, aged for 19 years, were likely rolled in 2004 or 2005.

Manuel Inoa, La Aurora's master blender, highlighted the uniqueness of the Small Batch series, emphasizing that each release has distinct tasting notes and cannot be blended and rolled in large quantities. Lot No. 003, with its oily, bright red wrapper, is described as a flavorful and medium/full-bodied cigar offering a creamy smoke with notes of pepper and tobacco tones like leather and cedar.

The La Aurora Small Batch Lot No. 003, originating from the Dominican Republic and rolled at the La Aurora Cigar Factory, measures 5 .75″ with a ring gauge of 58. The vitola is Toro Gordo, and each cigar is priced at $13, with boxes of 10 available for $130. Released in January 2024, only 400 boxes of 10 cigars were made, totaling 4,000 cigars.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Double Toro
Length: 5 3/4″
Ring Gauge: 58
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Cameroon, Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic, Peru, Nicaragua
Factory: La Aurora S.A.
Blender: Manuel Inoa
Number of reviewers: 5 – Jessica (Stogie Sister) Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi) Diana (ArmyRN) Noah S. (Noah) Kevin J. (maninblack77)
Price: $13.00
Age: 6 Months
Release Date: January 2024
Contributed by: La Aurora Cigars

Initial Impressions – La Aurora Small Batch Lot No. 003

Appearance: 92

“The cigar has a reddish-brown hue and is smooth with some bumps and areas where the veins show. It is not lumpy though and the cigar has a robust appearance. There is a nice satin sheen to the body and the cap is well melded into the body. The foot of the cigar reveals a mix of dark brown, gold, and reddish-brown flecks.” –Diana (ArmyRN)

Aroma: 92

“Lots of dry grass, salt, and dry tobacco notes on the cold draw.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

First Third

Flavor: 92
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“There is an immediate note of cayenne pepper in the background. The cigar is surprisingly buttery with cedarwood, and some sweetness noted. As I proceed, a slight malt flavor emerges and on the retro it blends nicely with the leather that appears mixed with the cayenne. The malt reminds me of cream soda, giving it a slight sweetness.” –Diana (ArmyRN)

“Once I toast and light this cigar I am greeted with a combination of wood and white pepper notes that covers the palate. As I reach the halfway point of the third a graham cracker note joins the fray. The retrohale has some floral elements that are bright and refreshing. The body is light and the finish is medium in length.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

Second Third

Flavor: 93
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The strength picked up a bit in the second third as did the floral notes, vanilla sweetness, and cream. A more enjoyable third than the first third as the flavors really came together. There were also some cinnamon notes here and there and also some lemon zest. For a larger ring gauge this cigar is really putting out some great flavors.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

“The most notable change upon entering the second third is that the finish is significantly more savory and no longer dry or chalky. I love that this smoke has been dead consistent in the flavor department which always makes for a nice relaxing smoking experience since the concentration required is minimal. Cedar, baking spice, and black pepper are still camped out up front whilst the Mexican hot chocolate continues to dominate the retrohale, all of which contribute to a delightfully balanced smoke. The tail end of the second third brings about some slight transitions in flavor. Cardamom begins to nudge out the baking spice upfront, bringing with it a unique flair of mint, citrusy sweetness, and peppery warmth.” –Noah S. (Noah)

Final Third

Flavor: 93
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“I got excited once I entered the last third because the bitterness finally dropped off leaving graham cracker room to re-enter the profile to join woods, citrus, and floral. Unfortunately, the bitter returned toward the very end of the third.” –Jessica (Stogie Sister)

“The final third was a continuation of the second third as far as flavors profile and strength go. An abundance of citrus notes, some floral, cinnamon, vanilla, and cream. The draw tightened up to a perfect one. The burn was impressive and didn't need any correcting.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

Overall Impressions – La Aurora Small Batch Lot No. 003

Draw: 96

“The punch proved to be a solid choice of cut for this particular cigar as the draw was near perfect from start to finish. Each puff produced copious amounts of silky smooth smoke with just the right amount of resistance.” –Noah S. (Noah)

Burn: 91

“The burn on this cigar has fantastic. All of the tobaccos burnt equally and the burn line was straight.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

Construction: 93

“Construction is good with no lifts, tears, or cracks. The cap held up nicely throughout the smoke and there were no inconsistencies in firmness in the body of the cigar. The cigar lived up to its robust appearance.” –Diana (ArmyRN)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 93

“I know people who really jam on this flavor profile (citrus, tangy, bitter) and when I was able to pull more notes out of the cigar, I enjoyed it myself. However, the tangy and bitter note was not my favorite experience and if I smoked a second that performed the same, I would not buy it again.” –Jessica (Stogie Sister)

“This cigar was a great example of what a light-body cigar can be. It was flavorful with good transitions but you have to pay attention to find it. This cigar would be a great choice for an experienced smoker that is able to take their time with a cigar. If you rush through it you will miss it. I would smoke it again.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

“This was a good mix of flavors for my pallet. Although I would've liked them to emerge a little more boldly, it was very enjoyable with its buttery creaminess and slight sweetness mixed with earthiness. A little looser draw would've probably made it almost perfect for me. I would definitely revisit this smoke and would pair it with a nice cup of coffee or a sweet liquor.” –Diana (ArmyRN)

“The worst thing I have to say about a cigar is that I had to use my torch a handful of times to maintain a wonky burn. Beyond that, this stick lent me an immensely pleasant and relaxing smoking experience which was just the thing I needed this morning. From the first puff to the very last I experienced a simple yet robust gambit of flavors that were never out of balance with one another and just so happened to be right in my wheelhouse of what I prefer in a flavor profile. The smoke itself was luxuriously smooth and never harsh while the draw was virtually perfect. Only one major transition took place which for me always amps up the overall smoking experience because I don't have to overthink what I am experiencing. A solid nicotine buzz was just the cherry on top of a stellar smoke. I can't wait to smoke this one again!” –Noah S. (Noah)

“While this cigar started off a bit bland, it really picked up in the second and final thirds. Lots of bright floral notes, citrus, vanilla, and cream flavors that I usually don't gravitate to. I would like to see how it would perform in a smaller format, but overall this cigar impressed me. I would definitely recommend this to fans of milder to medium-bodied cigars.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 84

To view the complete scores and notes, click here

La Aurora Small Batch Lot No. 003 – Blind Cigar Review