Smoked: La Aurora 1903 Edition Broadleaf

Another cigar from the La Aurora sampler I got in early April, this 5.75 x 54 triple-capped beauty was a delightful smoke. Its wrapper was a toothy and slightly oily U.S.A. Connecticut Broadleaf with minimal veins (I would have preferred a few more veins, thank you very much, but that’s just me. I’m weird.) The binder came from the Cibao Valley in the D.R., and its filler was comprised of leaves from the Cibao Valley and Nicaragua.

Notes of cocoa and sweet tobacco greeted my palate on the cold draw. Upon spark-up, BANG! Immediately savory. It was like I hit the “sweet spot” right off the bat. Delicious oaky notes and cocoa were the main flavor notes at the very start, along with a wee bit of pepper from the Nicaraguan tobacco. Those notes, with diminishing pepper as the cigar progressed, continued throughout this delicious stick, with additional notes of baking spices and slight nuttiness making their presence known. The retrohale, from start to finish, was smooth and flavorful.

Construction was flawless which allowed for a perfect burn and draw (not too loose, not too tight) with an ash didn’t want to let go.

My favorite, so far, in this 1903 line is the Ecuador, both in parajo and figurado vitolas. However, this Broadleaf is a close – very close – second.

Oh, I must be getting ready for the cooler seasons because I hankered for a Manhattan with this stogie. It was the right choice, although it wasn’t until the middle third of the cigar that I added it to the experience. Outstanding. Cheers!