La Aurora Barrel Aged Robusto
16 days at 68f and 68%
Soft Flame Light
Drinking Water
Okay, this was a big review for me. I have previously said that the La Aurora Barrel Aged was a game changer for me. It really seemed to change my view on cigars and the difference that aged tobacco can make. I was totally enamored with this cigar after the first one I smoked. So, I decided I needed to do a review.
A little background from CI.
The first few puffs were wood, light spice, mild sweetness, and a musty tobacco. The char line was a bit wavy, but the wind was whipping and causing issues with burn and excessive heat. I could have smoked it in the car, but right now the car smells like ten kinds of ass and a Febreze Hawaiian flower air freshener. Not exactly a conducive environment for reviewing.
The spice is laying back and hiding it's true identity at this point. The sweetness is playing around with hints of fruit. The stick is pretty much cruising, but the musty and sour taste of the tobacco is pretty annoying. I'm wondering if I might have been off my rocker when I smoked the first one. The first one was deep rich wood, buttery caramel sweetness, cream, and hearty aged tobacco at this point.
I squeeze the shaft gently and notice that this thing is somewhere between spongy and springy. I'm starting to think that it was shipped overly hydrated and needed more time to acclimate.
I keep right on puffing and things aren't changing much. The flavors are kind of muted and occasionally the sweetness takes on a sour cherry taste. Then sometimes I get this smell/taste like spilled wine. It isn't very pleasant. It takes the sour cherry to a bad place. The tobacco isn't showing off the way I know it can. I'm left scratching my head.
Then it happens. I hit what I assume is a drier spot in the cigar. The flavors come up to the fore front. I get a nice oaky taste with hints of cocoa and leather. The sweetness is more present and slightly sugary. The tobacco shows of a thick and chewy side that reminds me why I liked the first one so much. A couple of puffs later and it disappears again. It seems like somebody tossed a wet blanket over all of the flavors and they start sliding backwards. The sour cherry comes back and slides towards spilled wine again. The tobacco takes on that wet and musty flavor while the spice disappears.
The stick is on cruise control, but at least the musty tobacco taste has disappeared. Now it is showing a little life. It just doesn't stand up and deliver. I'm getting an unidentified wood, sweetness, tobacco, and something a bit sour and bitter. This is nothing like the first stick I smoked at this point. It doesn't help that the wind keeps gusting every few seconds and heating things up.
When the wind dies down the bitterness disappears and is replaced by a touch of harshness. The harshness only lasts a puff or two and then cream comes in to wipe it away. The stick still tastes too moist. The flavors are wearing a wet wool blanket. I rushed into smoking this one because of how much I liked my first one. I should have given it a bit more time.
The ash drops off cleanly and things come to life. The spice steps up and delivers from the front of the pack. The oak flavor pops out and so does cocoa and a sweetness with a touch of fruitiness. The tobacco still tastes a little wet, but this is closer to what I remember from my first experience. I'm digging the flavors again.
I get smacked in the mouth with a delicious aged tobacco taste. I check to make sure my teeth are still intact. Earthy cocoa tags along for the ride with a sweet and sour cherry. Man, that was nice. However, it lasts a very short time and I hit the moisture again The flavors roll back like Wal Mart prices and the moist taste comes back in. The draw tightens up for a couple of puffs and then returns to normal.
Finally I hit the dry spot and the wind completely dies down. The spice ramps up from the background with the speed of Barry Sanders on meth. The wood comes out as a nice refined oak and it brings a touch of cream back to the table. The sweetness is peaking around the edges and lending a nice halo effect to the flavor profile.
Just a couple of puffs later and we're swinging for the fences. The flavors are demanding to be heard and all of the moist flavor is gone. We have oak and a secondary wood flavor from the tobacco. The spice is definitely pepper and it is attacking my tongue. It really comes through on the retrohale and stings my nostrils causing a quick sneeze.
Just about four puffs later and we're nearing the end. This thing is an off the chain pit bull. Multidimensional wood, sweetness, leather, thick vintage tobacco flavors and spice. The spice is a combination of black and red pepper. It comes in strong across the tongue with a sting and lingers on the sides while tickling the throat. The spice is way stronger than I remember. It isn't in the Garcia range but it will definitely wake you up. I'm really starting to enjoy the cigar and remember why I loved the first one so much. Unfortunately there isn't much left and I'm wishing I had waited to smoke it.
Four more glorious puffs later and it goes in the ash bucket with me cursing. I am cursing myself and cursing CI. I got this stick on Cbid and it was shipped way too moist. Which is baffling to me. The cigar I smoked yesterday came from the same purchase and it tasted like it had been dried out and was just starting to rehydrate. How can a company have such inconsistent storage practices? I learned my lesson though. I will wait at least a month to smoke anything that I get from the CI companies from now on. I am not getting myself caught in this kind of trap again. I wasted a good cigar by not letting it sit.
Even though the review is less than a resounding endorsement, I still recommend trying out the La Aurora Barrel Aged. When properly humidified this is a good medium body stick replete with flavors of wood and tobacco that carries a nice halo of sweetness. It also has a multidimensional characteristic that keeps it interesting. When overly saturated it is like any other cigar, an underwhelming mess.
16 days at 68f and 68%
Soft Flame Light
Drinking Water
Okay, this was a big review for me. I have previously said that the La Aurora Barrel Aged was a game changer for me. It really seemed to change my view on cigars and the difference that aged tobacco can make. I was totally enamored with this cigar after the first one I smoked. So, I decided I needed to do a review.
A little background from CI.
The construction was spot on with tight seams, a medium tooth, and copious oils. The pre-light draw was nice with a bit more resistance than I remembered. It was still well within the acceptable range. So, I took out my trusty Bic and had a go at lighting it. The stick was a little hard to light. I should have put that together with the extra sponginess I was getting from parts of the shaft.
The first few puffs were wood, light spice, mild sweetness, and a musty tobacco. The char line was a bit wavy, but the wind was whipping and causing issues with burn and excessive heat. I could have smoked it in the car, but right now the car smells like ten kinds of ass and a Febreze Hawaiian flower air freshener. Not exactly a conducive environment for reviewing.
The spice is laying back and hiding it's true identity at this point. The sweetness is playing around with hints of fruit. The stick is pretty much cruising, but the musty and sour taste of the tobacco is pretty annoying. I'm wondering if I might have been off my rocker when I smoked the first one. The first one was deep rich wood, buttery caramel sweetness, cream, and hearty aged tobacco at this point.
I squeeze the shaft gently and notice that this thing is somewhere between spongy and springy. I'm starting to think that it was shipped overly hydrated and needed more time to acclimate.
I keep right on puffing and things aren't changing much. The flavors are kind of muted and occasionally the sweetness takes on a sour cherry taste. Then sometimes I get this smell/taste like spilled wine. It isn't very pleasant. It takes the sour cherry to a bad place. The tobacco isn't showing off the way I know it can. I'm left scratching my head.
Then it happens. I hit what I assume is a drier spot in the cigar. The flavors come up to the fore front. I get a nice oaky taste with hints of cocoa and leather. The sweetness is more present and slightly sugary. The tobacco shows of a thick and chewy side that reminds me why I liked the first one so much. A couple of puffs later and it disappears again. It seems like somebody tossed a wet blanket over all of the flavors and they start sliding backwards. The sour cherry comes back and slides towards spilled wine again. The tobacco takes on that wet and musty flavor while the spice disappears.
The stick is on cruise control, but at least the musty tobacco taste has disappeared. Now it is showing a little life. It just doesn't stand up and deliver. I'm getting an unidentified wood, sweetness, tobacco, and something a bit sour and bitter. This is nothing like the first stick I smoked at this point. It doesn't help that the wind keeps gusting every few seconds and heating things up.
When the wind dies down the bitterness disappears and is replaced by a touch of harshness. The harshness only lasts a puff or two and then cream comes in to wipe it away. The stick still tastes too moist. The flavors are wearing a wet wool blanket. I rushed into smoking this one because of how much I liked my first one. I should have given it a bit more time.
The ash drops off cleanly and things come to life. The spice steps up and delivers from the front of the pack. The oak flavor pops out and so does cocoa and a sweetness with a touch of fruitiness. The tobacco still tastes a little wet, but this is closer to what I remember from my first experience. I'm digging the flavors again.
I get smacked in the mouth with a delicious aged tobacco taste. I check to make sure my teeth are still intact. Earthy cocoa tags along for the ride with a sweet and sour cherry. Man, that was nice. However, it lasts a very short time and I hit the moisture again The flavors roll back like Wal Mart prices and the moist taste comes back in. The draw tightens up for a couple of puffs and then returns to normal.
Finally I hit the dry spot and the wind completely dies down. The spice ramps up from the background with the speed of Barry Sanders on meth. The wood comes out as a nice refined oak and it brings a touch of cream back to the table. The sweetness is peaking around the edges and lending a nice halo effect to the flavor profile.
Just a couple of puffs later and we're swinging for the fences. The flavors are demanding to be heard and all of the moist flavor is gone. We have oak and a secondary wood flavor from the tobacco. The spice is definitely pepper and it is attacking my tongue. It really comes through on the retrohale and stings my nostrils causing a quick sneeze.
Just about four puffs later and we're nearing the end. This thing is an off the chain pit bull. Multidimensional wood, sweetness, leather, thick vintage tobacco flavors and spice. The spice is a combination of black and red pepper. It comes in strong across the tongue with a sting and lingers on the sides while tickling the throat. The spice is way stronger than I remember. It isn't in the Garcia range but it will definitely wake you up. I'm really starting to enjoy the cigar and remember why I loved the first one so much. Unfortunately there isn't much left and I'm wishing I had waited to smoke it.
Four more glorious puffs later and it goes in the ash bucket with me cursing. I am cursing myself and cursing CI. I got this stick on Cbid and it was shipped way too moist. Which is baffling to me. The cigar I smoked yesterday came from the same purchase and it tasted like it had been dried out and was just starting to rehydrate. How can a company have such inconsistent storage practices? I learned my lesson though. I will wait at least a month to smoke anything that I get from the CI companies from now on. I am not getting myself caught in this kind of trap again. I wasted a good cigar by not letting it sit.
Even though the review is less than a resounding endorsement, I still recommend trying out the La Aurora Barrel Aged. When properly humidified this is a good medium body stick replete with flavors of wood and tobacco that carries a nice halo of sweetness. It also has a multidimensional characteristic that keeps it interesting. When overly saturated it is like any other cigar, an underwhelming mess.
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