vortex
"A billion Eddie Barzoons jogging into the future
- Joined
- May 5, 2006
- Messages
- 5,510
La Aurora Cien Anos Belicoso
WOW! What a great cigar! I smoked this first thing in the morning so my palette would be fresh. I doubt it was necessary as the intensity of this cigar would blast through anything.
6 1/4 x 52 ring A Dominican puro that are a limited edition and are going fast but they are still available - for now. Light brown wrapper with one medium vein. Feels silky and firm. Cap is well wrapped unlike some belicosos so I clipped it a half-inch down. Has a double band with the lower one having a serial# 207515. Very pungent pre-light odor of earthy delight with a bit of something else. Pre-light draw is sweet and earthy.
1st Third: Toasted the foot well and first draw is very sweet with adequate draw. Molasses with a spicy/earthy background. Anyone who says they have trouble tasting these types of flavors should fire one of these up. The flavors are undeniable and persistent. Ash is light gray and firm. The sweetness backs off after a half-inch and more complex flavors come forward. Toasted caramel and almonds with a leather background.
2nd Third: Leather continued to get stronger but not at the expense of the sweet flavors. Nice contrast. Ash fell at close to three inches in. I am amazed at the intensity of this cigar. It is a bit much for a morning cigar but I am enjoying it. I would say medium body with a great finish. Fullest flavor I've experienced and decent strength. I am puffing a little too fast because it's so damn tasty it's hard to control myself! This cigar is too much.
Last Third: Caramel comes back for a bit and all flavors intensify which is saying something. Toasted almond mixes with light leather sourness to produce an exquisite flavor. It's a little peppery but not too much. Burn wanders a bit but self-corrects. The finish gets better the longer you smoke it. I am feeling the strength a bit now. Went to get coffee and left a half-inch nub in the ashtray and it's still lit after five minutes so I puff away some more! Nubbed with a quarter-inch to go. Where is that roach clip?
Conclusion: I really enjoyed this cigar and wonder if I can somehow swing a box after the holidays - if there are any to be had. It is the most expensive and most rewarding cigar I have smoked to date. (I have a couple ESGs resting but have never smoked one and I doubt they are as good.) I think they are worth the $16 price if smoked occasionally. I doubt there is a more flavorful cigar anywhere(ISOMs included) and if there is I'm not sure it would be a good idea! The toasted flavors mixed well with the leather ones. I have heard these described as full-bodied but I have smoked fuller-bodied cigars. Medium-full maybe. I have smoked the robusto and corona of this line and this blew them away!
Summary:
Construction: 10 of 10
Draw: 10 of 10
Burn: 9 of 10
Flavor 10 of 10
Complexity 10 of 10
Finish 10 of 10
Value 9 of 10
Hand-mades start with 30 points. . . .
Total Score: 98 of 100
WOW! What a great cigar! I smoked this first thing in the morning so my palette would be fresh. I doubt it was necessary as the intensity of this cigar would blast through anything.
6 1/4 x 52 ring A Dominican puro that are a limited edition and are going fast but they are still available - for now. Light brown wrapper with one medium vein. Feels silky and firm. Cap is well wrapped unlike some belicosos so I clipped it a half-inch down. Has a double band with the lower one having a serial# 207515. Very pungent pre-light odor of earthy delight with a bit of something else. Pre-light draw is sweet and earthy.
1st Third: Toasted the foot well and first draw is very sweet with adequate draw. Molasses with a spicy/earthy background. Anyone who says they have trouble tasting these types of flavors should fire one of these up. The flavors are undeniable and persistent. Ash is light gray and firm. The sweetness backs off after a half-inch and more complex flavors come forward. Toasted caramel and almonds with a leather background.
2nd Third: Leather continued to get stronger but not at the expense of the sweet flavors. Nice contrast. Ash fell at close to three inches in. I am amazed at the intensity of this cigar. It is a bit much for a morning cigar but I am enjoying it. I would say medium body with a great finish. Fullest flavor I've experienced and decent strength. I am puffing a little too fast because it's so damn tasty it's hard to control myself! This cigar is too much.
Last Third: Caramel comes back for a bit and all flavors intensify which is saying something. Toasted almond mixes with light leather sourness to produce an exquisite flavor. It's a little peppery but not too much. Burn wanders a bit but self-corrects. The finish gets better the longer you smoke it. I am feeling the strength a bit now. Went to get coffee and left a half-inch nub in the ashtray and it's still lit after five minutes so I puff away some more! Nubbed with a quarter-inch to go. Where is that roach clip?
Conclusion: I really enjoyed this cigar and wonder if I can somehow swing a box after the holidays - if there are any to be had. It is the most expensive and most rewarding cigar I have smoked to date. (I have a couple ESGs resting but have never smoked one and I doubt they are as good.) I think they are worth the $16 price if smoked occasionally. I doubt there is a more flavorful cigar anywhere(ISOMs included) and if there is I'm not sure it would be a good idea! The toasted flavors mixed well with the leather ones. I have heard these described as full-bodied but I have smoked fuller-bodied cigars. Medium-full maybe. I have smoked the robusto and corona of this line and this blew them away!
Summary:
Construction: 10 of 10
Draw: 10 of 10
Burn: 9 of 10
Flavor 10 of 10
Complexity 10 of 10
Finish 10 of 10
Value 9 of 10
Hand-mades start with 30 points. . . .
Total Score: 98 of 100
But down the road, who knows! Also, if a good price can be found now it might be wise to jump on it.
