La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduro (Ruby)

Purchased: 10-pack Toro (5.75 x 54)
Price: $47.50
Store: Atlantic Cigar
Buy Again: Yes. Already did.
Box Worthy: Yes, but with 10-packs this cheap, it’s better to buy 2 of ’em!
Experience Rating: 96

I do love me a Brazilian Arapirça wrapper. I love Brazilian wrappers in general. There’s just something indescribably different about them. So, when I see a cigar that has one, I will usually buy a few to try out the blend. It’s not always a successful endeavor because the blend just doesn’t jibe with me. Luckily, this wasn’t the case with the La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduro. I bought it blind based on a reply I got on a post I made of the Diamond. The person said they really liked the Ruby, so I went to Atlantic to score a cheap 10-pack.

As an aside, I just don’t know how Atlantic does this. They sell a box of 18 of these for $162, which is still a great price compared to other sites. But a 10-pack at $47.50? Fuck me! I’ve just smoked four from the 10-pack I purchased a couple of months ago and bought two more that are resting! I don’t know how long they’ll have these 10-packs available since they’re in their 10-Pack Steals area, but no matter. A steal is a steal, and I’ll buy a steal while it’s available!

As for the cigar itself. Wow! I love it; maybe not as much as the Diamond, but this is definitely a cigar I will keep in my regular rotation going forward. First off, as with all the 1903 Preferidos’ I’ve smoked, it’s impeccably constructed with no soft spots. It has some heft and seems packed, but the draw is just how I like it: Just a little tighter than a Padron draw. The wrapper is mottled and toothy and it feels like fine-grit sandpaper.

Prelight, the wrapper and foot both give off the heavenly aromas of dried apricots and a touch of grape jelly! There’s a little barnyard in the background, but that fruity sweetness dominates the aroma.

But when I light up, there’s none of that fruitiness! Instead, I get a blast of roasted chestnuts, cedar, and sourdough. There’s a background sweetness, but nothing reminiscent of the prelight aromas. And that’s not meant as a negative. But it always takes me by surprise.

As I get into the cigar, a background spiciness shows up. And based on experience, it will gradually become more pronounced throughout the smoke. Cedar and roasted nuts form the base of the profile. Ah! There’s the fruit. It’s subtle. I wouldn’t call this a complex cigar, but there’s a lot going on in the background from puff to puff. Strength is medium and again, based on experience, it doesn’t get beyond medium+ for most of the smoke (more on that later).

The first half goes by quickly. It only takes 35 minutes. The spice has picked up, but it’s a pleasing spiciness that is just right for me. Dark chocolate, espresso, cream, leather, and an earthiness add to the cedar and roasted nuts. In the background, there are notes of dried fruit, lilac, and a subtle malt. Amazingly, the aroma coming off the end of the stick carries that fruitness. Very enjoyable.

Luckily, the second half slows the burn way down. Flavor-wise, not much has changed. The first half established the profile and made me comfortable. Now it’s all about sitting back and enjoying the smoke as the flavors intenisfy. What changes do occur are the increase in spiciness and the darker aspects of the flavor profile; that is, the dark chocolate and espresso. But the whole gang’s still present and despite those flavors asserting themselves, the cigar remains remarkably balanced… until the last third…

The final third of the cigar is the sweet spot. The flavor profile is locked in tight and the cigar ramps up in strength and intensity. It’s not a gentle transition. Throughout the first two thirds, the strength was medium to medium+ at the most, with very little nicotine. But when I hit the final third, it’s like all hell breaks loose! Smoke production goes through the roof, producing thick, seemingly viscous clouds of white smoke. The profile shifts constantly. Spice goes all-out red pepper. It’s prominent but not dominant. While there are no new flavors, the combination shifts – rapidly.

Strength is now full. And yup, there’s nicotine. It’s not so strong that it’s bowling me over, but I’ve got a serious nic buzz going. Yowza! This is a great ride! And the strength forces me to slow down. It’s a slow burner now. Thank gawd! I need some time between puffs.

I realize that this profile might not be to everyone’s preference. But for me, this is a cigar that is worth always keeping on hand.

Here’s something new… Since I’ve had a few of these already, yes, I have paired it with different drinks. It goes great with a dark roast coffee. But I absolutely love it with rum! It goes great with a banana-forward Jamaican rum. I also love it when sipping the sublime El Pasador de Oro Gran Reserva. I haven’t paired it with bourbon yet, but I think it’ll pair well with a sweet profile bourbon such as Still Austin “The Musician” or a standard Wild Turkey. I’m not sure how it might hold up against proofs greater than 100. But hey! It’ll be worth a try.

Total smoking time: An hour and thirty-five minutes to the nub. See? It slowed WAY down!