Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the La Aroma de Cuba Connecticut Monarch is medium tan with some hints of green and carries some lightly raised and knotty veins. The seams are smooth and the caps well applied. There are two bands, with the primary being the traditional design for the brand with a yellow and burgundy color combination. There is a gold ribbon at the foot. The aroma from the wrapper is a hay forward barnyard funk, while the foot brings cedar and light earth. The pre-light draw brings airy, aged cedar and light earth.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar and light amounts of earth and baking spice. The retrohale is toasted cedar and earth, with mildly zingy baking spice. At an inch and a quarter, the earth picks up a bit. At an inch and a half in, the baking spice transitions to black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is up front with earth a bit behind and black pepper a bit further behind. The strength was right at medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the black pepper picks up to become even with the earth. The retrohale is toasted cedar and earth with mild black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, the earth drops back a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is up front, black pepper in the middle and earth just behind. The strength remained at medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, some wood bitterness joins the profile. At a half inch in, the black pepper is now right behind the toasted cedar and has a long finish. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth and lightly zingy black pepper. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the black pepper, with earth a fair bit behind and light wood bitterness in the background. The strength remained at medium.

Burn

The burn line was a bit wavy throughout, and required one touch-up in the second third to keep things moving along.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted cedar and light amounts of earth and baking spice. Later, the baking spice transitioned to black pepper. The second third saw the black pepper and earth move around in fullness. The final third saw some wood bitterness join in. The La Aroma de Cuba Connecticut Monarch had an average flavor profile throughout. Really just focused around the toasted cedar, baking spice transitioning to black pepper and earth. I was interested to try this vitola after having reviewed the Corona previously to see how a larger ring gauge would effect the flavor profile. It turns out, that I prefer the Corona and don’t really see myself coming back to this size.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.55

Cost/Point

$1.31

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: La Aroma de Cuba Connecticut Monarch