Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is dark brown and has some lighter marbling. There are a couple of slightly raised veins and the seams are very easily visible as they are slightly lifted. The head is finished off with what appears to be a double cap. There are two bands with the primary being the traditional company band with red outline but does reference Maduro while the foot band is red with a gold ribbon on it. The aroma from the wrapper is damp wood and earth while the foot brings wood and natural tobacco sweetness. The pre-light draw brings a very light chocolate note along with some wood and a mild spicy tingle on my lips.

First Third

The cigar starts off with a mix of dark wood, earth, dark chocolate and baking spice. At a half inch in, the dark wood and baking spice are up front while the earth and dark chocolate are in the background. At an inch and a quarter, the dark wood gains a little bitterness as the baking spice isn’t far behind it. The earth remains in the background while the dark chocolate is no longer detectable. The retrohale is a mix of the dark wood and baking spice. As the third comes to a close, a bit of chocolate returns while the bitter dark wood remains up front with the baking spice trailing slightly. The strength in this third was right at medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the bitterness drops out while the dark wood and baking spice are up front. There is still some earth and dark chocolate in the background. At a half inch in, the earthiness increases to even out with the dark wood as the baking spice moves to the background. At an inch in, the retrohale provides an even mix of wood and earthiness. As the third comes to a close, the wood loses the darkness and is up front as the earth moves to the background and the baking spice and chocolate have dropped out of the profile. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the wood remains up front with the earthiness not far behind. At a half inch in, some cream becomes apparent on the retrohale as it supports the wood note. As the cigar wraps up, it maintains the wood note up front with the earthiness right behind it. The strength in this third remained right at medium.

Burn

The burn was a struggle. I performed three full re-lights and three separate touch-ups to keep this one going. When it was burning well, the ash held on in an inch and a quarter increment.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The flavor profile of the La Aurora 1903 Edition Maduro Corona was fairly average throughout. It started with some complexity around dark wood, earth, baking spice and dark chocolate and then became focused around the wood and earth as it progressed. The burn was a let down as I had to go to the lighter quite often. For those that are fans of Ariparaca, they might find something they really enjoy here. For me, I’d smoke it again to see if a better burning version keeps the complexity a bit more.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.20

Cost/Point

$1.61

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: La Aurora 1903 Edition Maduro Corona