Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown and has a turtle shell look to it. There are also a few prominently raised veins present. This combination of color variations and veins make the seams very hard to detect. The head appears to be finished off with a double cap. There are two bands, with the primary being the traditional logo on a silver band. The foot band is a light gray that has a silver strip with red border. The aroma from the wrapper is damp wood and leather while the foot brings wood, light tobacco sweetness and a bit of white pepper. The pre-light draw has a slightly sweet anise note along with a decent spicy tingle on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The La Aurora 1903 Edition Cameroon Corona has a blotchy medium brown wrapper that feels like fine sandpaper. Major veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll firm and head finished off with a thick double cap. Wrapper aromas give barnyard and cedar. Foot aromas give rich cedar, white pepper and roasted nuts. Cold draw tells cedar shavings, white pepper and nuts.

First Third

The cigar begins with a very full mixture of wood and baking spice. At a half inch in, the flavors become a bit more distinct and aren’t as muddled together as they were at the start. At three quarters of an inch in, a very light cream joins in to help smooth out the wood and baking spice a bit. At an inch in, the cream has continued to increase to create a nice balance between it, the wood and baking spice. The retrohale is primarily wood with a decent spice kick to it. As the third comes to a close, the profile is an equal mixture of wood, baking spice and cream. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

The first third is by no means a complex flavor profile but it is every bit full in flavors. Distinct and focused flavors of roasted nuts, cream, bread and black pepper spice delivery that layers the entire palate. Retrohaling gives a fresher and more potent black pepper as well as bigger dose of roasted nuts. The finish is a mixture of long and lingering dry wood and fresh black pepper. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the wood and cream are up front while the baking spice has now become a supporting note. At a half inch in, the wood is now more defined as oak while the cream is still paired up with it and the baking spice is very faint. The retrohale is now a slightly charred oak. At an inch in, the oak takes on a bit of char while the cream is now a supporting note and the baking spice has completely left the profile. As the third comes to a close, some bitterness enters to pair up with the wood while the cream is very light in the background. The strength in this third has bumped up to medium-full.

Second Third

The second third continues to be full of flavors. Still a profile that has fresh black pepper hanging onto my palate for minutes on end, roasted nuts, cream and bread. The profile also picks up a nice creamed cherry note especially recognizable on the retrohale. Strength and body continues to be medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the bitterness settles down some as the cream ramps back up a bit. At a half inch in, the bitterness is replaced by some mustiness pairing with the slightly charred oak and cream. At an inch in, the cigar begins to heat up and some bitterness joins back in with the musty and creamy oak. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third remained at medium-full.

Final Third

The last third loses steam. The profile picks up a char and bitterness. That mixed with the fresh spice notes creates an experience not as rewarding as the first two thirds. The softer notes such as bread and cream are pretty much entirely gone because of this. Strength and body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn line was slightly wavy the entire way and needed a fairly significant touch-up once in the second third as one side of the wrapper didn’t want to burn with the rest of the cigar. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Burn

The burn was all over the place. Issues ranged from tunneling, multiple re-lights and fairly poor smoke production. The good part of it is the temperature never heated up.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar started with a very full mix of wood and baking spice with some cream coming in fairly quickly to smooth things out. After that, oak was the primary player with the cream and a few transitions. Strength was a bit higher than I expected and sat around medium-full most of the way. The burn could have been a little better but wasn’t a detractor from the enjoyment of the cigar. It’s nice to see the Preferidos lines being offered in the Corona size to allow people to experience them at a lower price point. If you’ve ever been reluctant to try them because of the cost, this is a perfect option to finally do so. While I wouldn’t go back to this often, it is a good Cameroon offering to scratch that itch when you have it.

Draw

Slightly loose for my liking but no real concerns on the draw.

Overall

La Aurora continues to impress me with their Cameroon wrapper offerings. It’s a cigar that isn’t overly complex but the flavors are direct and full. This type of experience is well worth the $8 MSRP charged. The only negative I have to say are the burn issues experienced. But I’m fine dealing with the burn issues to taste the flavors the cigar offers.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.47

Cost/Point

$1.30

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.27

Cost/Point

$1.34

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: La Aurora 1903 Edition Cameroon Corona