Cigar Reviews First a word on our reviews, we review cigars not rate them, everybody has a prefrence whether it be in food, drink, clothes, cars, and what we cover cigars. We don't claim to know the best or the worst, we just tell you what we think of the cigars we smoke.

Cigar Compañero March Issue 2008

La Aurora Corojo Oscuro Barrel Age Size: Country of Orgin: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Dominican Republic Corojo Seed Binder: Dominican Republic Filler: Dominican Republic and Nicraguan Marc: When I think of barrel age, I think of Jack Daniels and that sweet taste given to the whiskey by the charcoal mellowing. I found it in a cigar! The aging of the wrapper of the La Aurora barrel age cigar and the binder and the wrapper gives you that sweet charcoal mellow taste. The smoke is a whole unique new taste, as I have never smoked a flavor cigar anyway. But this isn't flavored as much as a nice sweet raw tobacco taste. Just one look at the barrel age and you can tell this has been fermented like no other cigar I have ever seen. The dark chocolate wrapper is soft to the touch and the construction is not too tight and not too loose but just right for the heavy fermented cigar. The taste expounds on fermentation and each draw is a heavy unique sweet taste like no other I have ever tasted. Hats off to Jose for a wonderful tasting cigar. Although if you let it sit for too long it will go out, let it sit for a minute and you might have a little relighting to do. Bu throughout you will enjoy this cigar and it's new satisfying taste. Jeff: This is a new release from La Aurora. I love this brand, and was very eager to get into smoking. What a gorgeous stick! A deep dark brown color, smooth and veiny, with a nice oily sheen to it! The feel was a bit spongy, as if it were wet. Upon clipping, it looked as if it would start to unravel… whew! It didn't happen…. Prelit flavors of a nice, sweet tobacco, earth, and hay. Mighty tastey! Easy light, with an easy draw. It could have had a bit more resistance…. The initial taste was a bit harsh, though this quickly mellowed out. I tasted that great tobacco flavor that represents the La Aurora line of cigars. Accompanying this was nice woods and, uhmm, cherry? Yep! Cherry! Very very nice!! The cigar took on a nice creamy aftertaste. The woods developed along with a nice spice. The cherry flavor was still there, though it took a back seat for the rest of the ride. What a fantastic finish! A spicy, creamy finish which lasted a very long time! That was a very good smoke… about 45 minutes worth!! It had a very erratic burn, ala cubanesque! I did have to touch it up several times. This did not detract from the cigar. It also had a very erratic ash, with jagged peaks once the ash dropped. Very interesting… again, this took nothing away from the experience,,, just thought it was interesting. The ash was steel-gray and thick!!  Not a bunch of smoke, and you had to hit it a couple times to stoke it. I like it! It had great unique flavors that I hadn't encountered before. I wish I had a few more. If I were to smoke one again, I would probably dry box if for a day or so. It almost seemed a bit to humidified, though my humi is spot-on! I would highly recommend this one when it becomes available! I'd say it was a solid medium strength and flavor! Good stuff!! La Aurora Escogidos Size: Puro Country of Orgin: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Dominican Republic Binder: Filler: Dominican Republic Marc: La Aurora Escogidos is a cigar given to the tourists that tour the La Aurora factory in the Dominican Republic. La Aurora recently released the barrel age cigar and when you bought some they presented you with a Escogidos also as a promotion cigar.. The Escogidos is a beautifully constructed cigar and the taste is awesome. Upon lighting you get that special tangy taste of spice that the Dominican Republic is well known for. I personally am a huge Opus X smoker and this cigar has a fairly similar taste upon lighting. The taste quickly changes to a deeper bold taste that mellows into a medium taste. I take huge draws off and I am impressed with this taste. I would buy these often if available on the regular consumer market. There is a woodsy taste and a bit of earthy taste about half way through. I usually drink a Diet Coke w/ Splenda or a coffee with most of my smokes and the Diet Coke fit this taste perfect. If you ever get down to the Dominican Republic make sure you stop at the La Aurora factory and pick one of this up. It's a great cigar. Jeff: This is another new release from La Aurora that I was fortunate to try. Another gorgeous cinnamon brown stick, smooth with just a touch of veins. I took it out of the humi and it felt a bit spongy, so I dry boxed for about 8 hours. It still felt spongy, but I smoked it anyway,,, and I'm so glad I did!! Easy clip, and another light draw. Prelit flavors of hay (sweet hay) and black pepper. Definetly tasted the black pepper on my lips.  a nice, sweet tobacco, earth, and. Mighty tastey! Upon lighting, I detected a very nice earthy grass with a touch of honey! Within the first few puffs, it started warming up, as if I were smoking it too fast. Fortunately, it never did get hot. Toward the half way mark, the spice and earth took main stage, with a sweet honey aftertaste. Man, this is one fine tasting smoke!! It began to pick up in strength, though at the same time became very smooooooth…. The flavors began to marry quite nicely, never losing that Aurora creamy finish! During the last 1/3, I tasted banana, which complimented the other flavors. Mighty tastey!! I did notice, or should I say, the lack there of, was that signature Aurora tobacco flavor. It was there, but it wasn't the highlight, like most Aurora cigars. And, in this case, that wasn't a bad thing! Here's another one I will be looking forward to. Great smoke… about 45 minutes worth!! Another erratic burn, with touch ups necessary…. The wrapper began to roll up at the burn line which was easily corrected. No more problems/touch ups necessary at about the 2/3 mark. Once again, not much smoke unless I puff, puff, puff. Another first for La Aurora. I wish I had more, and I'll be on the lookout when they are released. Another stick I highly recommend from the La Aurora factories!! Reyes Family Cigars Premiere Size: Country of Orgin: Wrapper: Costa Rican Maduro Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Marc: It's always fun to try out a new smoke and wonder where exactly will this one fall in the lineup of good cigars. Lighting up the new Reyes Family Cigars Premiere Cigar, the answer came to me pretty quick, right at the top. The chocolate colored Maduro wrapper from Costa Rica aged a good 3 years added a unique taste that many cigars have strived to obtain and failed. The Nicaraguan filler and binder taste was some of the best tasting Nicaraguan tobacco I have tasted for some time. A nice sweet taste is left on the lips after just a few draws form the Premiere cigar. A nice tropical earthy taste lingers in the palette, probably a good hint of the Costa Rican wrapper. The construction of the cigar made it draw effortlessly, and the burn constant and even. The smoke poured out of my mouth after another effortless draw. Throughout this cigar, the taste subtly changes from a power punch tobacco taste to a nice mellow amazing cocoa to coffee earthen taste. This is a great smoking cigar, never mind the amazing taste, this smokes by itself almost. Carlos has outdone himself; if this is a sign of what Carlos will bring to market in the future we are in for some great cigars from Reyes Family Cigars. The ash remains tight and true to color for a perfect burn. The raw tobacco taste is just as good; forget that, is better than the handmade cigars I once bought in the lobby of the Marriott in San Jose, Costa Rica. And I was hugely impressed then. This Premiere cigar almost comes to life and places you in a place where not many cigars can. I applaud the efforts of Carlos and Reyes Family Cigars, and to Rolando, your grandson is going to do well in this business.