Cigar:            La Aurora Independencia robusto

Size:             50 x 5"

Country:          DR

Wrapper:          Cameroon

Binder:           DR

Filler:           DR

Flavor Strength:  Mild

NicotineStength:  Mild

Date Received:    2006-02-28

Suspected Age:    OTT

Vendor/Price:     CigarBid $2.59 (includes $0.80 shipping)

Hype:       This excellent cigar has been released by La Aurora to simultaneously celebrate 100 years of cigar making in the Dominican Republic (and more specifically - the first factory, La Aurora - established in 1903), as well as to mark the Dominican Republic's independence in 1844. This cigar is a well-constructed Cameroon beauty with a nice oily sheen. Mild to medium-bodied in flavor, with the trademark La Aurora unerring consistency and dependability.  Great news! Independencia has been named one of Cigar Aficionado's Top 50 Cigars. Along with a '90' rating, the magazine noted, "Streaky, dark and well made. The draw and burn are superb. It's a complex smoke, smacking of toast, cocoa bean and black pepper and a hint of anise. Medium to full bodied."

Beverage(s):      Gin & Tonic (A big one)

Smoke time:       0:15

Date:             2006-03-06

Posted to ASC:   

Overall score:    1.0/5.0 (it lit and it burned)

Overall:    Not recommended.  Like smoking a bunch of dried leaves.  Bitter aftertaste, horrid burn, flakey ash.  Cameroon?  Where?  Cigar Afficianado has its head up its ass.  I needed a Fonseca KDT to wash out the taste. 

Ambience:   Late afternoon on the lanai.  Little woman is napping on the couch.  Bird song and the clicking of palm fronds fill the air.  Fat chukars and mourning doves walking around on the grass make me wistful for my Citori.  Chukar - yumm.  Went with a G&T because the Mai Tais are too sweet. 

Appearance: Rough looking.  Wrinkled, raised cap.  Wrapper cracked in two places in the middle looking like a wrinkle that eventually split.  Wrapper cracked up 3/4" at foot.  Small veins on the bicolor, dry wrapper. Even firmness.

Cut & Prelight:   Mild dry grass aroma.  Wrapper split 1/2" on cutting yielding a wide open draw with a sweet musty pepper flavor. 

First third:      As my lighters have not arrived after more than a week I am using paper matches to light.  Initially, dry wood with a pepper back.  Pepper quickly waned leaving, ... dry wood or dry leaves.  Good smoke volume though reluctant to burn down one side.  I can feel a knot at about the band level but am afraid of wrapper damage if I massage.  Bitter aftertaste.  At 1" of ash it is like smoking a giant toothpick.  No noteworthy flavor except dry burning wood, and the bitter aftertaste.  I think it is giving me a headache.  Yuck, a REAL disappointment.  Abandoned. 

Second third:    

Third third: