Cigar Review - La Aurora Untamed
La Aurora - Untamed
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5.0″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican Ligero
Pairing: Café Bustello Espresso Style Coffee
So I’m a sucker for an attractive label on a cigar. While looking for the Padilla Reserva recently I came across the Untamed by La Aurora. I have never tried a La Aurora before but have been meaning to get around to it. This label and the gorgeous dark wrapper decided the matter for me. Hey, if you can’t get one lion on a label, go for another right? Turns out this one would be a bit of an enigma for me.
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Fit and Finish: The Untamed has a gorgeous dark wrapper with nice seams and a good cap. It is firm but not hard and has a nice tobacco and what is that? Is it a slightly floral note on the nose? I don’t know for sure but I think so. I’ve never smelled that on a cigar before. I’m even more intrigued.
Draw: A v-cut gives a ridiculously tight draw. Hmmm. It is my first experience with a less than adequate draw using this cut. So I turn it 90 degrees and make another cut, giving it the plus sign that others describe using. That improves it but it is still a tight draw. Tobacco and cocoa on the cold draw. Very pleasant. This one is advertised as being the strongest offering by La Aurora but I’m not getting any pepper on the cold draw. Just cocoa and a slight sweetness. Not the sweetness of a sweetened cap, but rather from the filler itself. The intrigue continues. I hope this one lives up to my expectations. Little did I know.
Toast/Light: There is a bit of a breeze this evening and the toasting is difficult, even when I turn my back to the breeze and have a nice still corner for toasting. It takes a few draws with the flame to get it lit properly. Now the pepper is there all right. Straight out of the gate on the first few draws.
First third: Here is where everything starts, and I mean that in the literal and figurative sense. The good and the bad. The pepper blasts right from the beginning with cocoa on the lingering aftertaste. OK, I like this. For 3 or 4 draws it remains this way and then the pepper fades out a bit and in comes the…floral? Not in any sense of infusion or perfume, just a floral taste, slightly sweet. I have my trusty iPad with me and so I look up the description of this cigar and instead they say it has a mild citrus hint. Could that be what I’m perceiving as floral? Maybe, but it sure seems floral to me. As I progress through this third, it goes out on me twice. Woof. Now I’m worried about it. The first time it was with 60 seconds between draws, then I increased to one every 40 seconds and it happens again. One minute fine, then just out. I clear the ash, purge and relight. Good flavor again, now moving into a roasted coffee profile, so I go on.
Second Third: Entering the second third, the cocoa comes back while the coffee and floral notes fade and then BAM! The pepper is back and in full force. Nice change-up! It stays for a bit and then it turns savory. For a moment it reminds me of the KFC, and then it seems more like barbecue. Very interesting. Twice more during this third it dies on me. Now I’m just waiting for the harshness to kick in and kill it for me. So far, it takes to relighting just fine. The draw is good, the smoke production is good and is mildly creamy. I am certainly not getting a visit from Uncle Nic at this time, but the flavors sure are full-bodied!
Final Third: As the final third starts, another pepper blast and then hello Mr. Cocoa. Very strong cocoa flavor. Goes on for several minutes and then a return of the floral notes again. This time the pepper doesn’t fade away, it stays right there in my face. As I near the end, the floral notes leave and it is back to that savory, almost barbecue, flavor. It finishes with a roasted coffee and pepper flavor and I am sorry to see it end. Drawing at about every 30 seconds keeps it burning nicely and I’m careful to not allow it to get too hot. When I stand I realize that Uncle Nic has indeed paid a visit. Pleasantly buzzed, no hints of that low-sugar feeling (probably due to the coffee I’ve been drinking).
Final Thoughts: This was my first experience with La Aurora and, despite the horrific burn issues (yes, going out on me 4-5 times is considered horrific), I really enjoyed this cigar. Enough that I am convinced that it may be the RH from the B&M (I only stored it at 65% for 5 days) or the breeze. Not windy, but breezy. The draw was tight until the second cut and that was unusual too. But the flavors, man, the flavors! I have to order a 5 pack of these and try it again and then see how they are rested a little. If other La Auroras are anything at all like this I have found another line I may fall in love with. In the end it was full-bodied in every way and delicious. I think I just like too many different freaking cigars. I don’t have time for all of the different ones I really enjoy. Pitty, that. :)
Total smoking time: 60 minutes
