The La Aurora Original Blend Corojo 1962 Robusto delivers a masterclass in balanced complexity for a $135 box of 20. This 5x50 Dominican puro sports an oily Ecuadorian-grown Corojo wrapper that practically begs to be lit. A solid midday smoke that outperforms its price tag, though maybe a touch less refined than the Hemingway Short Story.
The initial third hits with white pepper sharpness that mellows into roasted casins by the first ash drop. Midway through, the Dominican fillers flex their muscle - imagine biting into a leather-bound book filled with dried apricots. The final third gets serious with baking spices and espresso bitterness that lingers like cigar guilt on your work shirt.
The triple cap holds up better than some Cuban counterparts I've tried. Burn line stays razor-sharp until the last inch where the Nicaraguan filler makes its presence known through increased nicotine buzz. Box date codes show consistent 18-month aging from Santiago factory.
Skip the whiskey - this cigar's sweet spot comes alive with Dominican-style café con leche. The milk fat tames the Corojo spice while enhancing those cocoa undertones.
