This 5 5/8"x46 Corona Gorda from La Aroma de Cuba sits comfortably in the medium-full strength bracket, wrapped in oily Nicaraguan shade-grown leaf that hints at the flavor explosion within. Priced at $264.37 for a box of 25, these box-pressed parejos from the My Father factory deliver exactly what experienced smokers want - complex transitions and construction that holds up from first light to nub.
The cold draw serves espresso beans dipped in honey. Initial puffs bring cashew brittle sweetness over cedar planks, with whiffs of burnt caramel in the retrohale. Smoke production starts medium but gains volume quickly.
Earthiness emerges like fresh-tilled soil after rain, balancing the sweetness. Black pepper sprinkles the tongue while the aroma shifts to roasting coffee beans. The ash holds firm past two inches - typical Garcia family construction.
Mineral notes surface alongside dark chocolate intensity. Retrohales get spicy enough to make your eyes water if pushed too hard. Despite the strength buildup, no harshness creeps in until the last half-inch when tar accumulates.
The triple cap peels cleanly, revealing a perfect draw. Burn line stays razor-straight without touch-ups. Gray ash stacks in dense layers that drop voluntarily - no messy ashtray situation here. Wrapper stays intact even in 65% humidity.
At roughly $10.50 per stick, it outperforms most cigars under $15. Not as refined as Padrón Family Reserves, but more interesting than standard My Father blends. Makes sense as a special occasion smoke or weekend treat for spice lovers.
