This box-pressed parejo from La Aurora's historic factory catches attention with its silky Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper leaf rolled around Dominican-Nicaraguan core tobaccos. At 6.5" x 42 in corona gorda format, the mild-medium smoke delivers predictable comfort at $6.75/stick - an accessible entry point to Dominican craftsmanship.
The cold draw reveals dry hay notes. Upon lighting, toasted almonds and cream soda sweetness emerge through velvety smoke. Combustion starts with slight canoeing requiring touch-ups, common in recent batches according to Halfwheel reviews.
At the 40-minute mark, the core flavor profile stabilizes into cedar planks and rice paper texture. Retrohales carry faint white pepper spice balanced by oatmeal cookie sweetness. Ash holds firm in 1.5" segments.
Approaching the band point, wet earth and iron-like minerality develop. While no harshness appears, nicotine buildup creeps in surprisingly for mild cigar smokers. Most users report 75-90 minute burn time.
The triple-seam cap peels cleanly with double-blade cutters. While 2025 Cigar Aficionado reviews note improved roll density over 2023 production, occasional tight draws persist. Pair with citrus-forward drinks like Yuzu soda to enhance the subtle sweetness.
