Let's talk about this fancy holiday smoke - the La Aurora Treasure Box Sampler. You're getting 6 figurado-shaped stogies packed in a festive box that looks like it should be under a Christmas tree. These 5"x54 sticks blend Dominican fillers with Ecuadorian wrappers, but here's the kicker: they've been aging in rum barrels for a year. $85.50 gets you this limited-edition set that's basically a liquidambar-filled treasure chest for cigar nerds.
Right off the punch, that rum barrel aging shows up as molasses sweetness clinging to cedar notes. The draw's tighter than I expected - needs some careful nurturing. White pepper sneaks in around the edges without burning your nostrils.
Here's where the Dominican Piloto tobacco flexes. Earthy coffee grounds mix with walnut skins, and there's this weird but pleasant floral note that reminds me of hibiscus tea. Burn line gets wavy if you rush it.
The rum comes back swinging with a boozy raisin flavor that pairs awkwardly well with the developing leather tones. Watch for tar buildup in the last inch - these figurados tend to concentrate oils near the nub.
These smoke best when you've dry-boxed them for 24 hours first. Pair with black coffee to cut through the sweetness - the rum flavors clash badly with whiskey. The box itself? Makes a badass humidor for 8-10 sticks if you add a Boveda pack.
