My La Aurora Cigar Factory Trip
Plumbing problems have a way of making you wish you were someplace else. Last night, after my first trip abroad, I was welcomed by a plumbing problem that, without going into too much detail, couldn’t be solved with even the most forceful application of a plunger. So even though I was glad to be back home I was already wishing I was back in the Dominican Republic where I smoked God only knows how many cigars, drank tons of rum and beer, ate some of the best food I’ve ever had and, more importantly, met some awesome people.
Miami Cigar and Company, which advertises on this blog, set up this junket for a group comprised of mostly cigar bloggers but also a PR guy and a cruise guy (I’ll name names at the end of this post). We were set up at a very nice hotel called the Camp David Ranch. It is set on top of a hill with some amazing sites and is extremely cigar friendly.
The first full day in the Dominican Republic featured a trip to the La Aurora cigar factory. Unless you have seen one of these factories firsthand then there’s little chance you can completely grasp the massive operation it is to make premium cigars. Jose Blanco, one of our gracious hosts and a brilliant cigar man, led the tour. He started us off running… with a test!
After sitting us all in a conference room we were handed baggies with five cigars, each rolled with a unique type of tobacco. Our mission was to figure out the flavors associated with each cigar, its strength and, the really hard part, which country the tobacco hails from. So here I’m sitting, right next to Jose Blanco nonetheless, trying not to look completely like a rube. I think I may have gotten one country of origin right but the big takeaway from that experience for me was that there is still boatloads of stuff I need to learn. (I’ll go into more depth about this seminar in another post since I did learn a tremendous amount about cigars during this exercise and I think you would like to learn about this stuff as much as I do.)
I guess none of us failed that entrance exam horribly enough because we were all allowed to tour the factory and blend our own cigars. Man, now that was an experience. Using the impressions we were able to glean from those five test cigars we were tasked with formulating a blend comprised of any combination from those tobaccos. Then we picked up our tobacco leaves and headed off to bunch them. I was horrible at that. If it weren’t for the guys there basically doing the bunching and rolling for me there is no way I would have ended up with anything that even remotely looks like cigars.
With the filler and binder tobaccos resting in forms we went off to look at all sorts of things. Rollers, curing rooms, a contraption that makes tobacco leaves more pliable, another contraption that rips out stems and so much more. Most of it was very humid but amazing to see. The most apt description of my sense of awe at seeing the complexity of their operation is this: WOW!
After picking my jaw up from the ground we went back to put the finishing touches on our own cigars. I was horrible at that too. Putting a wrapper on a cigar looks simple enough but it’s deceptively complicated. You have to put the wrapper down, then cut it so you’re left with a strip of tobacco, then put the foot of your bunched tobaccos at one end, roll it, apply some glue, roll some more, cut this way, cut that way, twist the extra, cut of the extra, cut the cap from a scrap piece of tobacco, apply some more glue, try to get it on and then, in my case, hand it over to the man who was watching over me so that he could fix it enough so the whole thing didn’t just fall apart. Even though it wasn’t an easy thing to do I had a blast. They even gave me a framed photo of myself rolling the cigar to commemorate the experience.
The rest of our stay in the Dominican Republic was a feast comprised of cigars, rum, cigars, authentic Dominican food, cigars, beer, karaoke and some more cigars. Guillermo León, who is the head of his family’s cigar business, was frequently there and added a great deal to my enjoyment of the trip. All in all it was a great trip and I can’t wait to see another cigar factory. My sincerest thanks to the La Aurora cigar family.
So, who else was on this great trip? Here’s a list:
- Anthony from Puffing Cigars
- Barry from A Cigar Smoker’s Journal
- Bob from Dog Watch Radio
- Juan who is does PR for Drapers
- Mo, the guy who does cruises
- Two Patricks from Stogie Guys
- Tom from Cigar Reader
Partagas Black Label Piramide – Cigar Review
As luck would have it, just a couple of days ago I saw a great review of one of these cigars (it was the Classico, 5.25″X54) over at the Stogie Review. The reviewer, Jerry (follow him on Twitter @jcruz), had smoked one of these a while ago and thought it was a great cigar. Then he smoked it again within the last week and basically said that while it was a good cigar it was no longer a must have favorite.
So, what do I think? Here’s my review.
A very oily cigar, almost jet black. While there are a couple of raised veins I am not overly apprehensive about this cigar because the whole look of it is just amazing. It should be a very good cigar.
Cigar Stats
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 60
Wrapper: USA/Connecticut
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dom Rep, Nicarauga
Price: $7.50
Black Light!
Right from the beginning this is a full bodied monster of a cigar. There is spice (especially through the nose), just a hint of sweetness, coffee and chocolate. It’s been a while since I smoked a cigar that is so well balanced and offers a good amount of punch.
Even though the draw is slightly tight it is still fine. Although, with a bigger cigar you would think that the draw would be better – minor complaint though. I’m loving this mix of flavors and it doesn’t seem like these flavors are going away anytime soon.
I am smoking this cigar, which was last night, while watching the last season of 24, which appeared two years ago (damn that writer’s strike!) and I can’t think of a better accompaniment to Jack Bauer ripping a man’s jugular out with his mouth then this cigar. I’m guessing that this cigar is in Jack’s humidor.
Little over halfway through now and this is a great cigar, there is just no denying it. There is a lot of nuance to these flavors and they are truly amazing flavors as well. I absolutely love this cigar.
It even burns evenly! I am nearing the end of this stick and all is well. There is no way that this is the best cigar I have ever smoked but it is right up there with them and I will definitely buy this one again.
93 points
Cohiba Name Battle – The Cubans are Winning
Reversing previous court decisions the courts have found that Cubatabaco might actually have a good claim against General Cigar and their use of the name “Cohiba.” I don’t think anything is going to happen now but if the Cubans get everything they’re going after then the Cohiba that is made in the Dominican Republic will no longer exist and all profits made by using that name will go to Cubatabaco.
The Cubans are winning! AHHHHH!
A 2007 Court of Appeals ruling has turned the tables in an 11-year legal battle waged by the Cuban maker of the famed Cohiba cigar — prized by Fidel Castro — to block a U.S. company from using the name "Cohiba" for cigars it sells in this country, a Southern District judge ruled last week. More than three years ago the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the lawsuit brought by Cubatabaco, a company owned by the Cuban government. However, a Court of Appeals' ruling in a separate case, involving a certified question from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, recognized a state cause of action — unfair trade by misappropriation — which entitles Cubatabaco to relief, Judge Robert W. Sweet ruled in Empresa Cubana del Tabaco v. Culbro Corporation, 97 Civ. 8399. Michael Krinsky, the lead lawyer for Cubatabaco, said he will ask Judge Sweet to enjoin the U.S. company, General Cigar Co., from continuing to use the name "Cohiba" for cigars it sells in this country. Krinsky, of Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Krinsky & Lieberman, said that General Cigar has been selling "Cohiba" cigars here nationwide since 1997 and that he also will move for a disgorgement of profits.
Law.com – N.Y. Federal Judge Finds Cigar Maker Entitled to Relief Over ‘Cohiba’ Sales.
