On September 29th, an event was held in Tokyo, Japan, where attendees had the chance to taste several of our cigars. Thanks to our distributor in Japan, JTI (Japan Tobacco IMEX), and with the support of the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Japan, the fifty plus people who attended the event had the opportunity to learn about seven of our cigars, taste them and learn more about the history of the oldest cigar factory in the Dominican Republic.
Specifically, the following cigars were tasted at the event:
La Aurora Cameroon 1903 Robusto:
Named after the African country from which its bright red wrapper was originally cultivated. Today it is Cameroonian seed, but grown in Ecuador. Its binder is also from Ecuador and its filler is composed of tobaccos from the Cibao Valley (Dominican Republic) and Nicaragua. It is a medium strength cigar that mainly exudes sweet and spicy notes, such as cinnamon. It also exudes hints of wood and red citrus fruits.
In addition to the Robusto format (5 “x 50) that was tasted on the 29th September at the event in Tokyo, it is available in other sizes: Churchill, Cetros, Belicoso, Gran Toro, Toro, Corona and Sublimes. Some of them have an aluminium tube version, including the Robusto, and the Cetros is also available in a glass tube.
It is a cigar with many acknowledgements and awards. For example, it has been nominated twice as Best Value of the Dominican Republic in the Cigar Trophy awards of the ‘Cigar Journal’ magazine, and winner in the 2020 edition. It has, among other ratings, 91 points awarded by ‘Cigar Aficionado’ magazine, which also included it in its list of ‘Best Buys of 2021’.
La Aurora Preferidos Platinum:
From the Edición 1903 Preferidos line, this one with the silver tube has Cameroon wrapper, Cibao Valley binder and filler from the Cibao Valley, Brazil and Cameroon. With a strength of 6.5 out of 10, it is a spicy smoke, with hints of sweetness, cinnamon, cocoa and coffee aromas.
La Aurora Preferidos Ruby:
Also belonging to the 1903 Preferidos Edition line, this figurado, which comes in a red tube, has a Brazilian wrapper, Cibao Valley binder, and filler with tobaccos from the Cibao Valley, Brazil and Cameroon. Cedar and bitter coffee notes stand out during the smoke and it is of medium strength.
La Aurora Preferidos Sapphire:
This is another Preferidos Doble Figurado Tubo cigar, this time in blue. Its Connecticut wrapper encases a Cibao Valley binder and a filler with tobaccos from the Cibao Valley, Brazil and Cameroon.
La Aurora Preferidos Emerald:
An earthy and spicy doble figurado cigar. Medium-bodied, its blend is made up of tobaccos from Cibao Valley, Brazil, Nicaragua and Peru in the filler, covered by a Cibao Valley filler and a beautiful sun-grown Ecuador wrapper. Its strength is 7 out of 10.
Guillermo León Robusto and Corona Gorda:
From the Family Reserve line, event attendees were able to learn about and enjoy the cigar that La Aurora’s president, Guillermo León, smokes on a daily basis. At this event it was available in two of the existing formats: Robusto (5″ x 50) and Corona Gorda (6″ x 47).
The peculiarity of this cigar is its double filler, made from tobaccos from the Cibao Valley, which gives it strength, and from Cameroon (Africa), which gives it sweetness. The blend is completed by a wrapper from Ecuador and a filler with tobaccos from the Cibao Valley, Nicaragua and Peru. It is a creamy smoke, with main notes of pepper, leather and cedar. Its strength is 8 out of 10.
A night of cigars and rum in Tokyo
On this night of cigars and rum held in Tokyo, the attendees were also able to get to know our E. León Jimenes 110 Aniversario, a super premium rum specifically created to pair with cigars. Its ageing process lasts ten years: eight years in virgin American white oak barrels, which give it most of its flavour; and the last two years in virgin French oak casks, which give it roundness and homogeneity.
Our rum has won numerous awards. Among its recognitions are:
- 97 points from the Beverage Testing Institute
- Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2020
- Named Rum of the Year 2022 by USA Spirits Ratings
- Gold Medal 2022 by USA Spirits Ratings
- 94 points awarded by USA Spirits Ratings in 2002