La Aurora 120 Anniversary Robusto

With a host of five, 10, and 15-year anniversary cigars flooding the market, it’s par for the course to expect another anniversary in the cigar industry. Last year, La Aurora—among the longest-standing cigar companies—wanted to celebrate their history and mark their 120th anniversary with a special cigar release (or two). The company was famously started in Guazumal, Dominican Republic in 1903 by Eduardo León Jimenes (Don Eduardo), a second-generation tobacco grower. Staying in the family, the company was passed down to his son, Fernando León, who oversaw La Aurora for almost half a century of its 120 years. When Fernando’s son Guillermo León joined La Aurora in 1995, they made history, with the company now having a fifth generation joining the family business. All of the tradition and knowledge that was passed down over the course of many, many years led to the celebratory La Aurora 120th Anniversary project.

“The 120th Anniversary also brings a ‘New Dawn’ for La Aurora. We have rebuilt our Tabaquería to represent our Dominican identity in full, as well as grown more of our own, unique La Aurora tobacco than ever before in our history,” —Guillermo León

The factory started out in the Cibao region of the Dominican Republic, moving to Santiago in 1912, where it remained until 2007. At that point in time, the factory was relocated back to where it all started in Guazumal. The family has a rich history of using tobacco from the Cibao region, and they very much wanted to showcase this tobacco in their 120th Anniversary cigar—a Dominican puro focusing this region with the use of a wide range of seed varietals.

La Aurora 120 Anniversary Robusto Breakdown

La Aurora 120th Anniversary is a full-production cigar, made to bring La Aurora back to the forefront of the cigar industry, turning over a new leaf as they head into the next 120 years. The line consists of four vitolas: Robusto (5″ × 50), Toro (5½” x 54), Gran Toro (6″ × 58), and Churchill (7″ × 47). In late 2023, they also released a limited-edition version of the 120th Anniversary that was a Preferidos No. 1 double figurado. Only 2,500 boxes of the limited edition were made available. The Preferidos size has significant meaning for La Aurora, being the signature size for locals back in 1903 and a nod to the days when the company was just getting started in the cigar industry.

Appearance

The La Aurora 120th Anniversary’s Habano ’92 wrapper is noticeably oily right away. The mottled medium to dark brown color has a mineral shine with some toothiness. The lower half of the cigar has a cedar sleeve that makes that wrapper appear to glow. A white, bronze, and black (with a touch of red) band features the classic La Aurora lion at the crest. There’s a bronze “120” at the center, which stands out and denotes the importance of the anniversary. Five medallions close out the lower part of the band. The sides of the band feature pictures of the factory’s iconic colonial-style window façade. The band has some additional nice touches, such as one end being die-cut into the outline of a lion. On the inside of the band is a QR code as well, which takes you to their website. The dress boxes demonstrate a similar look to the cigar, having a darker top with bronze writing and a lighter lower wood grain bottom.

Smoking Experience

Each cigar has its own cedar sleeve, and upon removal, there were some noticeable differences among the reviewed cigars. Some were oily with fine veins and seams, having a toothy appearance; others had ridges or wrinkles in the wrapper, with little to no tooth. There was not a strong uniformity in the initial appearance of the cigars. The foot of the cigar had a strong cedar aroma, while the cap had leather and herbal notes. The cold draw produced a strong peppered cracker taste. After a straight cut and lighting of the cigar, a strong cedar coated the palate right from the start. During the first third, the flavor shifted to offer some tangy musk and hay with light salt. It produced a very dry mouthfeel with oaky tannins. The retrohale gave a strong burn of red pepper.

The 120th Anniversary had a very consistent smoking experience from start to finish. Primary flavors were of hay and a tangy musk. Additional flavors did make an appearance here and there, such as oaky tannins and citrus, as well as some freshly ground coffee. The retrohale did change from a hot red pepper to mild pepper in the middle, finishing out with a mineral-forward light black pepper.

Light white smoke seeped from the cigar with each draw, having a relatively medium (perhaps slightly to the firm side) resistance. The construction of the robusto was solid, as would be expected from La Aurora. It had a very slow burn with a wavy char line, producing a solid, light white ash that remained for two cm at a time. Additionally, the slow and cool burn temperature allows you to pick up those small hints of flavor.

Would I Smoke This Cigar Again?

La Aurora 120th Anniversary has the flavor and construction you would expect from 120 years of experience. Though rooted in history and tradition, it also feels like turning a new page and experiencing a new smoking profile for La Aurora. This Dominican puro brings that solid flavor we want from Dominican cigars. Bright yet vivid flavors brought an added bonus of offering a little more boldness to the Dominican profile. There is some serious complexity within this cigar, with its combination of cedar, hay, and mineral salt, with additional hints of freshly ground coffee, citrus, and oaky tannins. The slow burn rate and complexity of flavors is rewarding and well worth the price. The La Aurora 120th Anniversary is a must-try, and you’ll likely want to buy a few to add to your rotation. I would definitely smoke this cigar again.

• La Aurora 120 Anniversary was number 15 on the Cigar Dojo Cigar of the Year list for 2023.
• Currently on Dojoverse, La Aurora 120 Anniversary has a “100% smokable” rating.

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