By David P. Diaz

During my recent trip to the Dominican Republic, I was invited to the home of Guillermo León, President of the La Aurora company, for a pre-event party on the eve of the 3rd annual Procigar Festival. In plentiful supply was an unbanded cigar that José Blanco was saying would be released shorty. As the night progressed and as I had already smoked a couple of these unbanded beauties, I was very impressed with the smoke, as were many others. I asked José about this cigar and he would only give me the standard line... "If I told you, I'd have to kill you."

Doc and Bob (Smoke Magazine) enjoy the new La Aurora 107 at a pre-release party at the home of Guillermo León in the Dominican Republic

Now the word is out. That unbanded cigar was the newest cigar in the La Aurora lineup: the La Aurora 107 Serie Aniversario. La Aurora has taken their time in producing this cigar, which celebrates their 107-year history as the Dominican Republic’s oldest cigar maker.

According to Guillermo León, “We had defined our goal early on and that was to bring smokers a medium bodied, richly flavored smoke with a fair amount of spice – at a very attractive price.”

Using Dominican, Nicaraguan and Ecuadorian tobaccos, the blending process went through dozens of iterations before achieving a cigar that brings a balanced flavor that is peppery, sweet and provides toasty notes.

According to Vice President, José Blanco, the cigars are being packed in boxes of twenty-one (21) and will come in three (3) sizes priced from $6 to $8:

Robusto (4.5 x 50)

Toro (5.5 x 54)

Belicoso (6.25 x 52)

“I firmly believe we have a smoke providing excellent flavor, strength and balance,” José Blanco told a gathering of cigar aficionados at a dinner in New York, “that matches the standards we have adhered to in creating the other great cigars that have brought us high regard and high ratings.”

Below: Pete (Tatuaje), Reinhold (ECCJ), Manny (Iriarte photography) and Janny Garcia enjoy the La Aurora 107 at the pre-release party

The cigar, named La Aurora 107 in honor of the company’s 107 years in business, will be released in a series of steps, commencing in April.

The name of the cigar was meant to be kept simple, meaningful and easy to remember, hence, La Aurora 107 – La Aurora’s 107th year!