What was scheduled to be a short day in the Dominican Republic became a bit of a journey for those of us on the 12:20pm flight back home. I was joined by Jerry Cruz, David “Doc” Diaz, and Mario Takeyama for our final breakfast the morning of our journey. For one of us that would not end until the following evening due to flight delays and long lines at customs.
The final full day began like any other, with an early wake up call to enjoy the view of Santiago. As a person who has lived in the City of New York for 42 years, having one of these rare moments to enjoy the some quiet need to be taken advantage of. I took the time to explore the grounds of the hotel with my camera and enjoy a cigar. As I did a sense of sadness came over me, that I was soon going to leave and that the time spent with friends was coming to a close. With split departure times, the first one being at 6am this was the last full day together.
As was with my last trip to Santiago in the Dominican Republic I made sure to get up early each morning and be the first one on the deck. The views were just so incredibly scenic, that it was easy to get lost in the moment and bask in the serenity of the mountaintop resort that we would call home for the next couple of days. I sipped my coffee and looked out into the valley before me, for I feel at home in the Dominican Republic.Despite various levels of wealth and poverty everyone has a smile on their face and it is contagious.
A funny thing happened in the Dominican Republic, you see I may of or may not of gotten married. But more of that on day 3. For now some back story. In 2010, I was lucky enough to be invited with a group of bloggers to visit the La Aurora Cigar factory in the Dominican Republic. It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship on both a personal and professional level with some really amazing people. When I was approached by Miami Cigar & Company for some input on the 2011 trip, never did I imagine I would be lucky enough to go back again.
The story on the Gran 107 has the rollers in factory smoking these large sizes and during a recent trip to the factory Guillermo was asked what the rollers were smoking. After some sampling of the product Guillermo gave his blessing for the cigar to go into production. Being that the United States has gotten so much into large ring gauge cigars this 7 x 58 monster should be well received. As you know we tend to be on the fence when it comes to the size, so when Miami Cigar sent us some to sample we hesitantly smoked them to formulate our review.
Posted in Cigar Reviews 
Tags: 107, Cigar Review, Gran 107, Guillermo Leon, Jose Blanco, La Aurora Cigars, Large Ring, Miami Cigar Company 
5 Comments »IMPORTANT CHANGES AT MIAMI CIGAR & COMPANY Miami, FL, 6 December…In the first of a series of important changes, Rene J. Castaneda, Vice President of Miami Cigar & Company, announced that he is turning over the National Sales Management portfolio to Hector Paz effective 1 January 2011. Paz joined MC&C in 1999, succeeding Castaneda as [...]
Posted in Cigar Reviews Tags: Hector Paz, La Aurora Cigars, Miami Cigars, Rene Castenada No Comments »
Recently the La Aurora Cigars factory brought us a cigar by the “Big Cat” Guillermo Leon with his Signature Collection. However before Guillermo was ready to be at the helm of this storied cigar factory his father had a cigar that was his go to smoke. The Leon Jimenes cigar box I have been told at one time stated in Spanish, “Made especially for Don Fernando Leon” and while I haven’t seen a box in quite some time I cannot comment if this is still the case today.
I was given one by The Cigar Chick a few weeks ago and I managed to get a couple of more from Tobacco Plaza so I figured it was time to give my take on cigar made for Guillermo Leon’s father.The La Aurora website states…
Posted in Cigar Reviews Tags: Don Fernando Leon, Guillermo Leon, La Aurora Cigars, Leon Jimenes, lonsdale, mild 4 Comments »Nat Sherman hosted an evening of live jazz music, cocktails, cigars and hors d’oeuvres catered by celebrity chef Oliver Cheng. The event celebrated the new Guillermo Leon cigars by La Aurora, which brings a complex and medium-to-full bodied experience. Guests tasted traditional Presidente Beer and Rum Zafra Master Reserve 21 year aged while they enjoyed [...]
Posted in Cigar Reviews Tags: Guillermo Leon, La Aurora Cigars, Nat Sherman, nyc, Oliver Cheng, Rum Zafra 1 Comment »
I know I have reviewed the La Aurora 107 in multiple sizes in the past but today’s cigar is something special as it was conceived through twitter. Allow me to explain. When I went to the Dominican Republic we got to smoke many 107 cigars at the La Aurora Factory and we got to smoke the Corona sized 107 before they came out and in passing someone asked if the would be a lancero. Well fast forward a couple of months and the movement began in earnest. A group of people on twitter began to ask @guillermoleon_ for a lancero and after some thought he caved in to the demand of the people.
One of the most approachable owners in the cigar business is Guillermo Leon a man I am happy to call a friend in the truest sense of the word has released the La Aurora 107 Lancero in limited quantity. The first batch is 300 boxes and whether or not this becomes a larger release is still up in the air. As a fan of the lancero I hope it becomes larger, but with the explosion of interest in the larger ring gauges one has to wonder if it make sense for a an extended release in this vitola.
Posted in Cigar Reviews Tags: 107 Anniversario, Guillermo Leon, La Aurora Cigars, lancero, Serie 107, Team 107 Lancero, Twitter Cigar 8 Comments »
When people ask me what I thought the best cigar was at IPCPR I usually answer one of two cigars. One of which is today’s review, the La Aurora Corojo. Sadly though I had no idea this cigar was coming out til I got one at the booth of the trade show. My focus was on the Guilermo Leon Signature and I hope this one does not get lost in the shuffle of my fellow smokers.
The La Aurora Corojo comes in 5 different sizes. The Aurora #4 (5.25 x 43), Belicoso (6.25 x 52), Double Corona (7.5 x 50), Gran Corona (6.5 x 50) and the Robusto (5 x 50). MSRP is $5.60 to 6.80 a cigar before any taxes.
Posted in Cigar Reviews Tags: 90+ Rated, corojo, La Aurora Cigars, Miami Cigar Company, robusto 7 Comments »
The power of social media has yet to be fully understood by many of today’s corporations but the Miami Cigar Company & La Aurora Cigars are doing a good job of harnessing that power. In a campaign that started a few months ago by a group of cigar smokers on Twitter the demand for the 107 Lancero was born. Guillermo Leon, La Aurora Cigars and Miami Cigar Co. have answered that demand, and the day for release is near.
Retailers Only will be able to order this limited edition pre release of 300 boxes. Each box will contain 21 cigars and can only be ordered via Twitter by sending a Direct Message to @miamicigar beginning at 9am Eastern Time on September 13th. These cigars are expected to reach retailers in October.
This historic event marks the first ever 100% Twitter driven promotion for a cigar. Stay tuned to acigarsmoker.com as we hope to have a list of retailers for consumers to purchase this cigar in the near future.
Posted in Cigar Reviews Tags: Guillermo Leon, La Aurora 107, La Aurora Cigars, lancero, limited edition, Miami Cigar Company No Comments »
I had a different cigar scheduled for review today but the other night Guillermo called me up when in NYC to hang with him at Cigar Inn. So I figured I should review his newest cigar which I have had the pleasure of smoking on numerous occasions before. When I went to the Aurora cigar [...]
Guest post by Tom Johansmeyer of Cigar Reader. Here’s the latest from Barry, who’s out in New Orleans, working the floor at IPCPR. The IPCPR show officially kicked off yesterday, and the conversations Barry Stein, of A Cigar Smoker, had with cigar companies indicate that the crowds were a little lighter than usual. Also, the [...]
Guest post by Tom Johansmeyer of Cigar Reader. This week, I’m helping Barry with news from the floor of IPCPR. He’s been kind enough to send me notes, tweets and e-mails with the latest that’s happening in New Orleans, and I’ve been publishing over on Cigar Reader. Every day, I’ll come over here and put [...]
Posted in Uncategorized Tags: Cigar Rights, CRA, davidoff, don pepin garcia, IPCPR, IPCPR 2010, La Aurora, La Aurora Cigars, Miami Cigar Co., Miami Cigar Company, Miami Cigars, pete johnson 2 Comments »
