La Aroma de Cuba

The La Aroma de Cuba is a cigar that I was introduced to by my buddy in Detroit who owns Motor City Cigars. I always find it interesting how people meet, and in the case of my friend he found me due to an item I was selling on ebay that he needed in his IT company. Through casual banter on the phone we learn that we both enjoy cigars and start sharing different smokes we have enjoyed in the past.

It was during this initial conversation that he introduced me to his online cigar shop, and started making his own suggestions of different cigars to try. I can take credit for introducing him to the Alec Bradley, and he deserves all the credit for sending todays topic my way, the La Aroma de Cuba in the Robusto size. This little cigar has a lot going for it. The band is a work of art on its own, a simple red ribbon graces the foot of the cigar, all encompassing a wrapper that is perfect in every way.

As a regular reader of Cigar Aficionado magazine, there are a lot of cigars that routinely score in the high 80's and low 90's that don't "blow me away" and leave me questioning why such a high score, but long before CA rated the La Aroma de Cuba Robusto I knew it would score very well. (I want to make a comment here regarding ratings done by others, at the end of the day if there is a cigar you enjoy, regardless of what others might say about it, if you like it, by all means enjoy it.) Earlier this year, CA reviewed this very cigar and it scored in the low 90's, which by their definition is a must smoke smoke.

Since the first time I tried this cigar, I have been impressed with the flavor and overall smoking experience the cigar offers. In one of my more recent opportunities to smoke, I paired it with Limoncello and sat on the front porch as the fire flies lit up the night. The smoke is a full bodied rich with dark currant flavor finishing with a smooth leathery taste that leaves you anticipating the next draw.

And therein may be the genius of this cigar. The experience leaves you almost thirsty for the next draw turning what should be a good 40-50 minute smoke into a stick you quite literally burn through in 30 minutes or less. I have been amazed at how quick the ash approaches the band when enjoying this cigar, and I realized the cigar itself has one drawing on it in quicker intervals than I normally would.

And speaking of ash, the faint outline of the veining in the original wrapper carry over to the ash itself, for me one time almost 2" long before it fell, but allowing you to let the cigar burn cooler - an act I firmly believe only adds to and enhances the flavors.

I don't ever want you to think that "every" cigar I smoke is a winner, however I am going to really focus on the winners here. There have been cigars smoked that I simply have not enjoyed, but what fun is that?

So when I tell you a smoke I have enjoyed is good, it probably is something you'll want to check out for yourself. In the case of the La Aroma de Cuba, I think this is a cigar you should pick up and allow to spend sometime in your humidor. Of course if you are like me, once you smoke this brilliant cigar, it won't be spending too much time in your humidor as you literally thirst for your next opportunity to enjoy a great cigar.