Stogie Reviews: La Aroma de Cuba Monarch
6 Feb 2008
There’s something satisfying about smoking a cigar bearing the name of one of Winston Churchill’s favorites, even if the appellation and the packaging are about all they share.
The current incarnation, introduced in 2002 by Ashton, is made in Honduras with a wrapper and a binder from that country. The filler is a mixture of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos.
They produce a fine cigar. Construction, as with most cigars connected to Ashton, is first-rate. The wrapper is dark, the ash tight, and the draw nearly perfect. The cigar burns slowly and produces volumes of smoke, even a little too much when the stick is resting in the ashtray.
Strength on the Monarch (six inches with a 50 ring gauge) was medium with an abundance of flavor. If you find what I did, you’ll taste coffee, leather, and a bit of toast. Occasionally, spice moves in and out to keep it even more interesting.
The Monarch sells for a little over $100 for a box of 25 and five packs can be had for around $25.
I usually remove a cigar’s band before I light up, but in this case you might want to leave it on. It is a detailed, embossed beauty worthy of continuing admiration.
I feel the same way about the cigar and therefore give it a rating of three and ½ out of five stogies.
[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. Cigars for this review were provided by CigarsDirect.com, and can be purchased here.]
photo credit: Ashton Cigars
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I've been meaning to try this brand for awhile. Not that it matters, but what incarnation was one of Churchill's favorites?
Churchill is said to have smoked, and particularly enjoyed, the original La Aroma de Cuba produced on the island as early as the late 1800s. I believe the brand is no longer produced in Cuba.
I am just curious why the original la Aroma de Cuba was discontinued. I understand that it was the best of all cigars.
I have just started smoking cigars. I have to admit the "Cohiba" seems to me at least the best I have smoked so far.
also, how "big" was the "Churchill cigar" ???
La Aroma De Cuba are one of my favorite go to cigars that I always have in my humidor. From the robusto to the double corona, they're all great and impart the flavors that you mention. In addition to those I also noted cedar. A great cigar for a great price. Can't go wrong with these!
La aroma de cuba was alittle to simple for me, Definely a cedar note, but for a mild/medium body I was disappointed. I had a scotch with it hoping they would marry well together but it never came into fruition. Second I had to then relight it more than once in the middle. 2 1/2 stogies for me!!!