Stogie Reviews: La Aroma de Cuba Edición Especial No. 3
16 Jun 2009
My colleague’s recent commentary about catching up on the releases from last year’s IPCPR trade show reminded me there are a few of those smokes that I have yet to smoke, let alone review. One such cigar was the new La Aroma de Cuba Edición Especial, which if I’ve tried it at all was during the haze of the 2008 Las Vegas trade show itself.
The new extension of the Aroma de Cuba line is one of the latest results to come out of the partnership between cigar blender extraordinaire Don Pepin Garcia and Ashton Cigars. Pepin also makes San Cristobal and Benchmade for Ashton. Like the San Cristobal and the mixed-filler Benchmade, La Aroma de Cuba Edición Especial is made at Pepin’s Tabacalera Cubana S. A. factory in EstelÃ, Nicaragua.
The cigar consists of an orange-tinted Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper surrounding a Nicaraguan filler and binder. The somewhat rustic wrapper is framed by an attractive and ornate band similar to, but with subtle differences from, the original Aroma de Cuba band.
After lighting up this traditionally sized toro (6 x 50), I discover plenty of coffee and cedar flavors. It is a medium-bodied smoke and wholly absent of the pepper that usually stands out in Pepin’s cigars.
A slight leathery bitterness wanders in and out, particularly in the second half, that distracts from the otherwise pleasant flavors. When the bitterness fades, secondary flavors of chocolate and cinnamon make for an excellent flavor profile.
Also distracting is the draw, which was tight on both samples I smoked and, twice during one of the samples, it even contributed to the cigar going out prematurely. Otherwise, construction is admirable. The ash is steady throughout, and the burn, while far from perfectly straight, wasn’t nearly as big of an issue as the sudden need for relights.
The La Aroma de Cuba Edición Especial No. 3 is a classic case of a cigar that taunts with moments of excellence, only to be surmounted by persistent flaws that refuse to let the cigar’s obvious potential shine through. Those are problems shouldn’t be happening in a cigar that retails for around $7 apiece. That results in a somewhat surprising and disappointing rating of just three stogies out of five.
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photo credit: Stogie Guys
Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
Patrick Semmens
Co-Founder & Publisher
George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
Shame some construction problems got in the way of a good smoke. Happens sometimes, maybe in the future you'll pick up a better one and be more rewarded. I like the Aroma de Cuba robusto most times I've had it.
Had one that had the draw problems, but all of the rest hit the high points of excellence you were talking about. And it was so good throughout that I will smoke more. But the one bad one was food for thought. I think its overall an excellent smoke.