Review: La Aurora Barrel Aged Belicoso

Manufacturer: La Aurora S.A.
Country: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Repulic, Nicaragua
Wrapper: Corojo Oscuro (Dominican Republic)
Size: 6.25 x 52
Overall Impression: B

I first heard about the new Barrel Aged line from La Aurora last year when reading reports from the 2007 IPCPR. Being a big fan of the Preferidos line I was very anxious for these to become available. Patience is a virtue as the Barrel Aged did not start shipping until March 2008. Barrel Aged takes it name from the fact that all the tobacco used is aged four years in barrels previously used for aging rum.

I have sampled 6 or so of these and decided this medium-bodied cigar would be the perfect choice after my 30 mile bike ride along the Trinity Trail in Fort Worth. I had one left that has been resting in the humidor for a couple of months at 66% rh. I paired it with fresh ground Columbian coffee and the Eagles-Steelers football game. Fortunately (or not) the cigar proved to be more interesting than the game.

Appearance: La Aurora has done a great job with presentation on the Barrel Aged. The cigars are very appealing to the eye with a milk chocolate wrapper that is very smooth to the eye and touch with very faint veins. The band has the look of a barrel with shades of orange and red lettering.

Construction: I have found the Barrel Aged cigars to have solid construction with no soft spots or visible flaws. After clipping the head I found the prelight draw to have the right resistance. After lighting I found the draw to be just right resulting in lots of white billowing smoke. The burn line, though not razor sharp, was even from start to finish. No corrections or relights were needed. The ash was light gray and held to a tightly wound 1-1.25 inches.

Flavor: I found the flavor to be pleasant but not overly complex. Initially I detected wood and spice. About an inch in the flavor of dark-roasted coffee kicked in along with the wood. The finish was creamy with a touch of spice. The aroma was also pleasant and seemed to have a hint of sweetness in the nose. This flavor profile continued througout the remainder of the smoke with some mild spice appearing briefly at points along the way.

Overall Impression: I have rated the La Aurora Barrel Aged Belicoso a solid B. I have to admit to being a little bit disappointed, mostly because I have been spoiled with the high quality of the La Aurora Preferidos. Still, the Barrel Aged is a quality product and delivers a pleasant smoking experience. I will continue to purchase these individually.