Review of La Aurora 120 Anniversary Edition Cigars
There are milestones in life, and then there are milestones. Hitting 120 years of continuous operation in the cigar business definitely qualifies as the latter. As I settled into my worn leather chair at The Oasis last Thursday, I knew this particular smoke demanded proper reverence.
The La Aurora 120 Anniversary Edition isn't just another limited release. It's a celebration of Latin America's oldest cigar factory—founded in 1903 in the Dominican Republic—surviving wars, economic depressions, smoking bans, and whatever other challenges the 20th and early 21st centuries hurled its way. Much like how some of us have survived flannel shirts coming back in style three different times.
The Setting
The Oasis was quieter than usual. Most of the regulars were absent. Their loss. More elbow room for those of us with "urgent inventory analysis" to conduct.
I had just installed a new ventilation system that actually worked, unlike the previous one that merely circulated smoke from one end of the room to the other—like passing notes in high school but with carcinogens. Drink of choice? A 15-year Dalmore, neat. Because when celebrating history, one should do it properly.
The Unboxing Experience
First impressions matter, and La Aurora clearly understood the assignment. The 120 Anniversary Edition comes in an elegant wooden box that makes the same satisfying sound when opened as discovering your favorite leather jacket still fits after a decade in storage. The presentation is remarkable—a black-framed cedar box with curved edges, featuring the embossed 120 Anniversary logo in copper hues against the natural wood.
Inside, 20 Gran Toros (6×58) rest in neat rows, secured with a striking red ribbon emblazoned with "1903 120 2023." Each cigar is nestled in its individual cedar slot like vintage vinyl records in a collector's display case. The visual impact hits you immediately—this is no ordinary cigar; this is a collector's item that happens to be smokable.
Appearance & Construction
Picking up the Gran Toro, the first thing that strikes you is its substantial feel—like when you first held a proper set of tools after years of making do with your father's hand-me-downs. The wrapper is a gorgeous Ecuador Connecticut shade with a light golden-brown color reminiscent of perfectly toasted brioche. Minimal veining appears throughout, with a silky texture that rewards a gentle squeeze with just the right amount of give—similar to testing a perfectly ripened avocado before anyone invented "avocado toast" and charged $12 for it.
The construction is immediately impressive. The seams are nearly invisible, and the cap is applied with the precision of a neurosurgeon or someone who can actually fold a fitted sheet properly. The cigar has perfect weight distribution from foot to cap. Running it beneath my nose, there are enticing aromas of cedar, light vanilla, hay, and a subtle spice that promises complexity.
The band deserves special mention—a work of art featuring gold, red, and white styling with "LA AURORA 120" prominently displayed. There's a secondary band as well, marking this as the "ANNIVERSARY EDITION." Together, they communicate both heritage and celebration without being overly ostentatious—like wearing your college ring to the reunion instead of arriving in a rented Ferrari.
The First Third
After performing the ritual toasting of the foot—with the same care one used to take loading a Blockbuster rental into the VCR—the cigar takes to flame eagerly but not greedily. The initial draw offers perfect resistance, like finding the sweet spot on a well-worn baseball glove. Not too tight, not too loose. Goldilocks would approve.
The flavor profile opens with surprising subtlety for such a commemorative release. Notes of cream, buttered toast, and mild cedar form the foundation, while gentle white pepper makes occasional appearances on the retrohale. There's a delicate sweetness reminiscent of vanilla custard that lingers pleasantly on the palate.
The smoke output is generous—creating lazy, thick clouds that hang in the air like memories of concerts where we could still hear the high notes. The burn line establishes itself as razor-sharp from the beginning, creating a tight light gray ash that clings with the determination of a cat being forced into a bath. I measure ash integrity not in inches but in drinks—this one lasted almost two fingers of scotch before gracefully surrendering to gravity.
The complexity during this first third builds gradually, introducing hints of roasted nuts and a subtle citrus zest that brightens the experience. The strength sits at a comfortable medium, making this anniversary edition surprisingly approachable despite its prestigious pedigree.
The Second Third
As the burn line crosses into the second third, the transition is seamless but noticeable—like when your favorite TV show shifts tone but keeps the same characters you've grown to love. The creaminess remains but is now accompanied by increased notes of toasted bread, almonds, and a more pronounced cedar character.
The retrohale reveals additional complexity, with white pepper evolving into something closer to baking spices—cinnamon and nutmeg making brief appearances. The sweetness transforms from vanilla to a richer honey character, coating the palate with each draw.
The construction continues to impress through this section. The burn requires no touch-ups, maintaining a line straighter than my posture when the chiropractor walks into the room. The ash continues building in sturdy columns, suggesting superior leaf selection and expert rolling techniques.
The smoke remains cool even at this midpoint—a testament to proper aging and fermentation of the tobaccos. The draw continues offering the perfect amount of resistance, delivering satisfying mouthfuls of smoke with minimal effort. The strength incrementally increases to a solid medium, but never becomes overwhelming or unbalanced.
A new flavor dimension emerges as this section progresses—a subtle leather note accompanied by faint coffee undertones that add sophistication and depth. The combination reminds me of walking into that high-end office supply store we couldn't afford in our twenties but now occasionally splurge at, just to smell the leather portfolios.
The Final Third
Entering the final third, the La Aurora 120 Anniversary Edition undergoes its most dramatic transformation—like finally understanding the ending of a Christopher Nolan film on the third viewing. The profile shifts decisively toward the richer end of the spectrum, though still maintaining remarkable balance.
Notes of dark chocolate, espresso, and leather become more prominent, while the earlier cream and sweetness recede to supporting roles. The cedar takes on a more toasted quality, and there's a new mineral aspect that adds complexity. The retrohale now delivers a more pronounced pepper sensation, though never approaching anything that could be described as aggressive.
Most impressive is how the cigar avoids the bitter or harsh characteristics that often plague the final thirds of even premium smokes. The temperature remains cool even as the burn line approaches the band—like having air conditioning that actually works during a heatwave. The flavor transitions continue showing thoughtful blending expertise, with each puff revealing subtle variations on the established theme.
The strength finally reaches medium-full, providing a satisfying conclusion to the experience without overwhelming the palate. The burn remains impeccable to the very end, requiring no touch-ups or relights—displaying the reliability of those Nokias we used to drop from second-story windows just to prove they couldn't be destroyed.
When finally setting down the remains, I'm left with the contemplative satisfaction that only a truly excellent cigar can provide—like finishing a book so good you need a moment of silence before rejoining society.
Technical Performance
If cigars were Olympic athletes, the La Aurora 120 Anniversary Edition would be taking home gold medals in multiple events. Throughout the approximately 90-minute smoking experience, the technical performance was nothing short of exemplary:
Burn: Astonishingly even from start to finish, requiring zero touch-ups or corrections. The burn line remained thin and even, like the perfect pinstripe.
Draw: Consistent 8/10 resistance—providing the ideal balance between effortless and engaging. Each draw delivered generous smoke without requiring the facial muscles of someone trying to drink a milkshake through a coffee stirrer.
Ash: Formed solid light gray columns that held easily past the inch mark before gently dropping. The ash structure resembled perfectly stacked poker chips rather than the crumbly disaster that decorates your shirt when attempting to eat Nature Valley granola bars.
Smoke Output: Abundant without being overwhelming, creating rich plumes that lingered like the awkward silence after someone asks about your youngest's college plans when they've just changed majors for the third time.
Construction: Zero wrapper issues, no cracking, peeling, or unraveling. The wrapper-to-binder-to-filler ratio created perfect combustion dynamics throughout.
Consistency: Based on conversations with others who've tried this release, the quality control appears to be exceptional across boxes, demonstrating the serious approach La Aurora took with this anniversary release.
Value Assessment
With an MSRP of approximately $15-18 per stick (depending on your market and taxes), the La Aurora 120 Anniversary Edition positions itself firmly in the premium special occasion category. Is it worth it? In a word: absolutely.
When evaluating cigar value, I consider three factors: quality of experience, manufacturing excellence, and memorable impact. This anniversary edition scores high marks across all categories. While not an everyday smoke for most budgets, it delivers a premium experience that justifies its price point for celebrations, meaningful achievements, or simply those evenings when you need to remind yourself that life occasionally rewards patience.
Consider this: we'll happily drop $15 on a forgettable cocktail that disappears in 15 minutes, yet hesitate at similar pricing for a meticulously crafted cigar offering 90+ minutes of evolving pleasure. When viewed through that lens, the value proposition becomes clearer than the instructions for assembling Swedish furniture after the second glass of wine.
Pairing Suggestions
A cigar of this caliber deserves thoughtful companionship. After experimenting with several options, these pairings proved most complementary:
Single Malt Scotch: The classic choice, particularly something with subtle sweetness like The Dalmore 15 or Glendronach 12. The whisky's complexity enhances rather than overwhelms the cigar's nuanced profile.
Aged Rum: A quality aged rum like Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva or Ron Zacapa 23 harmonizes beautifully with the cigar's natural sweetness, creating a symphonic effect greater than either alone—like when you discovered your stereo had a balance knob.
Coffee: For daytime enjoyment, a medium-roast coffee with minimal additives provides the perfect backdrop. The coffee's inherent bitterness contrasts nicely with the cigar's sweeter notes.
Port Wine: A tawny port creates magical interactions with the final third's chocolate and coffee notes, though this pairing intensifies the experience considerably.
Avoid overly peaty Islay scotches, which can overwhelm the cigar's subtleties, and similarly steer clear of IPA beers whose aggressive hop profiles create discordant flavor clashes reminiscent of wearing plaids with stripes.
Comparisons to Similar Cigars
To provide context, it's worth considering how this anniversary edition compares to similar offerings:
Compared to Regular La Aurora Lines: The 120th Anniversary shows significantly more refinement, complexity, and construction quality than the standard lines. The gap is comparable to the difference between renting a standard sedan and unexpectedly being upgraded to the luxury model with all the buttons you're afraid to press.
Versus Davidoff Special Releases: Similar construction excellence but with a more pronounced flavor evolution. The La Aurora offers comparable sophistication at approximately 70% of the Davidoff price point.
Against Padron Anniversaries: Both feature exceptional construction and aging potential, though the La Aurora leans more toward subtle complexity while Padron often emphasizes richer, more robust profiles. Different approaches to excellence, like choosing between vintage muscle cars and European sports sedans.
Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark: Another anniversary-style release, the Fuente offers similar quality with a different flavor spectrum, leaning heavier on the wood and spice components where the La Aurora emphasizes cream and subtle sweetness.
Final Thoughts
In a world of endless limited editions and special releases, true anniversary cigars celebrating significant milestones stand apart when executed with appropriate reverence. La Aurora's 120th Anniversary Edition isn't merely marketing—it's a genuine achievement representing more than a century of tobacco expertise distilled into a singular smoking experience.
This cigar manages the difficult balance of being both sophisticated enough for seasoned aficionados while remaining approachable for relative newcomers seeking a premium experience. It's worthy of the occasion it celebrates and creates its own occasion simply by being lit.
The La Aurora 120 Anniversary Edition earns a rare 93/100 on my scoring scale—placing it firmly among the memorable smokes of recent years. Like discovering your high school mixtape still holds up decades later, this cigar connects tradition with present-day enjoyment in a way that transcends simple nostalgia.
For special moments, milestone celebrations, or simply when you deserve a reminder of life's finer pleasures, the La Aurora 120 deserves your consideration. Just make sure to come up with a suitably creative excuse for disappearing to enjoy it properly—I recommend "researching historical Dominican trade practices for an upcoming documentary podcast." Technically not a lie.
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Until next Thursday at The Oasis—where I'll be attending an urgent "committee meeting on proper hammock hanging techniques"—keep your cuts clean, your lights even, and your excuses plausible.
