The stick was wrapped with two bands, the lower of which was a simple red piece featuring the word "Maduro" in gold script. The variation in color within the dark, mottled Brazilian wrapper showed that it was a natural maduro, not dyed. There were some light veins; the cigar had a nicely made cap and felt medium to light in weight. The Churchill was solid, not at all squishy.
Oooh! The lightup was incredibly tasty! This La Aurora provided abundant flavor from the start, with a medium body. Right off the mark it was delicious. The flavor profile included creamy coffee flavors with ripe tobacco. After ten minutes, nuts were added to the mix, actually making me hungry for that can of mixed nuts in the next room. The draw was easy and lighter than average. Despite the lack of an appreciable finish, this was an enjoyable, approachable, and quite interesting smoke.
At fifteen minutes it had become evident that the cigar was burning too fast; I removed 1-3/8" of dark gray ash that was looking like it was about to fall.
The smoke was beginning to become somewhat more full-bodied after twenty-five minutes. The flavor profile had not changed in type nor intensity; it was still there but it now had a heftier backbone behind it. I removed another 3/4" of fragile-looking ash.
At the 40 minute mark the cigar was delightful, still just as creamy and luscious as it was in the initial lightup. By now it was burning somewhat fast but evenly. This was an impressively well-balanced smoke. There was now some finish, short but nice.
Delicious -- simply delicious -- after 55 minutes: creamy, nutty, complex and fascinating. I thought to myself that, no matter what a cigar smoker's preferences might be, this stick would please them all.
At an hour and five minutes a pleasant mintiness was setting in. The cigar was developing quite a nice finish now, long and luscious, and the burn had slowed down to a normal pace. At this point my wife arrived and raved about the aroma; she described it as curiously floral, almost like a high-quality cologne.
At an hour and a quarter the La Aurora Maduro had become a full-bodied and demandingly enjoyable cigar! It was holding my attention 100%, from the initial, creamy draw through the lingering, complex finish. I ashed an inch, leaving an inch-and-a-half stub for my continued enjoyment.
At an hour and 25 minutes I reluctantly ended this smoke when I could no longer avoid burning my fingers nor lips. My daughter was laughing at me.
An aromatic, approachable, luscious and interesting cigar, the La Aurora Maduro Churchill Maduro is also a great value. It pedigree is evident in its appearance and throughout the smoking experience. A truly outstanding smoke, the La Aurora Maduro Churchill is highly recommended.
An aromatic, approachable, luscious and interesting cigar, the La Aurora Maduro Churchill Maduro is also a great value. It pedigree is evident in its appearance and throughout the smoking experience. A truly outstanding smoke, the La Aurora Maduro Churchill is highly recommended.