La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Staff Review
There aren't many brands in the cigar world that leave you wanting more, but La Aroma de Cuba is a brand that does just that. In the realm of cigars, there are brands that come and go, there are brands that exist for decades and then disappear, there are even brands that seem to arise from nowhere and receive unrivaled accolades without really doing much at all. La Aroma de Cuba has earned its fair share of praise through dedication, commitment and patience. In just 15 years on the market, La Aroma has become a staple and a true "must-carry" brand in all legitimate brick & mortar cigar shops and e-commerce stores nationwide. The brand, as a whole, has received countless 90+ ratings from premier cigar publications and was even crowned Cigar Aficionado’s ‘#2 Cigar of the Year’ a few years back.
When you pick up a La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor, you can easily tell you are handling premium tobacco cared for in tremendous fashion. You see, all La Aroma de Cuba cigars are developed, nurtured and manufactured under the watchful eye of Jose 'Pepin' Garcia and his son Jaime at their immaculate facilities in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Garcia family embodies everything you could possibly want in a premium cigar manufacturer. They are honest, dedicated, hard-working, passionate, relentless and extremely knowledgeable about all things cigars. The first example of such passion is on display with the San Andres Maduro wrapper that cloaks the well-aged Mi Amor blend. The wrapper is a thing of sheer beauty. It's a dark chocolate hue of brown, silky-smooth to the touch and looks good enough to eat. A combination of premium Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos completes the blend in this one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Lastly, the brilliant packaging transports your mind back in time to an era long gone, which naturally coincides with the brand's hallmark slogan, ‘A Taste From Another Time.’
La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor is a staple in my cigar rotation and on this particular occasion I grabbed a Magnifico, which is a 6 x 52 Toro shape. When I removed the cellophane, notes of cocoa, cinnamon, soft floral undertones and a peppery spice were noticeably present. Then, after gently cutting off the cap and taking a couple quick cold draws, I fell in love with hints of dark chocolate, saffron and tea, as well as that trademark peppery spice that Pepin Garcia is well-acclaimed for. While lighting up, my palate instantly receives a perfect dose of black pepper, almonds and even a touch of tart fruit. While continuing to smoke through the first third of this medium to full-bodied classic, it is completely clear why Cigar Aficionado gave it the ‘#2 Cigar of the Year’ ranking. This cigar burns and draws perfectly, delivering copious amounts of smoke while maintaining stunning balance and complexity.
While the second third advances, I can still clearly taste the dark chocolate, as well as some hints of roasted nuts and that same perfect amount of spice that has been present from the start. The ash seems as though it could hold on for the long haul and the burn maintains its razor sharp line on this soft box-pressed beauty throughout the entire breadth of the cigar. As the final third came and went, each puff seemed to bring with it everything I hoped that it would. The finish is well-balanced and continues to have those distinct aromas that have engaged my senses from the beginning to the end. This was about an hour or so well-spent, reminding me that smoking a great cigar is an experience hard to rival.
If you consider yourself a fan of Maduro wrappers, then this cigar should certainly be at the top of your smoking wish list. Because La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor is finished in one of the best Mexican wrappers, you’ll easily discover a size you can’t put down. Enjoy!
