Cigar Review: La Aurora Fernando Leon Family Reserve

Posted by WillyStyl on Aug 20, 2012 in Reviews | 0 comments

La Aurora Fernando Leon Family Reserve

Size:  Robusto (5 x 50 )

Wrapper: Dominican Corojo

Binder: Dominican Corojo

Filler:  Peruvian, Brazilian, Dominican

Strength: Medium

Price:  (IPCPR Sample) $8-$10 msrp Depending on Vitola

Grade: 8.7

I mentioned last week the Miami Cigar had a number of new offerings at IPCPR.  One of the cigars that was given to me by Miami Cigar was a new offering from La Aurora, the Fernando Leon.

A little more of the story on the Fernando Leon from the Miami Cigar Blog:

Before Guillermo was at the helm his father guided the ship. The Fernando Leon is a cigar that Don Fernando only shared with very close friends and family. La Aurora has decided to share this family heirloom with their Brothers & Sisters of the leaf. The cigar which will be available in the same sizes as the Guillermo Leon will range in price from $8.00 to $10.25 before local taxes.

If you’re a regular reader of ToastedFoot.Com you’ll know from my review of the La Aurora 107 Salomon that La Aurora is not a brand that is a regular part of my rotation but I do enjoy a few of their cigars as a change-up from my typically Nicaraguan heavy rotation and I’m always adventurous when it comes to trying something new.

Thank you to Barry Stein of Miami Cigar for generously providing a few samples of the Fernando Leon.  We appreciate your generosity, however, as always it will have no influence on our review.

But enough about that, let’s toast the foot….

Pre-Light:  (1.7)  The Fernando Leon has a nice dark, mottled, Corojo wrapper with a bit of bumpiness to it.  There are a few note worthy veins and some unevenness in the seams.  There is a bit of a bump where it looks like a small piece of leaf is pushing up out of the wrapper, I don’t think it’s a hole but rather a minor protrusion from a vein.

The band features the gold Lions Head crest of La Aurora embossed over a red background and the Fernando Leon Signature in gold on a white background with the words “Family Reserve” printed below.

The scent off the foot has a sweet citrusy characteristic to it with just a hint of graham cracker beneath the citrus.  The pre light draw offers up a little sweet tobacco with some  citrus to it.

Burn:  (1.8) The Fernando Leon Family Reserve has an open draw which produces ample amounts of smoke.  The burn line tends to get a little wavy at times but not so much to detract from the smoking experience.   The ash was a little sensitive and had to be discarded every 3/4″ or less.

Flavor:  (2.6)  Upon lighting the Family Reserve starts off with a peppery spice with a char and citrus note quickly joining the flavor profile.  There is a dryness to the smoke.  As I smoke through the first third I get a hint of orange peel mixing into the flavor profile as a cedar flavor starts to emerge as the platform from which the other notes are intermingling.

Smoking into he second third and I note an increase in the pepper and more dry citrusy notes shimmering off the rich cedar core.  The smoke has a rich texture to it and it coats the palate.

Smoking into the last third and the flavor profile is very similar to the second third; cedar, citrus, orange peel, pepper and then as I start thinking I’ve gotten all the Fernando Leon has to offer a hint of a red wine flavor joins the fray for the rest of the final third.

Overall: (2.6)   The Fernando Leon is an interesting smoke.  It has a very diverse range of flavors that are definitely different from my usual “go to” cigars.  The Corojo wrapper and binder bring a tremendous amount of flavor and complexity to the smoke.  I was gifted a few of the from Miami Cigar and I can honestly say that I’ve smoked every single one of them trying to pick out the diversity of notes they present.  A very good, and somewhat interesting cigar by La Aurora that will get a place in my “change of pace” list.

On a side note, all the samples I received were Robustos.  I am really interested in trying this cigar in the Corona as I imagine the flavors may be even more intense in that format.

Total: 8.7

@WillyStyl