PCA 2021: La Aurora

For whatever reason, La Aurora decided to only talk to halfwheel about one news item prior to the 2021 PCA Convention & Trade Show. And while I appreciate the fact it gave us info about one line, out of the four options it could have chosen, the one it decided to talk about is far and away its least interesting item in my opinion. In fact, it isn’t even new. And to make matters less sensible, it’s not even in Las Vegas. What’s annoying is that one of the actual new items in the booth has a great story, one that I would have appreciated more details about.

As for the booth, La Aurora is part of Miami Cigar & Co., its U.S. distributor. Because of a change in strategy at Miami Cigar & Co., the company shrank its booth, removed its large center structure and opened things up. Quite frankly, it won’t surprise me if it tries to open it up and shrink the space even more.

Fernando Léon Limited Edition Belicoso

The release that the company should have talked about is this, a new limited edition Fernando León line. What’s crazy about this line is that it actually has a story, though you’ve got to ask multiple people to hear it. Fernando León—the late owner of La Aurora and father of its current owner, Guillermo—actually purchased the corojo wrapper that is being used for the release. It sat in the factory for years and is now being used. The Belicoso is the first of three planned sizes for the line. This is not the same blend as the regular production Fernando León Family Reserve line.

• Wrapper: Undisclosed (Corojo)
• Binder: Ecuador
• Filler: Brazil, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua & Peru

• Fernando León Limited Edition Belicoso (6 1/4 x 52) — $28 (Box of 15, $420)

Production: 150 Boxes of 15 Cigars (2,250 Total Cigars)

Release Date: September 2021

La Aurora Hors d’Age 2020

The number used in the Hors d’Age name refers to when the cigars are rolled. So, Hors d’Age 2020 is on time and it looks like Hors d’Age 2019 isn’t happening? The concept is that the tobaccos are all 12-years-old, the cigars are rolled, and then sit for another year. The Toro is limited to 500 boxes, while the Gran Toro is limited to 150 jars.

• Wrapper: Ecuador
• Binder: Ecuador
• Filler: Colombia, Dominican Republic & Nicaragua

• La Aurora Hors d’Age 2020 Toro (5 3/4 x 54) — $26 (Jar of 15, $390)
• La Aurora Hors d’Age 2020 Gran Toro (6 x 58) — $26 (Box of 30, $780)

Production: Varies

Release Date: September 2021

La Aurora Puro Vintage 2008

La Aurora has released new Puro Vintage vintages in 2016 and 2018, and it seems likely this would have come out in 2020. Then the pandemic happened and the cigar was delayed. All the tobacco comes from 2008 and there’s Dominican tobacco used for the wrapper, binder and in the filler, though some of the filler comes from other countries.

• Wrapper: Dominican Republic (Cibao Valley)
• Binder: Dominican Republic (Cibao Valley)
• Filler: Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic & Nicaragua

• La Aurora Puro Vintage 2008 (6 1/2 x 50/60) — $26.50 (Box of 8, $212)

Production: 1,000 Boxes of 8 Cigars (8,000 Total Cigars)

Release Date: September 2021

León Jimenes Connecticut Relaunch

So this isn’t new, rather, La Aurora is reintroducing the León Jimenes Connecticut with new packaging in the U.S. Only five of the 10 sizes are going to be offered in the U.S., I’m not sure that the decision to sell both a 7 1/2 x 50 double corona and a 7 x 47 Churchill is the most logical choice in vitolas, but I guess we’ll see. Of note, this wasn’t in the booth.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Connecticut)
• Binder: Dominican Republic (Cibao Valley)
• Filler: Dominican Republic (Cibao Valley) & Nicaragua

• León Jimenes Connecticut No.1 (7 1/2 x 50) — $8.50 (Box of 25, $212.50)
• León Jimenes Connecticut No.2 (7 x 47) — $8 (Box of 25, $200)
• León Jimenes Connecticut No.3 (6 1/2 x 42) — $7 (Box of 25, $175)
• León Jimenes Connecticut Robusto (5 x 50) — $7.50 (Box of 25, $187.50)
• León Jimenes Connecticut Belicoso (6 1/4 x 52) — $8.50 (Box of 25, $212.50)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 5, 2021