Be gentle - this is my first review...

Length: 5"
Ring Gauge: 54
Shape: Double Perfecto
Filler: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Wrapper: Connecticut
Price Paid: $9.00
(MSRP ~$18.00 -ouch-)

This wonderful cigar came in a beautiful double torpedo-shaped blue aluminum tube with a multi-colored "cigar band" painted on it and is marked as “ Aurora Preferidos 1903 Edition”. The cigar itself had a rather large red and silver "La Aurora" band with a reclining lion and marked "1903 Sapphire".
Presentation: 10 of 10

Upon opening and removing the cigar, the first thing I noticed was the sweet aroma of fine tobacco. The stick was very nicely constructed, with both the foot and the head tapering down to the double perfecto shape. The tan colored wrapper was smooth and blemish-free, with just a couple small veins seen by my uneducated eye. The stick was firm but not hard, with no soft spots at all.
Appearance: 9 of 10
Construction: 29 of 30

The cut was made using a razor-sharp Xikar Xi2 cutter. The pre-light draws tasted only of sweet fine tobacco. I toasted the foot, took a few small puffs, then finished the light, which was easily accomplished but resulted in a somewhat-uneven burn, probably due to my inexpert lighting style. The burn line corrected itself to perfection within a minute or two, though. Overall, the burn was even and consistent with no touch-ups or relights necessary.
Light and Burn: 14 of 15

The first few puffs had a roasted nut flavor accompanied by a rich creamy smoke that contained not even a trace of bitterness. There was a very slight spice finish in my nose with a nice mild leather taste lingering on my palette. As the burn progressed through the first third, the amount of smoke steadily increased along with the ring size. Occasionally I'd get a small burst of spice, along with the wonderful and smooth rich, creamy smoke. The finish was consistently of mild leather, with a burst of nuttiness thrown in now and then.

In the second third, the amount of smoke per puff had really increased, and I needed to slow down a bit to be able to savor the great smooth flavor of creamy smoke and mild leather, now with occasional dark toast highlights and small amount of spiciness in my nose. The finish was still consistently smooth with no bitterness or burned aftertaste.

The final third crescendoed into powerful yet still smooth flavors that continued what the beginning two thirds had started. Even my relatively untrained palette could recognise the high quality of this cigar. Not complex by any means, but always smooth, tasty, and satisfying to the last. I smoked all but the last inch or so thanks to my cigar stub holder; I did not want want it to end, it was too darn tasty!
Taste: 30 of 35

I'd personally consider this stick as mid- to full-bodied, especially during the last third. On a scale of one to ten, I'd rate this beauty as a solid 9.2, and will definitely smoke it again. At the MSRP I don't think I'll be buying a box, but five or ten certainly aren't out of the question.
Final Score: 92 of 100

Enjoy! :-) Smoke 'em if you've got 'em, pardner! :-)
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I love the corojo (gold) version. If you watch the auctions long enough you can sometimes get them for a pretty good price.
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I'm not a huge connecticut wrapper fan, but there are exceptions out there. This is one of them. The predraw and first light of this cigar literally made me say out loud "This is how a cigar should taste!" This cigar and the Maduro (Ruby tubo) are my favorites of the Preferido line.
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I've been wondering about these, the whole line, really. Thanks for the review! :-)
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Very nice review. Have been aging a few of these and am anxious to try them after the writeup. Also, am curious as to the "cigar stub holder" you used.
Thanks
Chuck Leaf
ylo2na
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:-)
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http://www.thecigarstub.com/ for the holder; spendy but very, very nice.

I'll take and post a few pics a little later today of one of the surviving sticks I am now going to hoard.

By the time I thought of a camera yesterday I was too deep in tobacco bliss to do anything but enjoy.

:-)
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Wow...haven't seen the cigar stub before...pretty neat little gadget! Can't justify spending $50 on it right now, but maybe in the future :-)
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Nice review.
I avoided the Preferidos for a long time because of the price, but I love the perfecto shape. You can BTW find these from time to time at a more reasonable price. Two things strike me about this line as a whole. First, the presentation of the whole line is impeccable, and a pleasant luxury. Second, the colors of the tube are to delineate the different wrappers, and each one showcases another wrapper and gives a great side by side of a Cameron, CT, ect, so you can experience first hand what a different wrapper will do on a cigar.
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The devil has fivers of these and I got the Platinum, Green, and Gold all for under $40 each. They should get here Monday and Tuesday.
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As promised, here are a few "afterward" pictures, and one of the actual remains; enjoy.

Image First, the beautiful tube containing the remarkable cigar.


Image Next is the opened package; just as nice IMHO.

Image Finally, the "remains of the day".

You can see exactly what's left. BTW, the ash was tight and firn and held on for the whole first half!

Enjoy. :-)
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Have always wanted to try these.....now more than ever. The cigar stub is neat, maybe someone will put together a group buy.
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Wow JoeCool, that is some dedicated smoking.
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Nice review! I have tried the Silver (Cameroon) before, always wanted to try the Connecticut. Sounds like it was a good smoke.
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Nice review. I have seen alot of these and never pulled the trigger, may have to get out and find some.
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I love most all of these, normal price is $240 for a box of 24, I don't like JR but sometimes if you watch the auctions close you can snipe and get them around $150 give or take that is how I got most of mine.

Good Luck!
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