I’m feeling much better now thanks to the fine folks at Proctor & Gamble (who distill that nectar of the gods called Nyquil.) But I thought I’d get back into the swing of things with something mild, so I bring you La Aurora, the label that started it all for Eduardo Leon.

The original La Aurora cigar was a true perfecto, tapered at both ends, similar to the Preferidos produced by La Aurora today for what I would guess is now about a hundred times the original price. Today’s standard La Aurora cigar is an economical everyday good smoke retailing at around 3 or 4 USD. The Bristol Especiales are what seem to be a non-standard size. They have a 48 ring gauge so they’re a little emaciated for a toro, but with a length of 6 3/8 inches you could also call it a truncated churchill.

This stick isn’t going to win any beauty contests, but its fine construction makes up for any aesthetic flaws. The Cameroon wrapper is dark and dry but is nicely toothed. There are a couple of prominent veins and the wrapper is easily chipped, but that’s typical for Cameroon. It burns smoothly and evenly from the first touch of the torch and it never requires touch-ups. The ash is a uniform gray that needs tapping only occasionally.

The binder and filler are both Dominican, as is only fitting for the DR’s longest lived cigar company. The body of this smoke can only be described as mild. The foundation flavor is woody, but the aroma of the cameroon wrapper adds an elegant spice that pretty much takes over the spotlight. There is a slightly earthy twang that makes an appearance at the half-way point and by smoke’s end gets a tad bitter, but I have to admit this may have been a result of my oversmoking. I tend to hotbox mild cigars because I get a little impatient. The best way for someone like me to smoke a cigar like this is with something else to do while I’m smoking — watching a game on the tube or reading something.

There really isn’t much depth or complexity here, but that’s not unusual for mild cigars so I can’t criticize it too much in that regard. The finish on this cigar is fairly short, and there is only a hint of aftertaste. The woodsy spicy aroma lingers pleasantly on my moustache. That is the point of having a moustache, is it not?

Smokers who favor medium to full bodied cigars will most likely find the traditional La Aurora to be on the boring side, but it’s a quality mild cigar with a fine wrapper that is eminently affordable. It was also a great way to break in my palate after a week on the wagon.

The 2005 5 Vegas Limitada looks very similar to the 2006 version, with bright veins and an otherwise smooth texture. It appears to be a bit darker and not quite as oily as the 2006, and the wrap at the head is finished a little bit better.

It is roughly the same size as the 2006: maybe a quarter of an inch longer but the same ring gauge. The bigger differences lie within: here the binder is Brazilian, instead of “cuban seed” (whatever that means) and the filler is Nicaraguan and Peruvian. Interesting that there is no Dominican leaf in the older 5 Vegas Limitada.

The roll is perfectly solid prior to lighting up, and the scent of the fresh wrapper is rich and earthy. The tip clips off neatly and the prelight draw is spot on, not too tight, not too loose. The unlit taste is earthy with a little sweetness to it.

The construction of this stick is every bit as good as the 2006 version. It holds a long gray ash and needs no maintenance whatsoever. The draw is perfect, the burn is straight, and it produces a wealth of smoke with each puff.

The 2005 Limitada is overall much milder than the 2006 production. It starts out very mild with an earthy base and a pleasantly sweet aroma. The smoke is very smooth and the finish short, almost nonexistent actually. While there’s very little strength at this point, it’s still tasty, but a light taste, like an hors d’oeuvre. To be honest I was a little dissapointed. I was expecting a meal, not a snack!

Luckily the transition that occurs at around the half-way point is the opposite of what I found with the 2006 — instead of bottoming out, the 2005 picks up speed. The earthy flavor takes on a little more character, a little more body, becoming creamier. Then notes of cedar begin to float above the earth and eventually overtake it. And finally, some spicier flavors, a dash of pepper added to the woody element.

The 2005 Belicoso never becomes a truly full bodied cigar, but it certainly develops from its very mild beginning into something close to medium. The transition here was very nice, and I’d be happy to keep a box of these around as a morning pick-me-up or a leisurely afternoon cigar. They would also make an elegant introduction to the world of premiums for the new cigar smoker. Sungrown Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf has a distinctive spice that most smokers appreciate, and all cigar fans should experience. The 5 Vegas Limitada 2005 is an excellent example of this because the relative mildness of the blend lets the wrapper shine through.

Unfortunately, the 2005 line is sold out. If you happen to have a few squirreled away, consider yourself lucky. If, like me, you’ve reduced your last 2005 Limitada to ashes, well… there’s always 2007 to look forward to.

The 5 Vegas Limitada sports a nice looking Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper with bright but smooth veins. The head of this cigar is a little rough, but it cut cleanly and never carried out on its threats to unravel. (Threats implied only by the wrapper edges that caused me a little concern.) Overall the construction of this stick was very good. After an easy light and a few pulls I noticed smoke tendrils rising from the head of the cigar. That’s always a nice effect, and a result of superior craftsmanship.

The data on this cigar comes from Cigars International, the only distributor of this cigar. The 2006 model is 6.25 inches in length with a 52 ring gauge. The binder is identified as “cuban seed” which is pretty vague. I’m going to hazard a guess that since these are made in the Aurora factory the binder is Dominican. The filler is a blend of Brazilian, Nicaraguan, and Dominican “piloto cubano.”

It starts out with a burst of pepper and a strong finish. Based on this I expected a powerhouse cigar to follow, but in this I was wrong. For the first third, in addition to the pepper and spice, there are some leathery flavors and a pleasant aroma. The ash builds into a solid cylinder that drops after a good two inches. It probably could go longer but I gracefully tapped it into the ashtray.

The 2006 Limitada turns out to be a fairly mild cigar, despite the way it begins. After the two thirds mark it really mellows out and takes on a very easygoing creamy character. But gradually the flavor evaporates. I found this very odd, and suspected it might be my palate taking a peremptory vacation. But on two separate nights I experienced the same thing — at the half way point this cigar just sort of peters out. Not in an unpleasant way exactly — it remains a perfectly acceptable smoke, but the flavors just drop out, as if a sudden wind came up and took away all the flavor.

I found this to be a puzzling cigar. It starts with great promise and for the first half the flavor transitions are interesting and enjoyable. Factor into this the perfect construction, and I’d say this cigar from La Aurora is a real winner, if only it continued its performance into the second half. Like the Cardinals losing to the Bears on Monday night, this cigar is strangely able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.