La Aurora's new aged sticks.

Many things in life benefit from being stuffed in an oak barrel and forgotten about for a couple years or decades (see also: scotch, specialty beers, Amy Winehouse). Now, La Aurora takes the chance that tobacco could likewise benefit from a long turn in a cask with the Aurora Barrel Aged, offered in four sizes.

Announced at last year's RTDA (now called the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers conference), the cigars' Dominican Corojo wrappers have been aged for a full year in oak barrels originally used for rum (the filler also does an eight-month stint), imbuing a subtle sweetness to the smoke along with notes of coffee and citrus. As an aside, those with an aversion to flavored sticks (though we're puffing Drew Estate's Acid 5 Torpedo as we write this, and believe us, such things have their place) need not fear: La Aurora's barrels have imparted not a hint of rum to the tobacco, ensuring a very pure, medium-bodied experience.

"This has been made for people who know about cigars," says Nestor Miranda, U.S. distributor for La Aurora. "It has a fine taste and balance, and it's in limited supply."

Robusto ($6)
Corona ($7)
Torpedo ($8)
Churchill ($9)

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