3 | Cigar | 91 to 95

"It was two years in the making, and it appears that the wait was certainly worth it. The new La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor represents the first time that Ashton Distributors Inc. has released a cigar cloaked in a Mexican wrapper. The Mi Amor Magnifico is a stellar medium-bodied smoke, toothy, dark and box pressed, with intense flavors of rich coffee paired with a touch of vanilla. This is the newest version of La Aroma de Cuba, a brand that originated in Cuba and was reinvented by Ashton. The new version of the brand debuted in 2002 as a Honduran smoke. Ashton later enlisted Jose "Pepin" Garcia to make a new version of La Aroma, which it dubbed Edicion Especial. In 2009 Ashton moved the original La Aroma to Garcia as well, and the line was reblended. Today, Garcia makes every La Aroma de Cuba at his My Father Cigars Inc. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Mexican wrappers have been part of the cigar industry for decades, but Cuban-seed Mexican wrappers are relatively new. They certainly work well on this blend."

Reviewed by: Cigar Aficionado 94pts

This cigar was named #6 of Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 Cigars of 2010.
Visit a Binny's Humidor to find other selections from Cigar Aficianado's 2010 Top 25:

24 Casa Magna Colorado Churchill
23 Ashton VSG Eclipse
20 Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro
19 Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Toro
18 Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial
17 Brick House Robusto
16 My Father No. 2 Belicoso
15 C.A.O. La Traviata Divino
8 E.P. Carrillo Elencos Edición Limitada 2010
6 La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Magnifico
4 Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 (Natural)

"The Padron family has created quite the tradition by coming out with a new Padron Family Reserve every year to commemorate the company’s history. The Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro was [Cigar Aficianado's] 2009 Cigar of the Year—this is the natural version of that very same cigar. It has the same dimensions and suggested retail price, but the lighter wrapper gives the cigar a different flavor. While the considerable kick of the maduro is informed by hearty, resonant coffee, cocoa and spice flavors that saturate the palate, the natural is a bit more mellow, with flavors of cocoa bean and earth on the palate. The cigar is quite balanced and exceptionally flavorful. It’s impossible to exaggerate how well the Padron family has done in [Cigar Aficianado's] Top 25—three times the company has had a Cigar of the Year, and the Padrons have never failed to have a cigar in our top five. It’s an impressive show of consistency that no other company can claim."

Reviewed by: Cigar Aficionado 95pts

This cigar was named #4 of Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 Cigars of 2010.
Visit a Binny's Humidor to find other selections from Cigar Aficianado's 2010 Top 25:

24 Casa Magna Colorado Churchill
23 Ashton VSG Eclipse
20 Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro
19 Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Toro
18 Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial
17 Brick House Robusto
16 My Father No. 2 Belicoso
15 C.A.O. La Traviata Divino
8 E.P. Carrillo Elencos Edición Limitada 2010
6 La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Magnifico
4 Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 (Natural)

"This chocolate brown robusto burns perfectly even and draws well, delivering sweet and floral smoke with profound undertones of leather, dried red fruit and a hint of cinnamon."

"Near black with a thick pigtail cap and uncut foot. The first puffs show straw-and-hay flavors leading to leathery notes, which become sweeter as the cigar is smoked. Tasty and interesting."

"A neatly box-pressed cigar whose complex smoke starts with an earthy, herbal character. Flavors become both sweet and savory with black cherry and black truffle."

"This coarse torpedo is beautifully crafted with a sharp cap. It has a fantastic draw and an even burn. Its dominated by sweet flavors, including cocao, wood and nuts. The aroma has a pleasant hint of spice." 7/04

"A solid, unique smoke. It has a medium- to full-bodied character with a light perfumed quality. There are flavors of red spices, And a hint of anise on the palate. Well made."