La Aurora Puro Vintage 2009 Edición Limitada | Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

La Aurora, a brand that once used plastic instead of cellophane to wrap their sticks... allegedly. But this isn't your uncle's catalog brand cigar. The Puro Vintage series represents La Aurora's attempt at prestige releases, where they showcase tobacco from a single exceptional harvest year. The 2009 edition sat around aging for 14 years before getting boxed, which is longer than most people keep their New Year's resolutions alive. With only 1,000 boxes of 8 cigars produced worldwide, this is legitimately limited rather than the fake scarcity marketing that plagues the cigar world like LinkedIn motivational posts. Or is it?

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🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Puro Vintage 2009 Edición Limitada

Master Blender: La Aurora Factory Team - The oldest cigar factory in the Dominican Republic, operating since 1903 when people still thought radium was healthy

Size: Salomon 6.5" x 50/60

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Ecuadorian HVA (Habano Vuelta Arriba)

Binder: Brazilian Arapiraca

Filler: Brazilian Mata Fina, Dominican Corojo, Nicaraguan Criollo '98

Strength: Medium+

Price: $26.50 per stick

Aging: 14 years of aging before boxing - all tobacco from 2009 harvest

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Draw: Tight as a drum - had to break out the PerfecDraw

Burn: Consistent once it got going

Smoke Output: Above average production

Ash: Holds respectably before surrendering

That oily wrapper delivers on visual appeal, showing the kind of sheen that suggests quality tobacco rather than questionable manufacturing shortcuts. The draw resistance required intervention, which is disappointing for a $26 cigar but solvable with proper tools. Construction from the Dominican Republic's oldest factory shows attention to detail in everything except ensuring adequate airflow. The Salomon shape (that double-figured torpedo profile) is supposed to enhance flavor evolution, making you look sophisticated while you struggle with the geometry of keeping it lit evenly.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: CAFFEINATED LEATHER LOUNGE

spice, coffee, cream, leather

Spice announces itself immediately alongside robust coffee notes that wake up your palate like an espresso shot you didn't ask for but needed. Cream provides balance while leather undertones add complexity. The opening shows promise and restraint, building gradually rather than overwhelming - this cigar has emotional intelligence.

SECOND THIRD: ESPRESSO BAR EARTH TONES

espresso, earth, cream, light spice

Espresso takes center stage as the coffee deepens into more concentrated territory. Earth notes emerge alongside persistent cream that smooths out the rougher edges. Light spice maintains presence on the retrohale without dominating. This section delivers the most refined smoking experience, showing what 14 years of aging can accomplish when tobacco is treated with respect instead of rushed to market like a startup burning through venture capital.

FINAL THIRD: SWEET CHAR FINALE

sweet leather, charred wood, graham cracker

Sweet leather dominates the closing act with charred wood providing rustic backbone. Graham cracker sweetness appears unexpectedly, adding dessert-like character to the finish. The cigar ends strong without harshness or bitterness, sticking the landing like a figure skater who actually trained instead of relying on natural talent and delusion.

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🏆 THE VERDICT

B+ TIER

Flavor: B+

Construction: B (draw issues dock points)

Availability: C (only 1,000 boxes worldwide)

Price: B- (reasonable for aged limited release, but that tight draw stings)

Final Rating:

The La Aurora Puro Vintage 2009 delivers on flavor complexity that justifies the 14-year aging period and limited production status. The tri-country filler blend creates genuine depth, with Brazilian Mata Fina contributing earthy richness, Dominican Corojo adding spice, and Nicaraguan Criollo '98 providing backbone. At $26.50, you're paying for legitimate scarcity and extended aging rather than marketing hype.

TLDR: Probably the best stick La Aurora makes. Does that make it worth it?

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Black Dahlia by Gran Habano | Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

Can't say I know anything about Gran Habano - this is a first time smoke for me, like going on a blind date that your friend set up with their cousin who "has a great personality." But off the bat, this wrapper looks oily and awesome, with construction that screams quality rather than questionable life choices. The Black Dahlia is part of Gran Habano's S.T.K. series (Stay True Kid), which is George Rico's boutique line for small-batch releases. It's named after the dark flower, not the infamous 1947 unsolved murder case, though the mysterious black lacquer box presentation certainly leans into that noir aesthetic.

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🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Black Dahlia Toro

Master Blender: George A. Rico -

Size: Toro (6x54)

Country of Origin: Honduras (Danlí factory)

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Shade-Grown Corojo

Binder: Double Nicaraguan Habano

Filler: Multi-origin blend - Nicaraguan (Habano and Cubita), Colombian, and Costa Rican long-fillers

Strength: Medium

Price: $10-12 per stick

Aging: Small-batch regular production with Boveda packs included in boxes

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Draw: Absolutely perfect - smooth airflow like a luxury sedan with all the windows down

Burn: Even and consistent with minimal touch-ups needed

Smoke Output: Great production

Ash: Holds well before giving up

That oily wrapper delivers on its visual promise with excellent construction from top to bottom. The S.T.K. series represents George Rico's more refined, boutique approach compared to Gran Habano's regular production line. This cigar uses a double binder system and pulls tobacco from three countries for the filler blend, which is either ambitious craftsmanship or the cigar equivalent of a band bringing together members from different continents. The shade-grown Corojo wrapper comes from Nicaragua despite the Honduras production, adding another layer to this international collaboration.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: CREAMY CITRUS AWAKENING

cream, cedar, citrus, light pepper

Cream takes center stage immediately alongside clean cedar notes and an unexpected citrus brightness. Light pepper provides gentle spice on the retrohale without overwhelming the palate. The opening is approachable and balanced, like meeting someone's parents who actually seem normal and well-adjusted.

SECOND THIRD: COFFEE SHOP VIBES

roasted coffee, cream, nuts, cedar

Roasted coffee becomes the dominant force as the blend transitions into deeper territory. Cream persists alongside emerging nutty characteristics and cedar maintaining its presence. The flavors develop complexity while staying smooth - this section shows the most personality and refinement of the entire smoke.

FINAL THIRD: EARTH AND EMBERS

charred wood, leather, earth

Charred wood arrives with leather and earth tones defining the closing act. The profile shifts darker and more rustic as the cigar finishes strong without any harshness or heat issues. It sticks the landing like an Olympic gymnast who actually trained instead of just showing up with confidence and a dream.

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🏆 THE VERDICT

A- TIER

Flavor: A-

Construction: A

Availability: B

Price: B+

Final Rating: For a first encounter with Gran Habano's boutique line, the Black Dahlia absolutely delivers. The multi-origin filler blend creates genuine complexity without feeling like a gimmick, and that double binder system clearly contributes to the excellent construction and smoke production. At $10-12 per stick, the pricing sits in that sweet spot where quality exceeds expectations.

📊 BOTTOM LINE

The Gran Habano S.T.K. Black Dahlia proves that George Rico's boutique approach pays dividends in both flavor and construction. The shade-grown Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper looks beautiful and smokes even better, with that oily sheen translating to consistent performance throughout the entire experience. The progression from creamy citrus to roasted coffee to earthy leather shows thoughtful blending rather than random tobacco assembly. Construction is flawless with perfect draw and impressive smoke output that makes you look more important than you actually are. The multi-country filler blend (Nicaragua, Colombia, Costa Rica) adds genuine complexity, with each region contributing distinct characteristics that play well together. This is a cigar that rewards attention - the flavor transitions are subtle but meaningful, building gradually rather than screaming for validation. The S.T.K. series continues to show that small-batch doesn't have to mean overpriced or overhyped. This is approachable enough for newer smokers but offers enough depth to keep experienced enthusiasts engaged. If this is representative of Gran Habano's capabilities, I've been sleeping on this brand like a college student during an 8 AM lecture.

TLDR: Advertised as full bodied but definitely a medium, but still delicious. If you find one, try one.

Joya de Nicaragua Black Swan | Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

Another Cigar Page exclusive drops and we're here to see if lightning strikes twice or four times? The Oliva Black Swan is the OG cream dream machine that set the bar for this collaboration series - basically the Thriller album of exclusive cigars. Now Cigar Page has teamed up with Nicaragua's oldest cigar factory for round four of their Black Swan project. Can JDN live up to the legacy, or is this the Godfather III of the series? Time to find out if this swan can swim or if it's going down like your mom after appletini.

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🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Black Swan Toro

Master Blender: Joya de Nicaragua Factory Team - The folks who've been rolling cigars since 1968, back when people unironically wore bell bottoms

Size: Toro

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Cuban-seed Ecuadorian Criollo (dark and rustic)

Binder: Nicaraguan Habano

Filler: Nicaraguan long-fillers from Jalapa and Estelí

Price: Approximately $5-6 per stick

Aging: Fresh release - part of Cigar Page's ongoing Black Swan collaboration series

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Draw: Clean and consistent

Burn: Well-behaved with minimal corrections needed

Smoke Output: Adequate clouds without being obnoxious

Ash: Holds decently before giving up

The construction is solid without any drama unlike CP's discord channel - no soft spots, no tunneling, just a straightforward smoking experience. The wrapper has that rustic appearance with a thin oil sheen that makes it look like it's been hitting the gym. This is the fourth installment in Cigar Page's Black Swan series, where they collaborate with different manufacturers using proprietary tobacco blends. Previous versions came from Oliva, Rocky Patel, and EP Carrillo, making this the latest in a lineage of exclusive releases that sell out faster than concert tickets for bands that peaked in the '90s.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: THE CAFFEINATED OPENING

coffee, pepper spice, sweet leather

Coffee dominates the initial profile with pepper spice providing the wake-up call your palate didn't know it needed. Sweet leather notes round out the foundation, creating a balanced start that shows promise. The smoke texture is silky smooth, coating the palate like high-thread-count sheets at a hotel you can't actually afford.

SECOND THIRD: TRANSITIONAL PHASE

charred wood, baking spices, graham cracker

Charred wood takes center stage as the coffee recedes into the background. Baking spices emerge alongside graham cracker sweetness, creating this interesting dessert-meets-campfire vibe. The transitions are noticeable but not dramatic - this cigar doesn't scream for attention like an influencer at a farmers market.

FINAL THIRD: EARTH TONES

earth, charred oak, baking spices

Earth and charred oak define the closing act with baking spices maintaining their presence throughout. The finish is surprisingly short for a full-bodied smoke, disappearing faster than your motivation on a Monday morning. It ends clean without any harsh notes or heat buildup.

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🏆 THE VERDICT

B TIER

Flavor: B

Construction: B+

Availability: A-

Price: A

Final Rating: B TIER ACROSS THE BOARD

The JDN Black Swan delivers a competent smoking experience that won't revolutionize your humidor but won't disappoint either. At around $5-6 per stick, the value proposition is strong for a Cigar Page exclusive collaboration. The flavor progression is logical and maintains interest through all three acts, even if that super short finish feels like the cigar checked out early. Construction is reliable and drama-free.

📊 BOTTOM LINE

Compared to the Oliva Black Swan - the undisputed champion of this collaboration series - the JDN version takes a different approach. Where the Oliva goes creamy and approachable, the JDN leans into earthier, spicier territory with that Cuban-seed Ecuadorian Criollo wrapper doing heavy lifting. It's a full-bodied smoke that delivers on balance and complexity without overwhelming the palate. The silky smoke texture is a highlight, creating that premium mouthfeel that makes you want to keep puffing. That short finish is a letdown though - right when you're settling into the flavors, they vanish like your childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut. Still, for the price point and Cigar Page exclusive status, this is a solid pickup that justifies buying a five-pack. It may not dethrone the Oliva as the cream dream machine, but it carves out its own identity in the Black Swan lineup. Sometimes second place is still worth celebrating, especially when it costs less than your daily coffee habit.

TLDR: A well-priced Cigar Page exclusive that delivers earth and spice with silky texture, even if the finish ghosted you faster than that Tinder match from 2019.

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