Para Japòn by La Aurora
I won two Para Japòn cigars via a giveaway held at Tom Ufer’s website. This cigar was created by La Aurora in response to the recent devastation in Japan. I don’t know the details, but it is said that some proceeds will go to relief efforts.
For a little while, it was quite fashionable to be concerned with Japan, but I see that the honeymoon is over. Unlike so many fickle band wagoners out there, I think the Para Japòn cigar is made with good intentions. At minimum, this cigar deserves a try and a review. So without further ado, here are my thoughts.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Cameroon, Brazilian, Dominican
Size: Sumo Robusto 5 x 50
Price: $10.00
Pre-Smoke & Construction:
The wrapper looked bumpy with a few good sized veins and toothy appearance. There was also a velvety smoothness to it as well. The wrapper had a dark earthy smell. The foot had that same smell but not quite as strong. The cigar was well packed with a tight spot or two. The draw was a little snug but within my tolerances. The pre-light draw had a sweet earthy flavor.
The ash held for an inch, and the burn required no corrections.
Flavor:
The first third kicked off with simple woody flavors. Up next was earthiness When passing smoke through the nose, I picked up a spice that wasn’t quite pepper, but it wasn’t sweet either. Simple but good.
The second third took on more of a richer flavor profile. I wouldn’t call it complex, but it just felt more satisfying. Through the nose, the spice increased in strength and took on a peppery feel. The dry cedar in the first third developed into a richer woodiness. The earthy flavors took a step back in strength but they did stand out from time to time. As I progressed along I could have sworn I picked up something sweet, but I am not certain. Yea lame on my part, but hey, I’m not an expert.
The last third: The woody flavors remained dominant but it developed even more. There was something subtle mixed in that I found hard to pinpoint. It was almost floral and fruity. What challenged me was how subtle it was. When retrohaling, the pepper was more of a spice that boarded on being sweet.
Conclusion:
This was a very nice medium bodied cigar. I liked the subtle nuances that left me stumped at times. I know the price is a bit high for a robusto. I assume this is because it is aimed towards getting more revenue for donation to relief efforts. I am curious what percentage of sales will be donated. If anyone knows, I’ll update this post. Price aside, this is worth a try.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 at 12:00 am and is filed under Cigar Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
jjo May 17th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Nice review, Tom. I’ve read that you’re half Japanese, and as a Sansei myself, I’m also pleased with La Aurora’s contribution to the relief effort. I just wish that they would be more open as to how much will actually be contributed. Of course, ANY amount counts, and as you say, the good intentions are there. Perhaps Brian Hewitt would know, since he was at least partly in on this.