Para Japon - Review
 

Gents,
Like many here, I jumped at the chance to pick up these sticks based upon their intended purpose. Hats off again to Senior Leon and Co for putting their $$ where their mouths are.

Onto the Review:

Specifics
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Brazil, Cameroon, Dominican Republic
Price: ~$9.00

Looks & Prelight:The cigar is very nicely constructed, smooth wrapper with one tiny vein. Firm and nice deep color, slightly oily. Prelight draw is pure tobacco with a slight hint of sweetness.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C.../IMG_00208.jpg

First Third: Draw was a dream. I gotta say I had a real hard time picking out individual flavor profiles in this one at this point....But that shouldn't be taken as a bad thing. To me, it was an overall quality tobacco flavor with maybe some underlying sweetness. The aroma was pleasing and slightly sweet.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z.../IMG_00202.jpg

Second Third: Draw is still perfect. Some nice toast and some wood flavors coming out. Creates lots of smoke and the aroma is still sweet. The ash just hung in there...and hung in there. Again, not tons of complexity, but to be honest for an enjoyable cigar after a long weekend of work....It was actually appreciated. I decided to pair the cigar with some 2004 Joseph Phelps Napa Syrah at this point. The combo of the wine and cigar was absolutely perfect. Neither was overpowering each other. I was really enjoying myself at this point.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-J.../IMG_00206.jpg

Last Third: The stick began to build and pour out creamy smoke. Still the favors were mellow; but some spice came out as well as a nutty profile. The wrapper began to separate slightly - but I think that was from my chomping on it more than anything.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-N.../IMG_00207.jpg

Final Thoughts: Honestly the first stick I've had from La Aurora that I enjoyed to the very end. While I didn't find it complex; the flavors were nice and clean...And sometimes that's just what Im after. Im writing this review about 40mins since my last puff; and the after taste is still lingering. All in all if you have the chance on a beautiful Sunday night; this might just be your stick to relax with :)

Re: Para Japon - Review
 

Very nice review steve :tu

Re: Para Japon - Review
 

nice review, won 2 of these, looking forward to smoking them soon

Re: Para Japon - Review
 

Nice review Steve!

Re: Para Japon - Review
 

great review. I was hoping to read what some guys thought of this stick.

Hope you like the box and band also ;)

Dan

Re: Para Japon - Review
 

Yes, the box and band are nice. I actually think that the band would be a good one to get plastered to a lighter...I recall seeing someone who does this; it looked like they use some sort of bonding epoxy to cover a zippo with your favorite band.

Re: Para Japon - Review
 

Those lighters are done by a forum member, architeuthis, I've had my eye on one of his lighters for a while

Re: Para Japon - Review
 

Great review, thanks.

Re: Para Japon - Review
 

Nice review. I like your brick setup for your coal starter.

Re: Para Japon - Review
 

Enjoyed your review. Wanna here how it smoked, general thoughts a about the flavor profile and a summary. I can't pick out as many flavors as some folks can. Think I'll give this a try.

Re: Para Japon - Review
 

Thanks for the review

Re: Para Japon - Review
 

nice! never heard of these, thanks for the review and pics!

Re: Para Japon - Review
 

Hehe...That's actually a smaller part of this:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-m...0/IMG_0253.JPG

Re: Para Japon - Review
 

Nice review. I haven't tried this one yet, but I'll pick one up and give it a shot.