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Unlit Impressions

The first thing that grabs my eye is the big-ass "ADN" stamped on this blend's gold-accented cigar band. The signature La Aurora lion sits atop it, surrounded by the vibrant colors of the Dominican national flag, a translated version of the cigar name resting underneath for all of us clueless gringos. 

The wrapper is a medium oil affair, with some sheen and a smooth texture. Very deeply capped, with little-to-no mottling to be seen, the wrapper evokes thoughts of dried firewood sitting in the sun, stale honey, and some Cuban cigar straw smells. Nothing special here, perhaps it is best to move down to the foot.

Underfilled and beginning to crack due to the lack of leaf inside, my review cigar fails to impress when the foot is inspected. At least my sample stick had a firm fill all the way down and zero splits. 

Blood orange pithiness and the sweet-and-sour zip that comes with it springs forward, allowing just enough space for some honey covered butter biscuits to bound out. Unlike the wrapper, there is nothing stale here, and outside of some white pepper funk seems extremely clean.

Cold draws remind me of my pipe tobacco smoking days, and I can see why andullo leaf is typically reserved for such smokers. It's sappy, somewhat sweet and tacky on the tongue, and equally clean and deep in complexity. White pepper spice without the funk is here this time around, along with white chocolate-covered raisins and a fair deal of fermentation. Damn, I'm in for a really good smoke session all over again, I can already tell.

Initial Smoke

 Split cedar staves and exotic herb teas swaddle the tongue in tantra-like bliss the moment my torch completes its task. A mixture of milk and bittersweet cocoa powder beat rhythmically in the background, while fermented hay and dried wild grasses hit the secondary section of the senses. Retrohales are spicy and musty, leaving behind a finish that is full-flavored and befuddling. Fortunately, the loosely filled foot keeps its shit together and no cracks occur. Full steam ahead soldier. We've got work to do...

1st Half   

 Smoke flows outward from the sliver taken from the cap like a locomotive high on laughing gas. Fluid draw fans rejoice all you want, but I'm punching this bastard next time around. That said, the smoke is extremely creamy and pleasant on the palate, with no heat or intensity to be detected.

Pipe tobacco and smoked American tobacco leaf tastes are the most recognizable flavors right now. It's a bold and unquestionably sun-grown cigar flavor profile at this point, and even though the dank smoke being pulled is rich, the blend somehow stays within the medium range on all fronts... for now.

2nd Half 

 Spiced cola garnished with a sprig of chicory root sparks the second half off and is balanced by the wood tannins detected in each retrohale. Divineness is temporarily enlightened by the cigar's body lightening up and a floral finish; like a part in the clouds that only encourages you to plunge deeper into the next puff. 

Creamy cashews, complete with trace mineral salts and a little oil make things meaty, as ribbons of honey hit the jackpot one pull after another. Somewhere deeper down, a blend of coffee and tea intertwines. An unholy form of coitus that produces an offspring fit to rule. Honey flows forth once more, leaving a sweetness upon the lips, as the rhythmic pounding of those Dominican tribal drums pushes the tempo toward medium-full.

Parting Puffs

 A return to what once was and currently is turns parting puffs into a greatest-hits playlist. There's something for everyone here, including roasted cashew halves, milk cocoa, cacao nibs, white chocolate dipped raisins, Spanish cedar, oily pipe tobacco, and a cup of café au lait that someone accidentally spiked with herb tea. We've reached maximum velocity by this point, and with the blend is bordering on full, a sharp burn toward the back of the tongue tells me its time to eject.  

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

 A flakey ash at times in the first half and a somewhat swift burn time were my only issues with the ADN Dominicano both times I smoked it. Even an underfilled, partially cracked foot couldn't keep my review cigar from burning like a beauty. I swear, La Aurora is criminally underappreciated for its construction and quality control measures. I will happily pit any one of their regular production smokes against any other cigar maker out there in a combustion smoke-off.  

Final Thoughts 

 What a wild ride that was... all over again. Maybe it wasn't as meaty or menacing as I remember, and I definitely didn't like how quickly the stick combusted, but that's fine. So what if there were some underwhelming aromatics and a bit of a strange aftertaste at times. The big picture is painted on an entirely different canvas, and I am officially a huge fan of this blend... all over again.

Yet another outstanding, often overlooked cigar from the Dominican Republic's oldest continuously operated cigar manufacturer has earned its stripes. The ADN Dominicano not only tastes, smells, and burns with the very best of intentions, but it serves as a form of tobacco culture preservation. Heritage, history, fermentation, and modern flavor. It's all there in a single cigar, and waiting for you to give it a try.