This cigar started off weak in the sense of very muted tones and not a lot going on. I bounced back in the final third with some amazing and complex notes. It scored a respectable 81 overall, from light deductions throughout due to a slow start to an enjoyable cigar.
Rolled at the legendary La Aurora Factory in 2008, the El Alcalde by Don Doroteo was 15 years old when it made its debut at PCA 2024. “El Alcalde translates to “The Mayor” and pays homage to Doroteo’s trajectory, which saw him come from humble beginnings as a young tobacco farmer, to the mayor of his city.
Wrapper: Ecuador (Sumatra)/ Binder: Ecuador (Sumatra)/ Filler: Brazil, Dominican Republic (Cibao Valley)
Factory: La Aurora Cigar Factory/ Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Vitola: Belicoso/Size: 6 1/4″x52
Light veins, well hidden seams. Slightest of box press. Classic leaf aroma with hint of florals. Matte but with an oily appearance.
Classic tobacco leaf, light raisin notes.
Slight bitterness with a hint of bready whole grains.
A little past an inch through a wavy burn some interesting notes emerge…behind a sharp, acidic bite there is a lavender note reminiscent of fresh laundry that peaks through briefly. Then it takes on more of a graphite note with a secondary note of what I can best describe as chewing gum that is all but out of flavor.
Mellows out to just that chewing gum note with just the slightest of sweetness left…very subtle with an equally light baking spice on the retro. The draw tightens and I give it a recut, as I do at times on figurados, which opens the draw back up nicely.
