Meet the La Aurora Family Reserve Guillermo Leon Belicoso - a figurado-shaped smoke packing 52 rings of Dominican fire. At 6.25 inches long, this box-pressed beauty comes in 20-count bundles for $252, making it a mid-range luxury for special occasions. Guillermo Leon himself smokes these daily, blending Dominican/Nicaraguan fillers with a Cameroon binder and Ecuadorian wrapper that looks like a mahogany chess piece. The tapered head gives that signature concentrated draw aficionados crave.
The cold draw serves up barnyard hay. Initial puffs deliver cedar sharpness mellowed by cream soda sweetness - like sniffing a freshly opened cigar box. Smoke output stays moderate, the ash holding firm for 1.5 inches. Watch for subtle pepper tingle on retrohale.
At the halfway point, Peruvian tobacco kicks in with roasted cashews and bitter chocolate. The Cameroon binder adds baking spice complexity without overwhelming. Burn line stays razor-sharp, needing zero touch-ups. Body intensity ramps up to full without harshness.
The last third introduces espresso grounds and charred oak. Nicaraguan ligero leaves create a nicotine buzz that sneaks up on you. Savory umami notes emerge - think soy sauce reduction. Stop at 1.5 inches remaining to avoid tar buildup in the tapered foot.
The Ecuadorian wrapper shows minimal veins with slight toothiness. Box-press shape feels substantial without being cumbersome. Draw resistance sits in the Goldilocks zone - not too loose, not pluggy. Cap application shows masterful rolling technique with seamless pigtail finish.
