I recently received the soon to be released latest creation from the mind of Aaron Paoletta and his LaVega Cigars brand. The new release takes Aaron into a space which normally would shy away from – Connecticut wrapped cigars. Known as the LaVega No. 40, the new release is a celebration of Aaron’s 40 years around the sun and his artisan approach to all he does in business.
Aaron Paoletta stated:
“I don’t believe in taking a blend and changing the wrapper and still calling it the same thing, once you change any piece of that blend, it becomes a completely different cigar. I wanted to put a Connecticut wrapped cigar in my core lineup but I didn’t want to change any of the blends so the No. 40 blend was created. It will release on November 21, 2024 which is my 40th birthday. Look, I usually don’t like Connecticuts but this is one I would and do smoke. and not just because it is my product. but the team at Tabacalara Las Lavas really did a great job on this.“
The company describes the blend, which uses tobacco that has been aged a minimum of 5 years, as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Connecticut
- Binder – Dominican Olor
- Filler – Dominican Republic and Nicaragua
The LaVega Cigars No. 40 will be a core line product and was created in collaboration with Tabacalara Las Lavas in Santiago, Dominican Republic
The cigar is expressed in a single (6 x 50) Toro vitola and is packaged in a 10-count boxes. The initial production run is 10,000 cigars (1,000 boxes of 10). MSRP has been set at $12.50/cigar. The company will be officially releasing these on Aaron’s 40th birthday, November 21st. They are also planning a release party on November 15th at Tailored Smoke in Concord. NC.
For this review, I sampled 3 of the LaVega Cigars No. 40 Toros, which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The LaVega Cigars No. 40 Toro is cloaked in a golden tan wrapper that exhibits a light oily sheen and has some noticeable veins running through the barrel. The cigar is nicely bunched and rolled having just the right give when gently pressed between the fingers. A double cap finishes the construction.
Everyone loves a good story when it comes to cigars. The LaVega No. 40 is adorned with a single band that visually tells the whole story of the cigar. The three original colors from the first three cigars the company produced. Primo blue, Secondo Green and Terzo maroon. Inside a blue and green stripe is happy birthday in Italian with Aarons birthdate listed on it. The cream-colored background is for the Connecticut wrapper being used and the gold coins on the left-hand side are the initials of AMP (Aaron M. Paoletta), JLP-Jacklean L. Paoletta (Aarons wife) and LSP-Laurie S. Paoletta (Aarons mother). The gold coins on the right side, LV-Las Vegas, 2020, LaVega was first created, 5-11, date LaVega had its first release.
Running the cigar along the nose, I was greeted with rich baking spice aromas along the barrel. Similar notes were detected off the foot.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar with my dual blade Xikar cutter and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that offered a smooth draw and delivered a notes of sweetness and tangy earth.
Using the soft flame lighter, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of smoke that were a tad harsh on the palate to start the journey. Follow along though,, as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Introduction is a tad bitter and tannic (a little harsh)
- A salt and pepper ash forms on top of a medium thick wavy char line
- Tangy fruit and cedar notes grace the palate early in the burn
- Sweet nutty aroma wafts off the foot
- Draw is smooth producing a respectable volume of smoke
- Grapefruit citrus notes evolve near the end of the first third
- Caramel sweetness adds to the pleasure
- The aroma shifts to a fruitier note
- Spice and gentle herbal nuances enter the profile moving through the second third
- There is a lingering nut essence midway
- An off burn developed on the long ash but no touch up was required
- The early nut morphs into a pleasant almond note as dry fruit notes join the mix, deep in the second third
- The nuttiness persists to linger on the palate
- Spice notes intensify in the final with a touch of earthiness
- Mild to medium in strength
- Total smoking time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Final Analysis
I have to say, there is a lot to unpack about the LaVega Cigars No. 40 Toro. The first thing I would note, is this is rather unique Connecticut cigar, and I can see why Aaron says even he would smoke this regularly.
Though the journey begins with a slightly bitter, tannic edge which presents a touch of harshness, these notes fade back after about a half inch into the burn. As the profile evolves, it reveals tangy fruit and cedar notes that immediately grace the palate along with sweet, nutty aromas that emanate from the foot, adding to the cigar’s true allure. The draw is smooth, producing a generous volume of smoke. As the first third progresses, grapefruit citrus notes emerge, accompanied by a caramel sweetness that enhances the overall enjoyment.
The aroma transforms, becoming fruitier, while subtle spices and gentle herbal nuances enter the profile as the second third unfolds. Midway through, a lingering nut essence is present, though an off-burn developed on the extreme ash but did not require any touch-ups. The initial nutty character evolves into a pleasing almond note, complemented by dry fruit flavors deep into the second third. The nuttiness remains a persistent presence on the palate. In the final third, spice notes intensify, now with a hint of earthiness, completing the complex flavor journey.
Like Aaron, I too was intrigued by the overall performance of this rather complex cigar. If you are a fan of Conny’s, I would say go grab a fiver of these and be your own judge. I rate this a 93.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Off burn but no touch up required; (-1) Harsh notes to start
Bonus Points: (+1) Extreme Ash; (+1) Moderately complex and nuanced smoke
