The release of the Mi Amor (or “My Love”) last year was the next logical step for Ashton’s now Pepin-conquered La Aroma De Cuba line of cigars. One of it’s more interesting attributes is that it features wrapper leaf from Mexico, a country that until recently wasn’t well known for producing tobacco appropriate for such critical cigar component. Rumor has it, it’s the San Andreas tobacco that has been seen an explosion of popularity over the past couple of years, but nobody I contacted at Ashton would say more than it was a “Mexican Cuban Seed Maduro”. So I can’t confirm or deny the rumor.
The Mi Amor is available in boxes of 25 in your choice of five sizes: Robusto (5 x 50), Belicoso (5.5 x 54), Valentino (5.7 x 58), Magnifico (6 x 52) and Churchill (7 x 50).
With the basics covered, it’s time to see if the Mi Amor is a cigar I’ll whisper sweet nothings to, or one I’ll leave on the humidor shelf.
Cigar Stats:
Size: 5 x 50
Wrapper: Mexican Cuban Seed Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Smoking Time: 1 1/2 hours
Beverage: Water
Source: Purchased by reviewer
Price: MSRP $6.75
The Pre-Smoke
It’s a fun coincidence that the Mi Amor Robusto is box-pressed, considering that many of the recent Mexican San Adreas wrapped cigars are as well. But more than that, it’s a handy thing too, I find that the shape can make any smoke functionally easier to enjoy. They won’t roll inconveniently onto the floor or into a pile of combustable paperwork and it can make smoking larger ring gauges easier. I found the press on the Mi Amor robusto to be more square than most box-pressed sticks, but with no loss of the box-pressed advantages.
One of the tradeoffs with this format is that the cigars have to be packed a little looser for the molds. This became evident in the somewhat softer feel of my review smokes. A quick test of the sweet chocolaty cold taste revealed that this softness would not likely be a problem later in terms of draw.
In all other ways, the cigars looked to be in order. No patches, holes, cracks or tears, and veins were few and and fine. All signs pointed towards good construction, and hopefully equally good burn attributes.
The Burn
My string of good luck in the burn department continued with the beautifully combusting Mi Amor. Long, light-colored solid ashes, mostly even burn lines and an easy draw left me with nothing really to talk about in this section.
The Flavor
The Mi Amor responded kindly to my torch with rich milk chocolate and a nice touch of cedar. Before long, a little smokey leather and light earth joined the mix and the chocolate transitioned into more of a creamy, slight earthy cocoa. I also picked up touches of dark dried fruit sweetness and some aromatic cedar here and there in this third.
A little before the second third began, caramel appeared, and for a while it was caramel, cocoa, light cedar and a lingering spice. Leather notes reappeared in this third, and eventually, the profile returned once again to a woody milk chocolate. Nearing the end of this portion, the cigar made another transition to wood and pronounced pepper.
The wood and pepper combination continued into the final third with some light creamy chocolate in the back ground. As the last parts of the cigar turned into ash, the wood turned a little charry, and developed a bit a bite.
The Price
Ashton and Pepin did a good job of keeping the price reasonable for the Mi Amor. Most will find that even with local taxes this cigar is still in the pricing sweet spot. And those that don’t probably live somewhere where smoking is nearly illegal anyway.
The Verdict
The La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor is a decadent candy bar made out of tobacco, and I completely approve. With each smoke, my appreciation of the Mi Amor grew. It’s rich, with enough variety and complexity to keep you from getting bored, and it really shines if you take your time. It also doesn’t hurt that it looks winner for the duration. I’ll definitely smoking more of these in the future. And if you’re a fan of cigars wrapped in Mexican leaf, and you haven’t already, you really need to try these.
Liked It: Yes
Buy It Again: Yes
Recommend It: Yes
Tower of Burn
Here for your viewing pleasure is my trademark Tower of Burn.
I can’t believe I have not tried that cigar yet. Wonderful review Brian
Hi Brian,
I purchased a five pack of the Robustos and loved them, just working my way through a box of the Magnifico size and love them even more.
On a side note, you may be interested to know that recently I bought a five pack of the J. Fuego Gran Reserve Corojo No. 1 because of your high praise.
I am starting to think you have quite good taste in cigars…Now if only I could forget that because of you I had to look at Jerry the ‘Stache again. I looked at my girlfriend straight after and all I could see was Jerry’s face. I am going to die a bitter, lonely old man.
Cheers.
Sorry, I’ll try not to ‘stache you again in the future. Or at least the near future. It seems I’ve driven more business to therapists recently than to cigar shops.
Anyway, thanks for the kind words, I’m glad you enjoyed the review.
Thanks Brian. I scored a box of these very cigars off C-Bid about a month before the CA list was published. Initially I was really impressed with these cigars. That said, I’ve hit a couple of duds along the way. 2 or 3 of the 8 or so I’ve smoked lost ALL FLAVOR around the half way point and basically died on me…and one tunneled so bad I had to clip the cherry and start again (with poor results). That said, when you get a good one, it’s really, really good.
One thing to note…I admittedly smoke a little faster than some. I have half a box of Murcielago I now avoid as they have the same trait of becoming flavorless around the half way point. Maybe my smoking style and the Mexican Maduro Wrapper were not made for each other.
Thanks for the review Brian
Yeah, I’m not sure what to tell you, I’ve enjoyed both these and the Murcielago end-to-end every time. They do seem smoke better if you take your time with them. I noticed there was a little a spicy uptick midway that fades after a short time. If you blast through that (which would probably magnify the spice) I can see how the rest of the smoke my seem flavorless in comparison.
Feel free to send those Murcielagos to me!
Great review Brian, definitely on point with what i’ve gotten from these. I’ve had quite a few of these guys and have yet to be dissapointed, it’s a great smoke. And from talking to my guy at Holt’s (owners of the ashton brand), it is the San Andreas maduro.
I think this is a great review on a so-so cigar. The first one I tried was a larger size and completely fell apart…and the shop gave me another. I just don’t get this one, and won’t any more. CA did Ashton a huge “favor” putting this one on their short list, IMO.
I have had 5 of these. The first one I had was amazing, tons of flavor. The 4 others I had were no where near as good.
Most of the cigars that get reviewed I can’t afford, but my occasional visits to one of Maryland’s best cigar stubes tempts me every time to set aside my Flor de Oliva–and for an inexpensive every day smoke I find the Flor hard to beat–to buy at least one La Aroma de Cuba, usually the robusto which is comparable to the Mi Amor and a couple of bucks cheaper. Heaven, of course, would be a box of these cigars but I await a lottery victory before this can happen. Here’s what I’d like the Guys to do sometime: tell us which low cost bundled cigars they like–if any. I read just about everybody”s stogie critiques–all of them about cigars I seldom can afford!.
Bill,
For years I smoked VSOP’s from Thompson..(only place you can get them)..if you buy 4 bundles with a friend or 2…you can get the price down to about 1.50 a stick…they were always consistent..had great flavor and good construction for an inexpensive stick…Good luck.
Thanks Brian,
Based on this review..I’ll try a 6 pack…but should I rest them for a while?