In 2016, La Aurora released a limited edition named Preferidos 1903 Edition Double Barrel Aged Doble Figurado that was notable because some of the tobaccos used in the blend were aged in rum barrels. However, after a little more than two years, La Aurora discontinued production of the cigar because it wasn’t happy with the tobacco it was receiving at the time.
Fast forward to April of this year, when La Aurora announced a reblended version of the cigar, this time featuring the name Preferidos 1903 Edition Double Barrel Aged. The newest version is made in the same 5 x 54 double perfecto size as the original release—a vitola that La Aurora calls Preferidos—and the cigars are made at the company’s factory in the Dominican Republic.
However, about half of the blend has been changed between the two cigars: while the new version (on the right) is made with an Ecuadorian habano wrapper like the original release (on the left) and the filler blend includes Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco, the Brazilian binder and Brazilian filler tobaccos that were used in 2016 have been replaced by a Pennsylvania broadleaf binder and Pennsylvania fillers.
La Aurora says it aged the binder and fillers in barrels that once held E. León Jimenes rum, and then, in keeping with the “Double Barrel” in the name, the finished cigars are also aged in the barrels. Eduardo Léon Jimenes was La Aurora’s founder and the E. León Jimenes name is still used by the León family for various projects and products.
Each cigar has an MSRP of $28.50, and production is limited to 750 boxes of eight cigars. Like the original Double Barrel Aged, each individual cigar is being sold in a brown tubo that is shaped to match the Preferidos vitola.
“The tobaccos behind this cigar are not merely aged — they are transformed, resulting in a harmonious fusion of flavors and aromas and providing creaminess to the smoke,” said Manuel Inoa, master blender of La Aurora, in a press release. “Barrel-aging is an uncompromising process, and only a rare few leaves emerge worthy of what we have created here. The scarcity of these tobaccos is not a limitation; it is the very mark of their distinction. Whether enjoyed as a daily indulgence or collected for special occasions, Preferido Double Barrel-Aged Tubos promises an unparalleled smoking experience.”
Boxes of the La Aurora Preferidos 1903 Edition Double Barrel Aged (2026) began shipping to retailers in late April.
- Cigar Reviewed: La Aurora Preferidos 1903 Edition Double Barrel Aged (2026)
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Factory: La Aurora Cigar Factory
- Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
- Binder: U.S.A. (Pennsylvania Broadleaf)
- Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua & U.S.A. (Pennsylvania Broadleaf)
- Length: 5 Inches
- Ring Gauge: 54
- Shape: Round
- MSRP: $28.50 (Box of 8, $228)
- Release Date: April 2026
- Number of Cigars Released: 750 Boxes of 8 Cigars (6,000 Total Cigars)
- Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3
From a purely visual perspective, the La Aurora Preferidos 1903 Edition Double Barrel Aged have to be some of the best-looking cigars I have smoked so far this year. The combination of metal tube packaging, unique vitola and attractive medium-brown wrappers that look like they were dipped in oil before being shipped all add up to an extremely attractive product. Having said that, there is plenty of mottling present on each cigar, and while the veins are thin, some of them do protrude from the surface of the wrapper. All three cigars are also very spongy when squeezed, but I can’t find any soft spots on any of them. Aromas from the wrappers include strong, sweet woodiness, creamy leather, barnyard, dry hay, and coffee beans, along with some generic nuttiness. Interestingly, the feet bring new aromas of rich raisins and dark chocolate—both notes are strongest on the first cigar—followed by more woodiness, black pepper, espresso, earth and sweet breadiness. After straight cuts, the cold draws are similarly dominated by raisin sweetness, but there are also notes of cinnamon, orange peel, cedar, leather tack and peanut shells.
Compared to the cold draws, the cigars start out noticeably less sweet, with flavors of bitter espresso and earth along with some light black pepper. Main flavors of creamy oak and powdery cocoa nibs quickly take over the profile, followed by coffee beans, baker’s spices, bagel bread, nutmeg and a light vegetal note. The first and third cigars feature a bit of cinnamon on the finish, while the second cigar has a more earthy flavor; regardless, none of the notes are overly strong so far. On the retrohales of all three cigars, a combination of black pepper and rich raisin sweetness is present, but it is slightly more distinct on the first cigar compared to the two. Flavor ends the first third at full, while the body lands between mild and medium and the strength hits a point just under the medium mark. When it comes to construction, the first cigar needs a quick touch-up to stay on track, but the other two cigars are fine in that regard; the smoke is plentiful, and the draw resistance is excellent.
During the second third, the three cigars continue to feature main flavors of cocoa nibs and creamy oak, but more spice becomes evident on my tongue for the second and third cigars. Secondary flavors include powdery nutmeg, creamy cashews, dank earth, hay, coffee beans and leather tack, and all three cigars now feature cinnamon on the finish in roughly the same amount. Raisin and black pepper are still present on the retrohales of the first and second cigars, but the third cigar now has a bit more black pepper and a new milk chocolate sweetness. Flavor remains full, the body has increased to a solid medium, and the strength has increased to a solid medium as well. The first and second cigars need attention from my lighter to stay on track, but the draw resistance and smoke production remain problem-free across all three cigars.
Just after the final third begins, the profiles on all three cigars start to become more muddy compared to what I experienced in the previous two thirds. The main flavors of oak and cocoa nibs are still present, but they are less distinct, which makes the profile less engaging overall. That muddiness extends to the secondary notes of generic nuttiness, earthiness, espresso, straw, chalk, leather and some dry breadiness. There is less black pepper on the retrohale and all three cigars now feature a similar milk chocolate note, albeit less of it. Flavor decreases to medium-full, but the body and strength stay at a solid medium. Construction-wise, the first cigar again needs a burn correction to stave off larger issues, but the other two cigars have no such problems.
Final Notes
- There are a small number of cigar companies that have become well-known for specific vitolas or cigar shapes that they make: La Flor Dominicana has the Chisel, Arturo Fuente has the BBMF—or the Chili Pepper, take your pick—and La Aurora has the Preferidos.
- If you are wondering about telling the two different releases apart, there are some subtle packaging differences. First, the 2016 version had silver elements on the outside of the band, whereas the 2026 version does not. In addition, if the inside of the box says “Double Barrel Aged”, you are looking at a 2026 box, since the original used all caps.
- While I have not smoked many of the Preferidos cigars over the years, I have always loved the look and feel of the vitola. The shaped tubos are also pretty awesome visually.
- Interestingly, these cigars were not on display at La Aurora’s booth during the 2026 PCA Convention & Trade Show. At the show, the company told halfwheel that it originally planned on shipping the cigars later in the year, but decided to move it up to a PCA 2026 release, which then caused the confusion that led to it not being at the show.
- La Aurora advertises on halfwheel.
- The cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
- These cigars are listed as being 5 x 54 vitolas. Above are the measurements we took when we measured them. Due to the unique taper, we did not measure the ring gauge.
- The final smoking time averaged out to one hour and 43 minutes for all three cigars.
- If you would like to purchase any of the La Aurora Preferidos 1903 Edition Double Barrel Aged (2026) cigars, site sponsor Small Batch Cigar sells them on its website.
87
Overall Score
First things first: the La Aurora Preferidos 1903 Edition Double Barrel Aged does not taste specifically like rum, so if that is what you are looking for, this is not the cigar for you. Having said that, there is quite a bit to like about the cigar, including main flavors of creamy oak, coffee beans, powdery cocoa nibs and creamy nuttiness. There is also some wonderful sweetness on the retrohale that ranges from rich raisins to milk chocoalte—depending on the cigar—and the medium-plus strength is nicely integrated. Having said all that, the flavors in the profile do become noticeably less engaging in the final third, enough to affect the overall score, but not nearly enough to prevent me from enjoying the cigar. Even with the underwhelming conclusion, this is a very solid release from La Aurora, and I look forward to trying it again in a couple of years to see if some downtime helps alleviate the issues in the final third.
Dominican Republic
La Aurora
La Aurora Cigar Factory
La Aurora Preferidos 1903 Edition Double Barrel Aged
La Aurora Preferidos 1903 Edition Double Barrel Aged (2026)
Perfecto
