Interwoven throughout every day and night of the trip to La Aurora in the Dominican Republic, I was treated to the local sights, tastes, and sounds. Let me just say the local cuisine is incredible. Some of the meals I enjoyed included grilled octopus, pork tomahawk, lobster and shellfish, desserts, and refreshing beverages — it was completely indulgent in the best of ways.
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
The people were warm and inviting. The city of Santiago de los Caballeros is beautiful and rich in history, culture, and artisanry. And, without a doubt, I have plans to return someday soon, if only to do some more exploring for myself.
While you might think I’m sharing this to gloat, boasting about a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you may never see, dear reader, it’s the exact opposite. You see, the La Aurora team has plans to package this and provide it to those who want to experience it for themselves in the most opulent of ways.
I may seem like an enthusiastic person normally, but [the Master Class] is, hands down, one of the most exciting things I’ve heard in a long while. I’m thrilled about the prospect of sharing the experience with others, and I cannot wait for the rest of the cigar community to dive in.
The upcoming Master Class — part of the La Aurora Cigar Institute — which was the original trip I was meant to take, will soon be available to all. Some of the finer details are forthcoming, but Elvis Batista explained everything to me over dinner one evening. The idea is to bring passionate, cigar-loving folks down and treat them to a comprehensive seed-to-ash journey, complete with the option to roll your own cigars with the best of the best. I may seem like an enthusiastic person normally, but this is, hands down, one of the most exciting things I’ve heard in a long while. I’m thrilled about the prospect of sharing the experience with others, and I cannot wait for the rest of the cigar community to dive in.
I believe, in my heart and mind, that the La Aurora team is doing something truly remarkable here.
Dancing in the streets
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
The city tour was incredible. With our wiley bunch, we explored the finer parts of Santiago, getting up close and personal with the locals. At one point, we even danced in the street — well, mostly Jake — but the rest of us lived vicariously through him. We also stopped off at a few places along the way, including a small convenience store that has the coldest beer in the Dominican Republic, or so it’s claimed. It was pretty damn cold and delicious.
For most of the trip we drank Presidente, a pilsner beer originally owned and produced by the Cervecería Nacional Dominicana (CND), which now rests under the umbrella of the León Jimenes Group — they purchased CND, securing leadership of the Dominican Republic’s beer market.
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
We also visited two reverent chapels, one an actual Catholic site, the St. James the Apostle Cathedral (Catedral de Santiago Apóstol). I’m not a religious man, but I felt the spiritual vibes as soon as we stepped inside. They were heavy, palpable, and inveigling. It’s exactly the kind of monastery you’d find looming in an orthodox neighborhood in the States. It looms above the square, intimidating but downright stunning. Inside, the elaborate decor, stained glass, precise marble-cut figures, and scenery steal your breath — plucking it right from your lungs. It was a sight to behold for anyone, that much I know.
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
The other “cathedral” was the 1885 Palacio Consistorial or the original town hall. It was an old, historic building, hundreds of years old, much like you’d find somewhere in Boston or New England. But its character and grit, inside and out, was definitely Dominicano. Vibrant yellows, natural wood, and exquisite adornments all pockmarked the aging structure with personality. We sat down on the second-floor balcony to eat lunch, a buffet of Dominican staples including pork and rice, before eventually heading to the day’s final destination: The Monumento de Santiago.
Dinner with a master blender
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS LoungeSource: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
At the heart of La Aurora’s success is Manuel Inoa. As an esteemed tobacconist, he has been directly responsible for some of the brand’s best and most intriguing blends over the years. He credits some very influential mentors for his current talent and standing. Those talents include Benji Menendez of General Cigars, Angel Daniel Núñez also with General Cigars, and Don Fernando León. So, yeah, some pretty big names.
I met Inoa once before the trip, briefly, during a virtual tasting event for the 120th Anniversary. That alone was quite the experience. But getting the chance to sit down with him at dinner, break bread, and talk shop is going down as one of the highlights of my own life.
This man, with years and years of experience — someone who had no business caring what a random […] cigar smoker such as myself thought about his work — sat down across from me and wanted my thoughts on the blend.
I can’t speak to the details of the cigar or the blend, it’s still a work in progress, but Inoa treated our group to a unique tasting of a brand-new cigar. Naturally, I was geeking out and it didn’t hurt that the cigar I tried was incredible. I always preach that what you’re doing when you smoke, who you’re with, what you’ve eaten, what you drink, and the environment all play a role in how the cigar treats you. I’m sure all of that played a role, but I assure you, that cigar was phenomenal.
A master blender walks into a restaurant
What’s most disarming is this man, with years and years of experience — someone who had no business caring what a random and average cigar smoker thought about his work — sat down across from me and wanted my thoughts on the blend. Not just me, but everyone at that table. He cared what we had to say. He wanted to know what flavors we picked up, what we felt about the blend, and what we would compare it to.
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
As he so eloquently put it, “I care more about what everyone else has to say when they smoke these cigars and what they experience.”
Try as I might, I will never top that opportunity. The time I was able to sit down with a master blender, try something new he’s working on, and give him direct feedback. It may amount to nothing or it may shape the coming release, for better or worse, but it happened, and it was remarkable. This geeky, excitable cigar-loving goober was flabbergasted, indefinitely. I still can’t believe it happened.
It’s also an insight into how much these master crafts folk care about the community. They care about what happens when we sit down to smoke one of their cigars and blends. More than just selling a product. They want to make sure we’re having the time of our lives. When we light up, all the world’s troubles should fade away, if only for an hour or two.
I wouldn’t doubt that every single person I met, toiling away on the tobacco, from farmer to sorter and roller, loves what they do. The passion is there, it’s visible, and it’s really special — because you definitely don’t see it in every modern industry. They pour their adoration into this craft and every time we light up, it’s there in the room with us.
Sealing the deal at La Aurora in the Dominican Republic
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
I could probably sit here, cigar lit, drink in hand, and typing away. Pouring all my thoughts into pages upon pages of content. But it has to conclude somewhere.
I will concede that this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I have been very fortunate and privileged to embark upon. Unfortunately, not everyone will be able to go on such an adventure and that does make me sad. I want to see everyone who loves cigars as much as me, travel to the source, get hands-on, and see these incredible people at work. I want everyone to see how much blood, sweat, and tears go into making these handcrafted products that we all love.
It’s one thing to read about it in an article or a magazine. It’s another thing to watch videos and documentaries. To actually get boots on the ground, see the fields, walk through the curing barn, touch the tobacco leaves, roll a cigar — that’s a whole different dimension. It gives one a totally new perception of the world of cigars. From the most expensive premium blends to the cheapest handcrafted cigars, you gain a new understanding and a new appreciation for the craft.
An opportunity for all who seek it
For now, I’ll settle upon this.
An opportunity is coming, maybe not for all, but it is coming. Keep an eye on the horizon, and maybe think about joining a La Aurora Cigar Institute session when available. You better believe I’ll be keeping up on its progress. When there’s more news to share, I’ll be the first one standing on the corner shouting through a bullhorn.
The idea is to bring passionate, cigar-loving folks down and treat them to a comprehensive seed-to-ash journey, complete with the option to roll your own cigars with the best of the best.
I want you all to experience this, if possible. It’s a big deal for the community and an even bigger deal for the industry. Tours happen, all across the world, and cigar makers do give people in the community a look behind the scenes. But this, this is something next-level. Maybe I’m a little too enthusiastic, but if I can’t muster the excitement for something like this, something I’m so infinitely passionate about, then I really don’t know where to go from here.
Okay, that’s a lie. I do know exactly where to go. Right back to La Aurora in the Dominican Republic.
Briley has over 16 years in the publishing and content marketing business. He's been writing about cigars for nearly half that in various forms. What makes him a tour de force is he also smokes them.
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
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