2022 Cigar of the Year Countdown (Coop’s List): #26: La Aurora Fernando León Limited Edition Belicoso

“The Fernando León Edición Limitada Belicoso restores my faith that there are still some limited edition cigars worth chasing.”

Wrapper: Dominican Corojo
Binder: Ecuadorian
Filler: Peruvian, Nicaraguan, Dominican (Cibao Valley)
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: La Aurora S.A.
Belicoso: 6 1/4 x 52
Price: $28.00

Sponsor: No
Samples Provided for Initial Review: No
Review: La Aurora Fernando León Limited Edition Belicoso (3/29/22)
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Company): 5 (2010, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2022)

Coming in at #26 is the La Aurora Fernando León Limited Edition Belicoso. Fernando León is a brand of La Aurora that pays homage to one of the all-time greats in the history, the late Don Fernando León. Don Fernando was the father of current La Aurora Cigars President Guillermo León and son of La Aurora founder Eduardo León Jimenes. 2022 was the centennial of Don Fernando’s birth, but La Aurora decided in 2021 to put out a special limited edition cigar in anticipation of that big event – the Fernando León Limited Edition Belicoso.

Fernando León is a regular production line of cigars that has been in the La Aurora portfolio for over a decade. The La Aurora Fernando León Limited Edition Belicoso is a completely different blend than the Family Reserve. The blend is highlighted by an extra-aged Dominican-grown Corojo wrapper. The blend features an Ecuadorian binder and fillers from Peru, Nicaragua, and the Cibao Valley in the Dominican Republic. As with all La Aurora Cigars, it is produced at the company’s factory in the Dominican Republic. The Fernando León Limited Edition comes in one size – a 6 1/4 x 52 belicoso.

Fernando León Edición Limitada Belicoso

The Fernando León Limited Edition Belicoso delivered a straightforward flavor profile of natural tobacco, wood, cedar, earth, and pepper. These flavors complemented each other very nicely. While it’s a medium-strength cigar, it was bolder when it came to the body coming in at medium to full.

For La Aurora, this is the 5th time it has landed on the Countdown. If you are following along at home, this is the first Dominican-made cigar to land on the 2022 Countdown.