58 TOBACCO BUSINESS | MAY / JUNE | 22 spicy and peppery? Knowing these things informs Inoa where to begin his search for the blend’s tobaccos. When it comes to making blends for other companies, Inoa finds that success occurs once the client is satisfied with what they receive and feels like their input and concerns were not just heard but acted on and brought to life in the final blend and product. At the end of the blending process, the final cigar doesn’t go straight to market. Instead, the company produces 60 premium cigar test samples that are used to first make sure the cigars all look the same. Then, an internal team smokes the samples and chooses three for final consideration before coming down to two final possibilities. Inoa tests these prototypes’ combustion and burning capacity. With the help of a tasting panel, the flavor is also tested. From this process comes the ultimate winning blend, which is released into the market after further draw testing and proper aging is complete. Every Little Detail There are many factors that influence a consumer’s purchasing decision when it comes to a premium cigar, including how the cigar is packaged and branded. The best cigars are those that are made with every detail in mind. Inoa’s cigar making process is all about the details. It goes as deep and far as understanding the soil that the tobacco used in the blends is harvested from. Blending cigars and becoming anything close to a master blender is something that you’re unable to learn from a book or study in school; it’s a process that comes from hands-on experience, Inoa explains. Part of Inoa’s learning curve has involved keeping an eye on every process involved in bringing a cigar to themarket. “Every little detail is part of a bigger picture, meaning, as an example, if something goes wrong on the curating or aging process, you have lost a harvest that will cost you years to take back.” Inoa’s advice to other cigar industry professionals is simple: Stay flexible and be willing to constantly adapt. As he’s learned from his years spent working at La Aurora, cigar blending must change based on what consumers are asking for. Approach cigar making like a student: Always look for new things to learn, document the process, and stay abreast of changes in the market. This is the path to take toward making a good cigar. TB When creating blends, La Aurora’s master blender Manuel Inoa sets out to create a cigar with balanced strength and rich, vigorous flavors. Though he’s worked on many highly rated and recognized blends, one in particular had a long-lasting impact on him as a master blender: the La Aurora 100 Años. This cigar was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the La Aurora factory and was developed while Don Fernando, the company’s former president, was still alive. “He asked for a unique cigar for this occasion,” said Inoa. “You can only imagine the amount of pressure that created because every eye was put on it. It was a great challenge. I couldn’t even sleep because I only thought about how good the project had to go.” At the end, Inoa’s restless nights and elevated expectations paid off. The cigar was handcrafted entirely from Dominican-grown tobacco with a flavor profile that showcased a full-bodied, complex smoking experience highlighted by notes of wood, leather and almond with a subtle sweetness and aroma of nuts and cocoa. It went on to be named the world’s best Dominican cigar in 2004 by Cigar Aficionado magazine. CREATING A HIGHSTAKES BLEND
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