Aladino 85th Aniversario Reserva Prelight
Aladino is a brand run by JRE Tobacco, founded by Julio R. Eiroa and his son Justo M. Eiroa. JRE is at the forefront of cultivating, growing, and rolling quality tobaccos from Honduras. They most notably acquired Camacho and grew it before selling off the brand and factory to Davidoff in 2008.
The 85th Aniversario Reserva debuted at the 2025 PCA trade show and is a celebration of Julio Eiroa’s 85th birthday. The blend is offered in two vitolas – a 5″ x 50 Robusto and a 6″ x 52 Toro. I’ll be smoking the Toro for today’s review. The blend is a Honduran Puro with a very rare strain of tobacco, pinareño. Pinareño was a Cuban strain of tobacco known for its smaller, delicate yield, which was susceptible to disease. While the seeds were smuggled to Honduras in the 1960s by Tino Agurdin, this is the first time Pinareño has hit the market.
The wrapper is smooth and earthy brown. It’s got an oily sheen that matches the golden A on the band. There’s an aroma of barnyard funk on the wrapper and foot. The draw is perfectly snug with notes of oak and white grape.
Aladino 85th Aniversario Reserva First Third
The smoke output is excellent from the start. I’m picking up oak, hay, vanilla, and coffee bean on the palate. Strong coffee, natural tobacco sweetness, dried flowers, brown sugar, and a touch of cayenne on the retrohale. The strength of flavor is medium. The ash is a bit flaky, but the burn and construction are fantastic so far. The finish is soft and clean, with notes of toast and natural tobacco.
Aladino 85th Aniversario Reserva Second Third
The notes on the palate are oak, hay, dried flowers, and a hint of coffee. The retrohale notes are natural tobacco sweetness, dried flowers, cream, brown sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. The cayenne spice from the prior third has completely faded away, with the floral notes now taking over. Smoke output is medium plus. The flavor strength is medium. The finish is soft and clean, with notes of natural tobacco sweetness. The ash is slightly flakey, and the cigar needed one touchup.
Aladino 85th Aniversario Reserva Final Third
On the palate, I’m tasting natural tobacco, hay, oak, and some floral notes. The retrohale shows cream, natural tobacco sweetness, and a touch of cinnamon. The flavor strength is medium. The smoke output is at medium plus. The finish is soft and clean, with notes of natural tobacco sweetness. The ash is tighter, and the burn and construction are excellent. Past the band, the flavors were very consistent. I smoked this one down to the nub.
Aladino 85th Aniversario Reserva Conclusions
The Aladino 85th Aniversario Reserva is a nuanced and intensely floral blend. The story behind the Pinareño seed is very compelling, and getting the opportunity to try a rare tobacco varietal in a puro is a real treat. If you smoke vintage Cubans or are a fan of Connecticut shade, I think you’ll really enjoy this 85th Aniversario. I would have appreciated a bit more sweetness in the profile, and I’m hoping Aladino will soon put out a blend that incorporates Pinareño and Corojo. At $20, the cigar price is a bit steep, but I think the price is justified given the rarity of Pinareño tobacco. In the meantime, the 85th Aniversario would be an excellent choice if you appreciate mild, floral blends or want to experience a rare strain of tobacco in its purest form.
