A Trio of New Smokes From La Flor Dominicana
Most cigar companies save their big debuts for the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers trade show each summer. La Flor Dominicana, though, has turned tradition on edge by creating several high-profile new releases that will head to market in November and December.
The La Flor Dominicana Ligero L-Granú is a stronger, fatter Ligero that will ship in November. The smoke measures 6 inches by 64 ring gauge—the fattest parejo the company has ever rolled. "It's our first 64 ring gauge," said cigarmaker Litto Gomez in an interview with Cigar Aficionado. "It's the fattest [non-figurado] we've ever made."
The cigar is made from an all-Dominican bunch finished with a leaf of Ecuadoran Sumatra. "The wrapper is a higher priming and it's darker [than the regular La Flor Ligero]," said Gomez. "It's a kicked up Ligero." The smoke will retail for $8.50. Gomez thinks this is the fattest he will go for straight-sided cigars.
"I don't think I'm going to go over 64," he said. "I bought molds for a 70 [ring gauge] cigar but it doesn't feel right."
Also scheduled for a November release is a limited-edition holiday version of his La Flor Dominicana Mysterioso Collector's 2013. The big perfecto has an intriguing look, with a variation of a barber-pole wrapper that's heavier on the dark maduro (in this case, Connecticut broadleaf) and Connecticut Ecuador highlights.
"Don't let the appearance of the cigar fool you," says Gomez, who is known for making strong cigars. "It has guts." The inside of the smoke contains Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers and Dominican binder. They will retail for $19 and come in boxes of five.
Gomez is also coming out with his fifth version of La Flor Dominicana Small Batch. La Flor Dominicana Small Batch No. 5 is an all-Dominican smoke, with a total run of only 25,000 cigars. Packed 105 to the box, the cigars will measure 6 3/4 by 52 and retail for $19 per cigar. Gomez says this version is far spicier than the No. 4.
"It's a very powerful cigar, very meaty," he said. They begin shipping in December.
