Mr. Jonathan Carney stopped by The Cigar Authority today fresh off the airplane from Omaha, Nebraska where he was at the College World Series. Tonight the finals begin with a matchup between the Arizona Wildcats and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.
In support of the World Series La Flor Dominicana made 30 boxes of a baseball bat shaped 1994 for SG Roi. The cigar sold out but, Mr. Jonathan Carney brought a couple by for us to smoke.
Cigar Review: La Flor Dominicana 1994
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera La Flor S.A.
Wrapper: San Andres / Ecuador Connecticut
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Length: 6.5″
Ring Gauge: 46/52
Vitola: Baseball Bat
Strength: Medium-Full
Production: Limited Release – 30 boxes of 10
The Look: Packaged in 10 count boxes, the baseball bats line up the box waiting for a slugger to grab one. The cigar features the LFD 1994 band below the handle of the bat. The cigar is a true work of art with the knob of the bat, and Connecticut accents giving depth to the shape. Without the band I would think to light this the opposite way, but Carney confirms that the handle is the end to smoke from to ensure a draw.
The Burn: With the cap clipped ever so delicately with my Jaws cutter, the initial notes were sunflower seeds and bialys. Don’t ask me how or why, but it reminds me of something I haven’t had since I lived in New York. Yes, I know. I need my head examined. The aroma off the foot is a mix of cedar and earth.
Once the cigar is lit there are notes of molasses and earth and while the cigar tastes very much like a 1994 there seems to be more pepper on the retrohale and a touch more sweetness on the palate. As the first third comes to a close the notes of molasses really begin to take hold with notes of earth on the moderate finish.
Entering the center portion of the cigar, some new notes of lime enter the mix on the finish and the aroma that is enhanced by the retrohale. Hints of Molasses remain along with subtle nuances of cedar and earth on the palate.
As the home team gets up in the bottom of the ninth, the cigar develops some nutty characteristics. The Connecticut striping is a little lower then I normally smoke a cigar but as the Baseball Bat becomes a pepper bomb I work through it and am rewarded with some added sweetness as the shade grown tobacco burns.
The Burn: For all intensive purposes this cigar is a glorified Salomon and as such the burn started off slightly jagged before self correcting to perfection. The draw was a little tight until I cut the knob off the bat and then it opened up to perfection. The medium gray ash held firm and the cigar stayed lit throughout.
The Finish: Smoking this was interesting as the handle of the bat has a lip to it which is different than a cigar smoker is use too. But the thing that stood out for me was the guilt of lighting this cigar up. I know tobacco is made for smoking, but I felt bad that I burned this work of art. The flavor profile wasn’t different than a 1994, which is a good thing. The LFD 1994 won a blind taste test The Cigar Authority did back in 2014 and if you haven’t tried this blend you owe it to yourself to do so.
Score: 91
La Flor Dominicana Baseball Bat
La Flor Dominicana Baseball Bat Burn
