On this weekend’s show we will welcome back host David Garofalo from the Tobacconist Association of America meetings that just concluded in La Romana, Dominican Republic. One of the items we found out while he was down there was that the La Flor Dominicana TAA 50th Cigar will be based on the Oro blend, however the filler will contained Criollo ’99 under the Nicaraguan Sun Grown Habano wrapper.
It’s been a long time since I smoked the Oro, and to create a baseline for Saturday when we light up a pre-release of the LFD TAA 50th I offer you today’s review.
Cigar Review: La Flor Dominicana Oro
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Size: #6 (Toro)
The Look: Packaged in 5 count boxes, each cigar comes in a gold-colored tube with the LFD logo, and the word Oro on the top portion and La Flor Dominicana tuba natural 6 on the lower part. Inside the tube is a sleeve of cedar is an oily cigar that features the classic LFD band with a twist, as the words are embossed in gold on a gold background. The cigar has some notable veins, brindle color and a well packed foot.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Oro reminds me of paprika and I really hate to admit it, edamame. It’s time to see if Mr. Jonathan reads these reviews and he will call me out on using that note in a review since I give him such a hard time about Chinese pea-pods. Regardless, it’s definitely not my favorite cold draw experience. The foot of the Oro has an aroma of earth and cedar.
After toasting the foot, the first draw from the cigar is white pepper that is quickly replaced by cedar notes. Moving into the first third of the cigar, the cedar slowly begins to pull back some revealing notes of coffee and toast. Now I know that sounds like a great breakfast, but this cigar is far from a breakfast smoke. As the first third comes to a close there finish is growing in length, and the retrohale is reminiscent of warm bread.
The second third sees the coffee notes continue, but they are much more muted as the cigar begins to take on a strong leather component with earthy undertones and a lengthy finish of cedar and white pepper. The retrohale still has some bread influences, but the pepper begins to grow in intensity.
Considering how the first two-thirds grew in strength, I expected that the last third would be the strongest. This however was not the case as the cigar has become medium plus but the flavors really begin to pop. There is a lot going on from basic notes of cedar and coffee to subtle of rye, graham and a touch of ginger. The white pepper remains on the retrohale, but this finish of the cigar feels shorter as the stick comes to a close.
The Finish: Some of my favorite TAA releases have been the last 3 by La Flor Dominicana dating back to 2016 when they released two different wrappers. I must admit I am hesitant to light up the TAA 50th because the Oro is definitely not my favorite LFD blend. I’m hoping the box pressed format and change of wrapper takes things to the next level and if anything based on reports from my colleagues it does, but I will reserve judgment until the show on Saturday
Score: 90
Price: $13.89 / $61.99 (Box of 5)
La Flor Dominicana Oro Tubo Natural #6
La Flor Dominicana Oro Tubo Natural #6 Foot
La Flor Dominicana Oro Tubo Natural #6 Burn
