It’s pretty much an established fact that Litto Gomez, owner and creator of La Flor Dominicana, makes consistently good, strong cigars. His Small Batch #3 from last year was easily one of the best cigars I’ve ever smoked, and the way it flew out of my shop’s doors was proof that my friends and customers thought the same thing. Today, I get to smoke another one of Litto’s new limited releases (man, my job is rough): the La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro.
LFD Colorado Oscuro
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Dominican Sumatra
Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
Appearance:
The wrapper is just about as oily as I’ve seen. Of note is the fact that sumatra leaf is being used for both the binder and wrapper. Based on the makeup of the cigar and considering Litto’s reputation for full-bodied smokes, this looks like it may be a real headbanger…but I’ll have to smoke it to really find out.
Pre-Light:
The aroma off of the foot reminds me of dried sweet chili peppers, and sniffing the foot also made me sneeze. Yup. Definitely chili peppers. After clipping, the semi-open draw produces flavors of mulled spiced, grilled meats, and dark fruit. Tasty!
First Third:
After lighting, the first few puffs reveal a meaty, peppery smoke that leaves a tingle in my sinuses. At the same time, the smoke is very well-refined – starting with an aggressive, peppery sweetness, but with an underlying smoothness. A floral, bitter note that somewhat reminds me of hops works its way in. The aroma off of the resting smoke is charred cedar and floral. Oh, and every puff just brings in big mouthfuls of smoke. I love that.
Sidenote: Oftentimes, people, particularly those newer to cigars, don’t understand how a full-bodied cigar can be described as peppery/aggressive and yet “smooth”. Well, it’s kinda like a punch followed by a backrub. Sure, the power is there, but it’s not explicitly trying to beat you up. A harsher cigar will only have the punch and none of the subtleties. I find that retrohaling (exhaling the smoke out of the nose) really helps one find the subtleties of a cigar more than anything else. If you’ve never done it, I very much encourage you to try it, as it can exponentially increase your enjoyment of a cigar, as well as further mature your palate. Oh, and for the love of crumb cake, do not try your first retrohale with a full bodied cigar. Try a mild cigar, and don’t be surprised if it stings a bit – you’ll get used to it, and you can thank me later.
Second Third:
Back to the cigar. Halfway through, there is much less pepper and spice. Huge plumes of smoke, and a nice 1-inch chunks of firm ash. The white ash is testament to the well aged/fermented tobacco. Litto clearly made this cigar with a “more flavor, less strength” mentality, and it pays off. Still, this is not a cigar for the beginner. While the strength of this stick isn’t as full on as a LFD Double Ligero, Litto’s forte is strong cigars, and the nicotine kick is noticeable – so I wouldn’t smoke this on an empty stomach. The defining taste of the cigar remains floral and sweet.
Final Third:
The floral notes really dominate and take center stage. A heavy spice and some pepper come back around, while both the body and strength of the cigar really go to the next level. Meaty. The sweetness subsides as the cigar picks up heft, and eventually it completely disappears.
Conclusion:
I definitely see this as a complex smoke with which you should take your time. I very much enjoyed the the fact that the LFD Colorado Oscuro was more brains than brawn, that is, the strength never overpowered the tastes and nuances lying within the cigar. Bottom line: if you enjoy bolder, spicy foods and haven’t tried out this cigar or LFD in general, I’m not sure what you’re waiting for. Depending on your mood, I’d pair this with a hoppy beer like Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA…or, if you really want a 1-2 punch, Bulleit Bourbon, which uses a healthy dose of rye malt that provides more pepper and dryness than most bourbons, would match perfectly.
