LFD lives on with the Flor Dominicana 30 Years.
According to their website, “In the span of only 30 years Litto and Ines Gomez have etched their name into the history of cigars in ways beyond what they could have imagined back in 1994. They’ve won the cigar world’s highest honors and revolutionized it through innovative blends and vitolas as well as creating the world’s first cigar NFT. (Editor’s Note: They were actually second.)
A 6 1/2” x 58 box pressed Chisel, this beautiful cigar was created to commemorate those 30 Years in the way LFD best knows how. Featuring a dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, a rare aged Dominican binder from Cotui, and a blend of carefully selected fillers from our farm in La Canela, the smoke is rich and decadent, with a depth of dark flavors, spice, and body that result in an experience unmistakably LFD.
The LFD 30 Years will be released in humidors containing 60 cigars of which only 2,000 will be released. The humidors themselves were crafted at the Gomez family’s own box factory in the Dominican Republic.”
Cigar Review: La Flor Dominicana 30 Years
Size: 6.5 x 50 (Box Pressed Chisel)
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Dominican Republic (Cotui)
Fillers: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera La Flor S.A.
Release Date: August 2024
Box Count: 60 Count Humidor
The Cigar: The whole presentation is simply stunning. I walked in Twins Smoke Shop my local brick & mortar in New Hampshire and these were front & center in the humidor. The cigar features a tobacco flower band in a homage to the original bands that use to adorm the cigars. Beneath that as a faux secondary band is the more modern LFD logo and a footbad denotes 30 Years. As for the the cigar itself, the LFD 30 years is soft box pressed and a chisel with some significant veins new the cap. The back side of the cigar is flawless so I wonder if the bands were applied the wrong way. In the hand the cigar is exceptionally firm but my humidimeter read 66.1% humidity.
The Taste: The cold draw of the LFD 30 Years has a subtle taste as if the humidor wasn’t completely dry when the cigars were packaged. It’s so minimal but it is there nonetheless. Additionally there is a subtle lima beans and vegetal components. The foot of the cigar serves up notes of cinnamon, cigar and molasses which is what I come to expect from the company.
Once the cigar is toasted and it I forgot how much I love the chisel shape. Notes of cedar and lychee notes encapsulate the palate at first light. Around a half-inch the cigar develops some notes of raisins that come and go with a touch of molasses that never hold on for more than a puff or two. The retrohale is smooth with more lychee nuts and subtle pecans.
Moving on to the second third just as I lose the ash for the first time a sweetness begins to develop in the form of powdered sugar and vanilla with a notes of cedar and leather serving as a canvas. Around the halfway point a subtle cherry develops on the palate with a well defined cinnamon on the retrohale.
It’s been two hours since i lit the cigar as I slide into the final third with no relight or touch ups require. Notes of leather create a base note with nuances of raisin, cinnamon and nuttiness. It’s strong, but remarkably balanced. As we finish the cigar just shy of the 3 hour mark notes of leather are dominant with a touch of mocha on the finish. The retrohale for the first time shows red pepper with some added mocha.
Conclusion: La Flor Dominicana is a frustrating company. A brand I use to smoke far more than I do now mainly due to supply issues. Constantly back ordered it feels as if the factory has become mismanaged ever since Cigar Aficionado named Andalusian Bull cigar of the year. Then the company got side tracked with elaborately designed solomons and the NFT cigar. I had even begun to hear rumbles that Litto was contemplating retirement and selling of the company. Then lastly, Jonathan Carney the long time Vice President of Sales announced he was leaving the company in August.
The La Flor Dominicana 30 Years is a statement cigar. It’s a statement of longevity and more importantly a statement the company still makes great cigars. While I question the price of the cigar and wonder how much the cost of the humidor plays into the pricing (I’m going to assume 50%) it does not come into play when we score the cigar. It is something I will smoke again despite the price tag. On a side note the company had 30 years to prepare for this cigar and a report says the cigars are slowly shipping out which Litto blames on the box/humidor production. If you see them in the wild be sure grab a couple at least.
Score: 94
Price: $30.00 (Before any local or state taxes)
