- Vitola: Box-pressed Toro
- 6” x 54 ring gauge
- $9.99
- Purchased at Burns Tobacconist
Background
Every manufacturer member of the Tobacconist Association of America has a different philosophy when making TAA-release cigars. Some create special blends, others tweak blends and release in different sizes, and others just make the same blend in a non-regular-production vitola. La Flor Dominicana has, for the last two years at least, elected to do things really differently. They send out samples before the TAA gathering…the same blend in 3 different sizes both of the last two years…then when everyone gets together they vote on the matter. Whatever size gets the most votes is the one that gets produced.
For 2016 the blend is a Mexican San Andres wrapper and Cameroon binder over Dominican fillers and the winning vitola was a box-pressed Toro. It’s important to not that they are not describing this as a “San Andres Maduro,” but instead a San Andres Natural…that is so they can release a very special “Maduro” version only for events. The regular version comes in 25 count boxes and runs around $9.50 to $10.00 per stick.The Maduro version comes in boxes of 10 and no MSRP is given at this time.
The cigar is called the TAA 48 (for the 48th annual meeting of the TAA). I have had one or two previous to this review stick. I bought this review stick at Burns Tobacconist. (Have you checked out Cigar-Coop for news? I did for background on this review!)
Prelight
La Flor Dominicana has done a good job using a common band design and differentiating lines through secondary bands and alternate uses of color. This particular cigars has primary and secondary bands that are all black in background with gold foil type and artwork. Only the primary band has embossing on it, but that emboss is a very deep one that shows a lot of detail in areas like the coins on the sides…places where detail is often lost on less expensive letterpress jobs.
The wrapper leaf on the cigar was a dark chocolate brown…it’s really surprising this isn’t a Maduro, really. The leaf was even in color, oily to the touch, and smelled earth, cocoa powder, and leather. The foot had more earth, along with touches of grass and cedar.
The cold draw had just the right amount of resistance. The flavor cold had a mix of cedar, hay, earth and semi-sweet chocolate.
Flavor
The LFD TAA 48 started off with a rush of pepper spice on the palate and on the nose, followed by a strong cedar note and more subdued earth and cocoa powder notes. The body stood out in the medium-to-full range right at the beginning and it was apparent that this was not a cigar for newbies. Continued puffs brought cedar on the nose and a more solid semi-sweet chocolate note riding on the palate during a very long finish. While the cigar started off a bit harsh, before 15 minutes was up, it smoothed out, delivering less pepper and more dark chocolate flavors.
The second third saw the TAA 48 deliver more dark chocolate along with dried fruit, earth, and white pepper on the palate. The smoke continued to be smooth and had migrated into the full bodied range.
Earthy flavors came on strong in the last third, with the sweeter chocolate notes going back to a more unsweetened cocoa powder place and an espresso bean note showing itself. Pepper saw a resurgence, as well.
Construction
I had a great draw, very even burn line and solid ash.
Value
The price tag is reasonable for such a good cigar, especially when production is limited.
Conclusions
The La Flor Dominicana TAA 48 was a very good cigar that continues the company’s ways of producing excellent full-bodied sticks. While being full-bodied, it was also full-flavored and had plenty of complexity both in the numbers of flavors present at any one time and with the way they progressed throughout the stick. This is one I would love to smoke again and again…well, at least in those times I’m looking for a strong, full smoke.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
