Stogie Reviews: Coronado by La Flor Double Corona
16 Apr 2007
I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that Georgetown Tobacco had the Coronado by la Flor Domicana in stock. This notoriously rare smoke has been getting rave reviews – topped off by a number two ranking on Cigar Aficionado’s “Best Cigars of the Year†list for 2006.
And while I admit to being a bit skeptical about CA’s ratings, particularly when it comes to the difference between a 90 and a 93 (this double corona received a 93), I had heard enough about the cigar to know that La Flor Dominicana maker Litto Gomez came up with a hit with this blend.
So when I first saw them at the shop I picked up two, and after one I went back for a handful more before their stock sold out. I’ve tried the seven inch by 54 ring gauge double toro (and passed on the jaw-hurting seven inch by 60 corona gordas), but this review is of the seven inch by 50 double corona, which is my favorite of the vitolas.
The Nicaraguan wrapper of the Coronado was an oily sun grown leaf with a few veins and a lovely oily sheen. The cigar was adorned with a complex gold and purple band that looked like a crown.
After cutting, I found licorice flavors when I tasted the cigar before lighting it. Once lit I was greeted with toffee, warm tobacco, and very subtle paprika flavors. The cigar produced an abundant amount of dense, rich smoke and the draw was perfectly easy. All five I’ve had have burned evenly all the way to the band.
As the cigar progressed, I found a complex medium to full-bodied blend that featured coffee, earth, toffee, and a little leather.
The Coronado by La Flor took nearly two hours to smoke, but a word to the wise: Don’t rush this cigar! At seven inches long, it might be tempting to try to sneak three or four puffs a minute, but if you do so you will find that the complex flavors quickly turn a bit acidic. However, when I deliberately slowed to one puff per minute, the perfectly balanced medley of flavors was really able to shine.
Available at around $8 a cigar, the Coronado by La Flor is a tobacco treat that would stand out when pitted against stogies that cost twice as much. For its solid construction, reasonable price, and abundance of flavor, this cigar earns a rare five out of five stogies.
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Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
Patrick Semmens
Co-Founder & Publisher
George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
I wish I could find these. They sound great.
Great Review. The Coronados to me are a average smoke. It just did not hit a homerun with me as everyone seems to believe should. I only had one and will try another to see if the outcome is the same. Anyways, great review and keep up the excellent work.
I must have been at G-Town Tobacco right after you, because after sampling the double corona I bought the rest of the box.
This cigar is the real thing. More on the medium of medium-full and full of complexity. I normally prefer the Cuban vitolas, so this is a bigger size than I prefer, but it is well worth it. At $8/cigar it is also a great value. I'd pay 2 or 3 times that for this smoke (don't tell Litto).
I have one that I've been sitting on for about 6 months and I got one as a gift that is 2 years old I can't wait to smoke them