Stogie Reviews: La Flor Dominicana Grand Maduro No. 5
9 Feb 2009
This review reinforces something we’ve been saying for quite awhile: take advantage of events at you local cigar shops. I probably wouldn’t have tried this gem of a cigar were it not for a La Flor Dominicana shindig at Cigar Connection in Arlington, Virginia.
There, I picked up a specially-priced sampler of a dozen LFD cigars and met Mark Phelgar, an informative abd friendly representative for the company. Included was this 6 and 1/4 inch by 52 ring gauge box-pressed Grand Maduro No. 5 from La Flor’s Premium line—the first line they ever produced. Of all of LFD’s regular production lines, the Premium Line is the one I was least familiar with.
In fact, the two cigars I smoked for this review are the first Premium Line maduros I’ve had, and they’ve done nothing to deter me from smoking more in the future.
The toro-sized No. 5 features a dark, attractive, almost jet black wrapper that glimmers with an oily sheen. It’s firm to the touch and smooth, except for a few large veins.
Once lit, I’m greeted with a medium- to full-bodied smoke with lots of licorice flavors. Underneath is a balanced medley that includes hints of sweet grass, toffee, coffee, fig, leather, and black pepper.
Even though the flavors remained relatively constant throughout the hour-long smoke, the complexity is very impressive for a maduro. In my experience, many maduros have a tendency to trade complexity for forward flavors, but no such sacrifice was made here.
The construction was also quite good, with an easy draw, even burn, and a fairly steady ash. The Grand Maduro No. 5 sells for around $8 per stick, so it isn’t a budget smoke. Still, for all it has to offer, that’s a very reasonable price when you consider how many lesser cigars sell for more.
For that combination of complexity, excellent construction, and a fair price, the La Flor Doninicana Grand Maduro No. 5 earns a rating of four and a half stogies out of five.
[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]
photo credit: La Flor Dominicana
Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
Patrick Semmens
Co-Founder & Publisher
George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
I love everything everything Litto does. This is a good smoke. For me a morning smoke. It's not very powerful but complex. Not my favorite of stick Litto makes. That award goes to the Double Ligero.
I have not tried this maduro, but the clear shaded one. It struck me by the excellent construction and perfect draw. What a great cigar by such an affordable price.