Cigar Review: La Flor Dominicana Factory Press Limitado (2013)
24 Sep 2014
Litto Gomez of La Flor Dominicana fame has never been shy about pushing the envelope when it comes to creating unique cigar formats. The Chisel shape is a case in point.
Another example is the Factory Press, a series that debuted in 2005 and is now available in six different iterations. Each release measures 6.25-6.5 inches long with ring gauges ranging from 54 to 60. Characterized by its extremely sharp box-press, La Flor Dominicana ships the cigars in the actual wooden press from the factory, which is Tabacalera La Flor S.A. in the Dominican Republic.
Two of the six Factory Press releases are deemed “Limitado†(2007 and 2013). For the 2013 Limitado, La Flor “aged and set aside the darkest Sumatra wrappers we could find,†according to the La Flor website. “Combined with a Nicaraguan binder and our estate-grown Dominican fillers, this cigar boasts a rich and powerful flavor worthy of its prestigious name.â€
I picked up a 5-pack of Factory Press Limitados (the 2013 version) for $72.50, which comes to $14.50 per cigar. Normally, a cigar with a 60 ring gauge would be a turn-off for me, but in this regard the box press adds a lot of value. The rectangular-shaped cross-section fits in the mouth comfortably (when positioned horizontally, of course).
The cigar itself is as handsome as it is large. The oily wrapper has a beautiful, consistently dark color with virtually zero veins of any significance. The sweet pre-light notes include milk chocolate, earth, and coffee. And while the cap is a little rugged, it clips cleanly enough to yield a smooth cold draw.
After setting an even light, a medium-bodied profile of espresso, dark chocolate, and leather emerges. It’s complemented by a red pepper zing on the aftertaste. The smoke production is superb and the texture is chalky. The resting smoke is characterized by a creamy sweetness.
As the Factory Press Limitado winds its way into the second and final thirds, a cocoa sweetness becomes more apparent. It becomes clear that, contrary to La Flor Dominicana’s reputation, this is never going to be a spicy, peppery, full-bodied smoke; rather, it stakes its claim for a more mild-mannered balance.
As it does, the construction is solid, including a sturdy gray ash, smooth draw, and a burn line that’s imperfect but never requires any touch-ups.
La Flor says they made about 100,000 of these gordo-sized smokes, and there are still boxes and 5-packs available for purchase. While this is a fine cigar, I find it underwhelming at the $14.50 price point. Frankly, there are too many smokes in the $10 or less range that are superior. And that’s ultimately why I can’t award the 2013 rendition of the Factory Press Limitado a rating higher than three and a half stogies out of five.
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Agreed. This is a nice, long smoke, but it's nowhere near worthy of the $14.50 price tag. I was thinking more $8-9. That's probably why this "limited" smoke is still readily available.
Great smoke, gotta splurge once in a while! I would like to know what sticks you guys think are better than the FPL for $10????
I agree that you’ve got to splurge from time to time. No question. And while this is—as I said in the review—a fine cigar, here’s a short list off smokes that, in my opinion, are more impressive and less than $10.
Intemperance BA XXI A.W.S. IV http://www.stogieguys.com/2014/02/02192014-cigar-…
Joya Red Robusto http://www.stogieguys.com/2014/07/07232014-cigar-…
Crowned Heads Four Kicks Corona Gorda http://www.stogieguys.com/2013/11/11122013cigar-r…
Room 101 HN 615 http://www.stogieguys.com/2014/08/08252014-cigar-…
Aquitaine Mode 5 http://www.stogieguys.com/2014/08/08062014-cigar-…
Reinado Grand Empire Reserve Ecuador Edition Petit Lancero http://www.stogieguys.com/2014/07/07072014-cigar-…
Keep in mind this is just a list of stuff I’ve currently been smoking. I believe there are many more examples.
Awesome list!
Ok I read your list and agree with most of your choices. RomaCraft is a great smoke for the price. The Joya Red is a good smoke also. Not a big 101 fan but I have not tried that exact smoke yet. Crowned Heads is tops. You can add in any My Father especially the El Centurion and TATUAJE RESERVA Brown labels also. But the FPL is a big long tasty smoke. I would def smoke more of them if they were only $10! As a final note RomaCrafts La Campaña de Panamá Soberana cigar is very unique and pricey. I loved it but would smoke a lot more if they were under $10. So I guess what I'm trying to say is your list are great everyday cigars that I smoke often but when I feel like having something a little different for a few bucks more I'm going with FPL, La Campana's, TATUAJE Cojonu 2012 box presses etc. thanks for sharing your thoughts….