Filler: Dom. Rep.
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Wrapper: Ecuador
From Cigar Aficionado
#1 Cigar of the year 2016 Rated 96
The La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull is a truly new concept within La Flor’s portfolio of fine cigars. The size is based on that of an old cigar mold that Gomez found in Belgium. Naming it after Andalusia was a nod to Spain, the country where Gomez was born. And the silhouette of a matador on the band represents the celebrated history of the sport of bullfighting in Andalusia. That eye-catching shade of green is similar to that found on the Andalusian flag. But there’s more to decode. The font on the band is based on Pablo Picasso’s handwriting—he loved to paint bulls—and the scrollwork reflects patterns found on a bullfighter’s uniform.
Fittingly, with this combination of heavy-handed and subtle symbolism comes a blend that is both bold and refined (like a bull and a matador). Gomez and his son Tony collaborated on the cigar and spent a fair amount of time fine-tuning the blend. The result was a cigar as intriguing in flavor as it is in appearance. It’s a combination of Corojo-seed Ecuador Habano wrapper on a blend that consists primarily of Dominican Criollo ’98 tobacco, a hybrid and a bit of Pelo d’Oro too. First impressions are bold and savory with strong notes of hickory and leather. But it continues to take on a complex spiciness of saffron and cumin as well as a slight tangy note that brings the strength and spice together quite gracefully—and it only gets better with every puff.Gomez owns the brand and company with his wife, Ines Lorenzo-Gomez. This marks the first time that La Flor Dominicana has been awarded No. 1 Cigar of the Year.
Review:
Cigar Reviews by Mikey: Andalusian Bull. Today we are reviewing in my opinion the most sought after cigar on the planet, the true definition of a cigar that literally flys off the shelf when it gets in stock. The La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull is a highly acclaimed cigar, notably crowned Cigar Aficionado’s #1 Cigar of the Year in 2016. This recognition alone makes its review from Cigar Aficionado one of the most significant and widely referenced.
It’s a striking figurado, specifically a Salomones, with a large 64 ring gauge foot that tapers down. This unique shape requires skilled craftsmanship and contributes to a long, evolving smoke. It has an Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper , often described as a dark, oily, reddish-brown hue. The binder and filler both are Dominican tobaccos, primarily Criollo ’98, with some Pelo d’Oro, grown on La Flor Dominicana’s own farm. I just recently learned that cigars with Pelo d’Oro are considered sort of a delicacy because Pelo d’oro tobacco is very hard to cultivate.
At First light it starts with bold and savory notes of hickory, black pepper, and cedar. With that great underlying note of chocolate. A hallmark of this cigar is its dynamic and evolving flavor profile throughout the smoke. It’s not a static experience.
Mid-Smoke the flavors deepen and transition. With delicious dark notes of espresso, dark chocolate, caramel, nuts, and a “meaty” or “charred meat” quality. The pepper does recede and then return sometimes.
Final Third became more robust, with returning pepper, earthy notes, coffee, and a creamy finish. Despite the richness, the flavors are generally well-balanced.
Strength: Medium-to-full, building in intensity as the cigar progresses. It is flavorful without being overwhelmingly strong.
Construction & Burn: Excellent construction the draw opens up nicely after the initial taper. It’s a slow-burning cigar lasted 2.5 to 3 hours.
Aesthetics: The band is noteworthy, inspired by Spanish bullfighting culture with a matador silhouette, green and gold colors (like the Andalusian flag), and a font based on Picasso’s handwriting. The presentation, especially in its 10-count box, is often praised as luxurious.
MIKEY LIKES IT 👍