Cigar Review: La Flor Dominicana, Double Ligero (DL-700)

DL-700, 6.5" x 60 ring gauge, $8.85
It has been a while since I visited anything from the La Flor Dominicana line. I got a little burned out on LFDs when compiling the smokes and reviews for October 2009's La Flor Dominicana month here on the Tiki Bar Online. For this review, I tackled the big beast of the Double Ligero line, though: the DL-700. With a length and ring gauge to intimidate almost any man, packed with strong ligero tobacco, this cigar is definitely "large and in charge." Like the rest of the DL line, it features Dominican filler and binder, wrapped in an Ecuadorian sungrown leaf.

The wrapper on this stick was oily and velvety to the touch. It had a very nice appearance without too much mottling; there were a couple dings on the wrapper, but otherwise is was perfect. The aroma from the body of the cigar was a barnyard mix of hay and manure; the foot had some of the same aroma, along with some leather and cocoa. The prelight draw was excellent and there was flavors of milk chocolate, chili pepper, and leather. My Lotus triple-flame lighter did an admirable job in lighting this monster, although this is one of those sticks that practically begs for the Rocky Patel 5-flame torch.

Initial puffs were smooth and somewhat sweet. There was a flavor of cedar and the smoke was ultra-cool, which is an advantage to smoking such a large stick. The first third showed of lots of cedar and roasted nuts, the latter especially present in the retrohale. After about an inch and a half, some spice was introduced--a subtle chili pepper spice with a lingering mouth burn. There was also some subtle cocoa and chocolatey sweetness. The smoke was at times very thick and hung close around the head unless the breeze picked up a little.

The second third started with cedar and had a delightful amount of spice throughout--just enough, really. Toward the end of the third, there were some very nice coffee notes, along with hints of cocoa and a nice underlying sweetness. Constructions was very good so far--a couple touch-ups were required, but the draw was flawless and the burn remarkably even. This last is remarkable because, in my experience, LFD's Ligero and Double Ligero cigars rarely burn all that evenly.

Shortly into the last third, the body and strength ramped up rapidly. Up until this point, the cigar had been a medium-to-full bodied stick, but it quickly went to the upper end of the scale. There was more coffee along with roasted nuts; the cocoa that had been subtle but pervasive before was much more prevalent as well. At this point, the DL-700 was almost an entirely different cigar from earlier. It was a nice, leisurely smoke until the last third, when it became a powerhouse. Ultimately, this was a great study in complexity and change. It had all the punch of a DL-Chisel with less spice and was, in the end, a very satisfying smoke, although not my favorite vitola (the Chisel, I think, still holds that distinction). Several minor touch-ups were required, but that was the only construction issue. This is definitely not a stick for the novice, but experienced smokers looking for a full-bodied, full-flavored, full-strength cigar will enjoy this one.

Body: 9/10
Strength: 9/10
Complexity: 9/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10