The La Flor Domincana Double Ligero Chisel Tip

Cigar smoking is among my longest running (25 years and counting) and most deeply cherished vices.

I can still remember the best cigars I've ever smoked--all Cuban, and all predating the Clinton impeachment: a 1989 Partagas D so oily and dense it seemed as if it had been rolled with Redman plug, an early 1990s Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona from the the personal humidor of NY restaurateur Buzzy O'Keefe, a Bolivar Belicoso I smoked strolling through Paris.

Although there are many excellent cigars available today--both Cuban still unavailable here, and Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan--there seem to be few truly exceptional ones on the market as producers, including the Cuban government, have pushed their best cigars into premium limited edition lines where margins must be mind-blowing given the astronomical retail prices (even before the sickening load of taxes both here and in Europe).

But this summer (smoking cigars is seasonal in my family where smoking indoors is strictly prohibited but thankfully global warming has vastly extended cigar smoking season in the Northeast) I've been puffing my way through a box of excellent cigars, not cigars that reach the class of the best cigars I've ever had, but cigars that nevertheless I would classify as special.

I'm talking about the La Flor Dominica Double Ligero Chisel Tip (the natural wrapper version, not the maduro).

The Chisel Tip is at the vanguard of the new, super strong cigar movement as American taste has changed from favoring the mild, Connecticut Shade wrapped cigars of the early 1990s cigar boom. The push to produce ass-kicking cigars--which parallels a move among US microbrewers to supersize the alcohol content of beers--smacks sometimes of cheap novelty but it has produced some excellent smokes, like the Olivia Master Blend line. But the LFD Chisel Tip is the class of the field.

The Chisel Tip is a whopping 54 ring gauge smoke, with a unique, flat tapered end that provides huge smoke volume with a small, comfortable mouth feel. The cigar features a rustic-looking Ecuadoran sun-grown wrapper, although its kick comes from the two ligero leaves of Dominican tobacco used in the filler (ligero describes the potent leaves at the top of the tobacco plant, milder cigars use fewer leaves--or none at all--from the sun-soaked top of the plant). It opens with a peppery blast but as the ash grows the cigar, while it doesn't exactly mellow, rounds out into a rich, creamy, aromatic smoke so smooth that you can smoke the cigar down to your fingertips, leaving a long finish on the palate. In my experience only the Cuban Bolivars offer the same combination of extreme strength and exceptional smoothness.

The cigars are very well made. I'm more than halfway through a box I bought in August and each cigar has offered the same even burn and flawless, easy draw. At $7.50 a stick, the LFD Chisel Tips aren't cheap, but neither are they mega-bucks burners.

If you're not a fan of strong cigars, the Chisel Tip will definitely be too much for you--although I laid one on my uncle this summer, a fan of milder smokes, and he certainly seemed to be enjoying it in combo with a glowing, mahogany Armagnac.  Still, this is NOT the cigar to bring to a wedding or hand out at the birth of your first grandchild. And don't smoke one before bedtime as the strong nicotine content will definitely keep you up for hours. But after a prime ribeye cooked over an Indian summer charcoal fire I can think of few things better.

BTW, I've tried some of the other sizes in the LFD Double Ligero range, including the maduro-wrapped version of the Chisel Tip (a Connecticut wrapper instead of the claro's Ecuadoran sun grown wrapper from Sumatran seed) , and while they were good cigars none had the special, almost epic quality of the Chisel Tip claro.

Comments

[Cigar Jack]

Great review! I'm writing a review of the maduro version as we speak. I remember the first one of these I smoked, no one had warned me exactly how strong these babies were and I had to have a lie down after smoking one. If you like some strong smokes try some of the EO 601's or other Don Pepin blends, all fantastic smokes with one helluva kick. Mmmm Prime Rib, I haven't had a good prime rib in ages. I maybe to get off my but and cook one up. I just can't see myself paying what they ask at some of the local restaurants.

[Jason Chervokas]

Jack,

Cool. I'll look for your review. I'm not a big proponent of strong cigars for strength's sake. As I wrote, that smacks of novelty. But I do love a strong cigar that's full of flavor, with a long smooth finish, and there are few cigars ever in my experience that combine all these qualities. The LFD chisel tip is one of them.

I smoked only one of the maduro version and I liked it but didn't love it the way I love the natural version. I understand its a CT vs. an Ecuadoran wrapper. Let me know when your review is up, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

[Cigar Jack]

I'll have to try the natural again, I haven't smoked it in awhile. My review will go up this week. I'll shoot you a link once it is up. I reviewed the CAO America today. I don't know where they get off calling that cigar Full-Bodied at most it is a Medium and a bit blander in the flavor department. It isn't bad, but isn't mind blowing.

[Cigar Jack]

My review of the La Flor DL Maduro Chisel is up.