Pre-light Experience

The La Flor Dominicana Suave Grand Maduro No. 5 has what I would call a wafer press and the wrapper is between medium and dark brown with some lightly raised veins present. The seams are smooth and the head is well finished. The band is red and gold and carries the company’s initial and line name on front. The aroma from the wrapper is earth, wood and dark, dried fruit sweetness like prune. The foot brings an immense amount of boozy raisin bread. If pre-light aromas were a category on their own, it would rank Amazing. The pre-light draw brings aged cedar and raisin bread.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted oak, earth and some black pepper. At a half inch in, a light cereal note joins the profile. The retrohale is toasted oak, earth, cereal and mild black pepper. At an inch in, the earth increases a bit. At an inch and a half in, a light creaminess joins the profile. As the third comes to a close, the toasted oak is just ahead of the earth, with black pepper and cereal in the middle of the profile and some creaminess in the background. The strength was right at medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the earth becomes even with the toasted oak up front. The retrohale is now just toasted oak, earth and mild black pepper. At an inch and a half in, the earth takes a slight lead in the profile. As the third comes to a close, the earth is just ahead of the toasted cedar, with black pepper and cereal in the middle of the profile and some creaminess in the background. The strength remained at medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, a light vegetal bitterness joins the profile. At a half inch in, the vegetal bitterness increases up to the middle of the profile. The retrohale remains toasted oak, earth and mild black pepper. As the cigar wraps up, the earth is just ahead of the toasted oak, with black pepper, cereal and vegetal bitterness in the middle of the profile and some creaminess in the background. The strength bumped up to slightly above medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any attention. The ash held on in inch and three quarter increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted oak, earth and some black pepper. A light cereal note joined in fairly quickly. Later, the earth increased a bit and a light creaminess joined in. The second third saw the earth become even with the toasted oak up front. Later, the earth took a slight lead in the profile. The final third saw a vegetal bitterness join in and then moved up to the middle of the profile. The La Flor Dominicana Suave Grand Maduro No. 5 had a average profile throughout that was pretty linear. Focused around earth and toasted oak with some supporting notes of black pepper, cereal, vegetal bitterness and light creaminess. Another Mexican wrapped offering that was fairly earth dominant. I really enjoy this pressed vitola and would love to see it used on more cigars. Overall though, not a cigar that was all that exciting and not something I’d see myself really returning to.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.65

Cost/Point

$2.09

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: La Flor Dominicana Suave Grand Maduro No. 5