Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Filler: Dominican

Binder: Dominican

Size: 5.5 x 44  “Poderoso”

Body: Full

Price: $6.00

The La Flor Dominican Air Bender is a hard stick to find. At least at reasonable pricing. I got mine from Atlantic Cigar.

La Flor Dominicana cigars are the product of Litto Gomez. An old school blender with enough accolades to make him a cigar rock star. His cigars are known for flavor, but most impressively, the strength he is able to impart into a bunch of leaves.

Litto has been quoted as saying this blend is not as spicy as his highly sought after Double Ligero. Instead, the intended profile of the Air Bender is of “refined power.”

Cigar Aficionado gave it a ’94’ rating and La Flor Dominicana Air Bender was named one of the world’s “Top 25 Cigars.” CA commented: “Bold from the very first puff, the cigar is strong and meaty, full of spice and coffee notes, with a finish reminiscent of a whiskey barrel.” I’m in.

Air Bender is offered in seven sizes: Matatan (5 x 50), Guerrero (6.25 x 54), Maestro (5.25 x 52), Valiente (6.25 x 60), Chisel (6.5 x 54), Villano (7.5 x 38), Each name honors a Kung Fu warrior. Except, obviously, the Chisel. Unless Chisel was banned and aced himself early in the game.

The Air Bender is very firm. There is a nicely done triple cap. I sniff around and detect a deep, sweet cocoa component, while the foot had an intense baking chocolate smell. Also very intense. There is an aroma of pepper.

The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is reddish in hue, as to be expected. There is an acceptable amount of veins. Seams are damn near invisible. There is a light oiliness. And a bit of toothiness.

I do a “V” cut and light up. I might add that I purposely bought a Corona with the knowledge that this small of a cigar should pack a real wallop. So I put my seat belt on and here we go.

My first puffs are of pepper, a rich earthiness and sweet tobacco. The draw is a bit tight. So I roll the cigar in my hands, gently, to loosen the tobacco.

The strength is mild at the very beginning. A Gomez trick to lure your sorry ass in. That dense cocoa smell is nowhere to be seen in the current flavor profile. Sigh….The char line is a bit funky which surprises me in such a small ring gauge, so I give it a leg up.

The first third is a set up for what’s to come. The flavors of red pepper, sweetness, earthiness and wood build during this period. (“Refined power.”)

It is kind of silly to break this cigar into thirds so I will do halves.

While the draw has improved, it is still a bit resistant; but the smoke is pouring from the foot. An inch in, I taste toast. It is such an odd flavor and yet very desirable as few cigars have it.

My nose begins to twitch and itch, which means the spiciness is rising.  I am getting frustrated with the char line. I correct it once more and it finally seems to be on the right track.

This stick is a very slow burner.

Just past an inch, the creaminess arrives that I wasn’t expecting. This is the first Dominican cigar I’ve smoked in a while. The creaminess accentuates the sweetness. Still no cocoa. That sniffing of the foot was a tease.

The strength begins to build and as I approach the middle, the body is a solid high medium. Yet, not daunting…and creates no fear.

And then all hell breaks loose. The red pepper ramps up big time. The cocoa appears like it was delivered in a dump truck. The creaminess envelops it all. The deep earthiness makes this a remarkable cigar. As most of us experienced cigar smokers know, LFD is a powerful cigar full of flavor and strength. The Air Bender is slightly right of center on this profile. The body builds slowly. The flavors build slowly. This is truly a refined cigar that gentlemen and ladies, like us, deem worthy of our time.

The second half is completely different than the first. The corona allows me to get flavors in a complexity very often not seen in large ring gauges. I have been experimenting with smaller cigars and now I seem to have a thing for them. Well-made sticks will burn a good hour or so and that’s plenty for me. I get bored with a 2-1/2 hour smoke no matter how good it is.

The triple cap is doing its job well. No loose tobacco at all. Solid as a rock.

The cigar has a very long finish. The spiciness starts at the back of my throat and moves forward until it is on the tip of my tongue, making goulash of my sinuses.

Is this it? Do I detect cocoa? I’m not sure. The other flavors are strong and anything new is subdued in comparison.

The creaminess is delightful now. Just washing over my palate.

This cigar is so eventful in its presentation that I have found that the water I usually drink with a cigar has hardly been touched. No scorched earth policy here.

Yes, just past the second half, cocoa arrives in a tiny dose. This cigar wants to be about finesse. It is so smooth. I wasn’t expecting this. And folks, I haven’t smoked an Air Bender in a long time so I had no preconceptions…other than I was probably going to get my socks would burst into flames…but that quote from Litto about “refined power” made me wonder. What the hell does that mean?

Well, I am experiencing that refined power. This is not your ordinary LFD. It’s not kicking my ass. I would even go so far as say this is a good cigar for a smoker wanting to delve into the world of stronger cigars. Its strength builds slowly. No frontal attack. It’s a flanking move.

Flavors are kicking up a dust storm. The sweetness is syrupy. My lips feel like I’ve eaten a peach and they are sticky from fructose.

The stick goes out in style. This cigar is full flavored and only medium/full in body.

The cocoa finally sees the light of day in the last 1-1/2”.  A nice surprise.

This is a great cigar. I applaud Litto Gomez for devising such an inventive blend. It’s nice to smoke something other than a Nicaraguan once in a while. The flavor profile is completely different and breaks the repetition. Well done, Senor Gomez.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS