Wrapper: Ecuadorian Maduro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Size: 6 x 54
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $8.50
Number of Cigars Smoked Prior to Review: 0
Accompanying Libation: Water
Today we take a look at an oldie but goodie; the La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro.
This cigar was a gift and has at least a couple years, or more, of humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
From the Cigar Aficionado web site:
“With its black, wedge-shaped head, nothing in the cigar world looks quite like a Chisel Maduro. Its creation goes back to one day when La Flor’s Litto Gomez was driving from Santiago to La Canela in the Dominican Republic, chewing on a torpedo as he was deep in thought. By the time he reached his destination, the torpedo head had been flattened. Taken with the new shape, Gomez came up with the Chisel, a figurado with a head that looks like a hand tool or a woodwind instrument. The natural version is powerful, but this 6-inch x 54-ring leathery Maduro is sneaky strong—you don’t feel the power until it’s upon you. It’s a difficult shape to roll, this brainchild of Gomez, who is clearly one of the cigar world’s most innovative minds.”
From the LFD web site:
“LFD was founded in 1996 in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Our commitment to quality, consistency and customer service has placed our brand among the most prestigious premium cigar brands in the world. Over the years we have developed a portfolio of quality blends, shapes and sizes which fulfill the ever-changing needs of today’s cigar smokers. Our well known consistency is possible because we personally supervise every stage of our production; From farming of our tobacco at our farm in La Canela, to the art of manufacturing in our modern factory. This vertical integration is our guarantee. Ines and I appreciate your support and partnership.”
DESCRIPTION:
The wrapper is a gorgeous, mottled, oily, dark coffee bean color. Seams are nearly invisible. Lots and lots of veins. The stick is packed solid. Just like yesterday’s review of the Ashton ESG, it makes a crackling noise when gently pushed. If I have the same problems I did with the ESG, you will never see this review.
The chisel cap is an interesting gimmick. Squeezing it open requires some patience so as not to crack the wrapper too much.
AROMAS AND COLD DRAW NOTES:
Aromas across the shaft smell of hay, chocolate, spice, and earthy tobacco. From the foot and opened chisel cap, I can smell dark cocoa, spice, grass, espresso, and sweetness.
From the cold draw, I taste black pepper, leather, and grass.
FIRST THIRD:
The draw is fantastic as I am nearly blinded by clouds of smoke.
The cap comes off. Oh no. But no real harm…so far.
And then..a giant blast of red pepper that singes the hairs inside my nose appears. My eyes well up with tears, my sinuses open wide enough for an 18 wheeler to drive through and I am in a tunnel of light with my dead relatives motioning me to them.
The char line is spot on.
The sun comes out on this beautiful Milwaukee day. An oxymoron, I believe. You can begin to see how beautiful the wrapper is in this photo.
The chisel cap is very difficult to hold in your mouth and type. Since I stopped chomping, my photos are prettier. But in order to keep this review down to 3 hours, I may have to chomp.
Wrapper is cracking in the bottom third of the cigar.
More flavors: Chocolate, nuts, sweetness, coffee, something fruity, leather, and rich tobacco.
The strength starts at medium/full. I’m in for one helluva ride.
The thing about LFD blends is that they really need serious humidor time. The 2+ years that this one has is showing me what I’ve been missing in the LFD’s I’ve smoked in the past with only a few months humidor time.
I’ve got some Oliva V Melanio Maduros resting comfortably. Another cigar that really needs serious aging before lighting up. And yet, there they are…reviews of the cigar with probably, at the most, a month or two of humidor time. Just like the typical LFD, the Oliva V is packed like a cage fighter. All muscle and requiring special care until it’s ready.
As much as I’d like to review the samples I got a month ago, I just can’t. It would be a disservice to the cigar and all I’d be reporting on is the potential, not the blender’s intent.
While I’m typing away, the foot wants to canoe on me so touch up time.
SECOND THIRD:
As you can see from the photo, more cracks are beginning to appear on the front side of the cigar. I did manage to burn right through the earlier cracks.
But the flavors. Oh the flavors. If this baby can just hang tough to the end, I will be baptized into the Catholic Church.
Here they are: Spice, chocolate, cream, black cherry, floral notes, honey, molasses, caramel, leather, rich tobacco, sweetness.
The strength is still medium/full. With a touch of nicotine.
Exact same thing as the Ashton ESG that I reviewed yesterday is happening. The cigar is self-destructing. As the cigar burns down, more cracks appear.
The La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro is a luscious cigar. So rich and complex with a nice balance and long finish.
I was also gifted an LFD Oro which I smoked last night. I reviewed the LFD Oro back in June, 2013.
You can see from the photo below that the cap is unraveling. This, I can fix. And out comes the cigar glue.
The La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro hits full body.
HALFWAY POINT:
This is where the La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro really shines. The sweet spot is right here and now.
The black cherry, sweetness, and summer fruit flavors soar.
The caramel, cream, chocolate, and coffee are right behind.
I read a few reviews of this cigar so I would know the difference between a La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro tasted like with maybe a couple months humidor time and over 2 years’ time.
And as expected, those reviews didn’t report half of what I get to taste with this nicely aged LFD.
The issues with the wrapper seem to have come to an end. Thank goodness.
The double ligero is doing its job. The power of the blend is ultra-full bodied. Surprisingly, the nicotine isn’t making me swoon. Probably jinxed it by reporting that.
The complexity digs its heels in now. The balance is perfect. The finish is long and chewy making me smack my lips like my dog when she sees me cooking.
I suspect the construction issues are all age related.
The sunlight is really showing off the beauty of the wrapper.
The dreaded Vitamin N is slowly creeping up on me as I find it more and more difficult to type. My mother made me take a typing class in high school. Back then, it was considered a girly thing to do and I was the only boy in a class of 30 girls. How embarrassing. But my mother wanted me to be ready for college. This would be no time to hunt and peck on the keyboard.
Of course, now 4 year olds can type 60 wpm.
Still, I’m glad my mother was forward thinking, bless her soul.
At my age, the small amount of family I had is long gone.
The La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro is just cruising along.
LAST THIRD:
I’ve dropped the cigar on the floor twice now. That nicotine is really kicking my arse now.
A mineral element shows itself. Not that pleasant. Hope it goes away soon.
What a great cigar. But this blend is for the very experienced palate. It will kill newbies by the thousands. “Quick! Call 911. Little Ricky has stopped breathing. I think it was the La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro.”
The char line has required a lot of minor touch ups.
Sweet Spot 2.0. The mineral taste is gone. Only lasted a couple of minutes.
I swear that the fruit flavor is a combo of mango and melon. Reminds me of Midori.
It is at this point that the tobacco flavor puts its best foot forward. Rich and complex.
I can barely focus now. I feel like I’m stoned.
Except for the early construction issues, this cigar experience has been joyful.
No heat. No harshness. No bitterness.
Just lots of wonderful flavors and complexity.
PRICE POINT:
Remember when $8.50 was expensive? I do. I applaud Litto Gomez for his consideration for the wallet conscious consumer.
SUMMATION:
I liked this cigar a lot. Construction issues aside, the flavor profile, the rich complexity, and rich tobacco flavor make the La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro a real winner in my book.
The criteria for a great cigar are all about transitions. Especially, when least expecting them.
My only point of dismay is that you need to be flush to be able to buy a box and then let them rest for a year or two. For the rest of us on a tight budget, we look for blends that mature quickly. I just can’t afford to put out big bucks and then wait.
Fortunately, the La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro comes in boxes of 10 for around $80. That takes some of the heat from the wife who carefully monitors your cigar expenses.
And now for something completely different:
A public service announcement if you please…
I have sleep apnea. Discovered it in 2006. A very smart Otolaryngologist put two and two together when I complained of constant recurring sinus infections. I also snored like a freight train.
He had me do a two night sleep study in a fancy hotel in downtown Chicago and voila! I was diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Snoring, sinus infections, and being fatigued all the time are the three main symptoms of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea killed my father. All his wonderful doctor buddies in Palm Springs never thought to have him do the sleep study. When we visited him in Palm Springs from Long Beach, he would take afternoon naps and his snoring shook the massive condo.
Plus he complained about being tired all the time. Back then, I knew nothing of sleep apnea. This was around 2002-2003.
I was given an expensive CPAP machine. Somewhere in the $1800 range back in 2006. A year ago, I went to bed, plugged the machine in and sparks and flames flew two feet above it where the plug met the machine.
I was lucky enough to see something about football player Reggie White on the news.
This is from Wikipedia:
“Reginald Howard “Reggie” White (December 19, 1961 – December 26, 2004) was an American college and professional football player who was mostly a defensive end but also played some defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons during the 1980s and 90s. He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and was recognized as an All-American. After playing two professional seasons for the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League (USFL), he was selected in the first round of the 1984 Supplemental Draft, and then played for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history.
“The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 13-time Pro Bowl and 12-time All-Pro selection holds second place all-time among career sack leaders with 198.5 (behind Bruce Smith’s 200 career sacks) and was selected to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, and the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team. During his professional career, he was also known for his Christian ministry as an ordained Evangelical minister, leading to his nickname, “the Minister of Defense”. White is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
On December 26, 2004, White died in his sleep from a heart attack brought on by sleep apnea. He was diagnosed with it but refused to use his CPAP machine.
Reggie was 43.
His wife, Sara, didn’t want Reggie’s passing to be in vain so she set up the Reggie White Sleep Disorders Foundation. It is in West Allis, WI. A suburb of Milwaukee.
So, I made an appointment to see someone at the Foundation. And wham, bam, thank you ma’am, I got a refurbished CPAP state of the art ResMed machine.
They never asked for I.D., financial standing, proof of income..nothing.
The machine they gave me finally was totally out of whack.
I contacted them yesterday and spoke to Ron Baacke who is the Executive Director for the foundation and told me to come right in.
When I got there, my brand new CPAP machine was ready for me. It was even programed for my needs.
The warehouse stores thousands of donated machines, accessories and other equipment. Some refurbished and most brand new.
But here is the good part. Ron, who I’m guessing is around 60 is a drummer.
We shot the shit for a while and I learned he had his own recording studio and lots of projects going on. Word of mouth is so good on him that he gets new clients on a regular basis.
He asked what I played. And then told me that more than any instrument, new clients come in and ask if he knows a good bassist. He had a couple names but they always seem to be too busy to help out.
So I got the gig. I am now officially a session bass player 30 years after I stopped that doing that trade.
I’m practicing like a maniac to get my chops in order.
The new CPAP machine is night and day from the old one. I actually got a good night’s sleep for the first time in ages.
So if you are a guy whose snoring makes the walls shake, I suggest you see your family doctor and ask to get a sleep test. It could save your life.
I just know that the use of my CPAP machine has added years to my life.
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Cigar Reviews by Phil 'Katman' Kohn 
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