The La Flor Dominicana Coronado Cigar, once known as Coronado by La Flor, made a strong impression when it first appeared in Cigar Aficionado in 2006, earning a spot on the Top 25 list. Despite its initial success, the cigar didn’t achieve popularity or interest and faded over time. It became a hidden treasure no one knew about. Possibly because it was never heavily marketed or much heard of and as a result, Litto Gomez produced it only occasionally. He finally decided to reintroduce the blend. Although the LFD Coronado now has a slightly new name, packaging, and a tweak on the band, the blend remains unchanged, which is great news for all those LFD fans.
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Sun Grown
- Binder: Dominican Republic
- Filler: Dominican Republic Sumatra Piloto Cubano
- Vitola: 6 x 54 Toro
- Factory: La Canela Dominican Republic
- Released Date: Jan 1, 2016
- Box Quantity: 18 Cigars
- MSRP: $193.99 a box
Under the Lid:
All three cigars in review have a brindle pattern with two shades of brown splotching throughout. The seams are easily visible and a bit fray. The band features a smooth candy-apple polished red background that will gleam like a jewel on a humidor shelf with the initials LFD in an eye-catching gold color. Just below the LFD initials also in gold is the name “Coronado” in a clean blocked style lettering against a muted brick-brown panel. At the top, sits a modest gold – outlined crown, its interior filled with soft baby-blue and turquoise. The overall look is balanced and straightforward. Coronado, meaning “crowned” adds a subtle nod to its name without overwhelming the design. The cap is applied symmetrical. Softness in some areas is apparent while gently squeezing especially at the head of the cigar. After removing the cellophane, the aroma of wet leather, earth, spice, and mustiness is obvious. I opted for a straight cut. The cold draw delivered a more prominent taste of wet leather, earth and some pepper. I took my time and toasted the foot with a single torch lighter.
First Third:
When I pick up an LFD, I immediately perceive strong bold flavors or an explosion of pepper to the palate. Surprisingly, my first few puffs offered gentle white pepper along with a refined mix of rich earth and a hint of salty leather to the palate. There is a gentle sweetness that lingers on the tongue and ties everything together. As I continue, a subtle sweetness of orange peel emerges on the front of my palate but never overwhelms. Almost simultaneously, a brisk of cracked pepper spice very much like biting into sweet and spicy jerky bringing a lively, tingling bite that brightens the smoke and opens my nostrils. Underneath, a warm earthiness provides a steady backbone, grounding the citrus and spice in a rich rounded core. The interaction of these nuances of citrus sweetness, bold peppercorn spice and mellow earth feels remarkably balanced. Overall, the flavors are so well-balanced and not too overpowering. Let’s see what the retro-hale brings.
Second Third:
As I retro haled, the smell of wet leather emerges a deep rugged richness thick and heavy like the saddle of a hardworking horse after a long, sweaty ride. It’s a dense musty flavor, full of earthy oils and the scent of well-worn hide carrying a memory I associate with aged tobacco. Each draw I get a full, rich cloud of smoke that feels satisfying, but not overwhelming, not too loose or not too tight. Wet leather and earth also mirror the distinct aroma that rises from a rain-soaked surface damp, mineral driven and alive with the rawness of nature. It suggests a connection to aged tobacco hinting a long fermentation and humid barns. The retro hale delivered a smooth refined experience rather than an overpowering pepper blast or harsh burn through the nostrils that most LFD cigars give you.
Final Third:
As I transitioned into the final third, the retro-hale continues to gently expand and brightened the flavors I was experiencing, adding layers of complexity without any sharpness or irritation. It allowed the subtleties of the earthiness, citrus sweetness and light spice to bloom across my senses in a controlled yet enjoyable way. But why is it that a wavy burn line, particularly the final third is very common for me with well -made cigars? I always attribute this to my smoking pace which can throw off the combustion. Perhaps the moisture contents or the leaf composition. Sometimes the binder and filler tobaccos aren’t perfectly uniform. But who am I to guess? As reviewers, we get so picky at analyzing the final product and point deductions are applied as we go. If not, every cigar would have a perfect score. But it just takes away from the experience when you run into these hiccups.
Smoking Experience:
I spent nearly two hours savoring the Coronado, but despite a few touch-ups on all three cigars in the final third, I still enjoyed the overall experience which is really what matters to me. A wavy burn at the end does not necessarily reflect badly on the cigar’s flavor or quality, it’s just part of the imperfect beauty of handmade cigars. Working at a cigar factory and rolling cigars is an art. I guess I’m just trying to convince myself we are all human and entitled to imperfections. But nevertheless, once a sleeper in the LFD line, La Flor Dominican Coronado is gradually making its way back again and hopefully gaining its reputation. Consumers often shy away when the letters LFD are seen because it’s often associated with a pepper bomb, but whether I’m unwinding on the porch at sunset or settling in for a long, contemplative evening at my beach house, the Coronado offers a level of complexity that keeps my palate interested without ever overwhelming it. It’s become my definition of the perfect relaxation cigar.
- Core Flavors: Leather, Earth, Peppercorn, Citrus
- Strength: Medium +
- Body: Medium
- Complexity: Medium
Purchase Recommendation: Five pack
Cigars smoked for the review: Three
Average smoking time: One Hour and Fifty-One Minutes
