La Flor Dominicana Air Bender

[issues]

After finally kicking this cold I was able to smoke a cigar today and what better way to start back up than by smoking a new cigar, a La Flor Dominicana Air Bender.



This cigar uses the same Ecuadorian Habano wrapper as their highest rated cigar to date, the La Flor Dominicana Salomon. The filler and binder are from the Dominican Republic.

They are available in the following sizes:

The Matatan (5×50)
The Guerrero (6.25×54)
The Maestro (5.5×52)
The Valiente (6.25×60)

The one I smoked was the Matatan and I was able to purchase it for $6.60.

The Review:

This cigar has a nice oily, silky wrap. No soft spots to be seen with a firm feel all the way down the stick. The color is on the dark side of natural. I see no imperfections and no major veins. The Air Bender has a pleasant woody, salty smell to it and the pre-light draw has the same woody flavor with a decent hit of spice. The pull was a little tight but nothing I would consider an issue.

The light was easy and the first puff had a flavor similar to the pre-light draw with a strong woodsy flavor as well as a nice punch of spice. Through the first third I would describe this cigar as medium body with a very strong ash and perfect burn line. There was virtually no smoke coming from the light gray ash. The flavor stayed pretty consistent with a nice woodsy cedar flavor accompanied by a bit of a nutty, leathery finish. By the end of the first third the spicy punch was all but gone.

The second third stayed about the same. The ash had yet to show any give and the profile started to show a bit more strength. The leather flavor came to the forefront with the woodsy, nutty flavor taking more of a back seat. Towards the end of the second third, I received a blast of pepper during an exhale through the nose. As I tapped the stick with my index finger, the ash showed no sign of dropping off. I was even able to stand the cigar on the ash (wish I had my camera for that one). Right at about the halfway point, the ash finally fell.

The final third started and finished with the slight bitter-sweet flavor of cocoa which accompanied the rich leather flavor quite nicely. The strength of the cigar slowly built up through the second and final third to end as what I would describe as medium +.

In conclusion, this was a good stick but not a great stick. I wouldn’t even pick this up over an LFD Double Ligero or Cabinet Oscuro but the construction was what I would consider to be near prefect. The burn line was razor sharp throughout and the pull was never a chore. It was very consistent and although each third did bring a different flavor or 2, I don't believe it is going to wow you with complexity. If you’re an LFD fan, like me, I would recommend trying it but if you’re not, I don't think this cigar is going to change your mind regarding the brand. The price of the Air Bender is quite reasonable and because of that I could definitely see myself revisiting this cigar in the future.

Thanks for a great review Tony

Thanks for the review Tony!

I plan on picking one up this week at my B&M.

[issues]

Thanks for the comments guys!

Originally Posted by ChicagoWhiteSox

Thanks for a great review Tony

Originally Posted by SkinsFanLarry

Thanks for the review Tony!

I plan on picking one up this week at my B&M.

Great Larry, let me know what you think.

[Starscream]

A cigar named Air Bender that is medium+ in strength? Air Bender sounds like a name for a Macanudo.

Thanks for the review.

[Giant & 49er Fan]

Just picked up 2 of these pups at the local B&M. Thanks for the review and I look forward to trying them.

[issues]

Originally Posted by andysutherland

A cigar named Air Bender that is medium+ in strength? Air Bender sounds like a name for a Macanudo.

Thanks for the review.

It does sound kind of silly.

From what I can gather from what I've read, it seems to be named after an anime series and a soon to be released martial arts movie, The Last Airbender.

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar...4,3046,00.html

Striking La Flor Dominicana


Posted: Wednesday, December 30, 2009

By David Savona



Cigarmaker Litto Gomez has turned to his love of Kung Fu movies to name his latest creation. The La Flor Dominicana Air Bender, a strong cigar named for martial artists with super powers, will hit store shelves in about one month.

“I think when we smoke we’re bending the air,” said Gomez this afternoon. “That’s what I think when I’m smoking. The names are all related to warriors and epic characters.”

The cigars are made from a blend of Gomez’s homegrown Dominican filler and binder tobaccos, including some piloto Cubano, Sumatra seed and Corojo. The wrapper is a leaf of Habano seed grown in Ecuador.

With a name like Air Bender, and the image of crossed mythic swords on the box, the expectations are for something with guts. “With all this around it the cigar has to be powerful,” said Gomez with a chuckle. “It cannot be a sissy cigar.”

[guado]

Definitely a tasty stick!

Started off with a nice spice and smoothed out to a nice almost sweet finish. I will agree, if you are looking for typical LFD this isn't gonna be it. But if you open your mind to this being a new cigar(just made by LFD) you are in for a treat.

Good review Tony.

[issues]

Thanks Eddie!

I'll give you 3 guesses where I got the stick and the first 2 don't count...

Ever wonder why there were 2 missing from the Matatan box before it was even put on the table?

[guado]

HAHA! You gonna head there tonight?

[issues]

Yep! Gotta go say goodbye to Bryan and I also just got my El Truinfadors which look and smell out of this world!



It's going to hurt breaking this box but I wanted to give one to Bryan for a sort of going away present although I know he'll still show up on occasion on the other side of the bar...

Well....that and I'm dying to smoke one myself!

[danreeve]

great review, I plan on burning this one really soon also.

[68TriShield]

After smoking four of these, I'd have to say it is my favorite LFD to date.
Litto did a awesome job balancing out the flavors in this one

[kelmac07]

Damn fine review Tony.

[Apoco]

About 2 months ago now, my local cigar shop had en event with this. I remember very distinctly that my cigar was INCREDIBLY peppery for the first four-five puffs. Was a great cigar past that! Good review!

[Huskysibe]

I grabbed one of these yesterday at my local B&M, thanks for teh review, I cant wait to try it.

Billy

Have had my eye on these and am reading a lot of reviews about them. Seems as though yours is pretty consistant with most and wonder if some time on them will give it some body. Maybe a 5'r is in my future.

[Shadow]

Smoked my first Lancero in the line and was not impressed. Have enjoyed all the other sizes. Going to have to smoke another one to see if I got a dud.

[Giant & 49er Fan]

Great review Tony! Thanks.

[timo]

Didn't like my first one much. Picked up another one yesterday to try again