Cigar Info
Last year, La Flor Dominicana brought back the Coronado brand, this year it was the Reserva Especial. This special ‘Reserve’ blend consists of an Ecuadorian Connecticut seed wrapper that surrounds Dominican Piloto Cubano long filler and a rich-tasting Nicaraguan binder. The La Flor Dominicana | Reserva Especial now features white, gold and red packaging. The packaging features company owner Litto Gomez‘s Silhouette on the packaging – something they say will be more prevalent in the years to come. The packaging was also designed to comply with regulations both internationally and domestically.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
The Reserva Especial features the same blend that was introduced back in the 1990s – highlighted an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper over Dominican binder and filler. All of the sizes return of the Reserva Especial as well as three additional sizes: Toro (6 x 54), Gran Robusto (5 1/2 x 60), and Super Corona (7 x 60). The cigars are packaged in 24 count boxes.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5.5″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano
Factory: Tabacalera La Flor S.A.
Blender: Litto Gomez
Number of reviewers: 4 – Jeff R. (JR) Jason H. (Jokey Smurf) Eric (smalls29) Isaac M. (The Nothing)
Price: $8.50
Age: 2 Months
Release Date: July 2016
Contributed by: Blind Man’s Puff
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 87
“This cigar is sporting a dusty chocolate brown wrapper leaf that is heavily veined and a bit light in the hand. There is one very prominent vein that runs the entire length of the cigar and is actually a bit distracting when I’m holding the cigar. The wrapper leaf is well applied with invisible seams and a tight cap.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Aroma: 88
“Lots of leather and cedar notes” –Jeff R. (JR)
First Third
Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Light-Medium
“The first puffs of this cigar presented a velvety thick smoke that was light on pepper and heavy on cream and a bit of a cashew nuttiness. As the cigar warmed, the cream and roasted nut flavor stabilized and became the main flavors.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“A nice start with flavors of wood and spice. I detect some oak and cinnamon with a nice peppery tingle. I was hoping for a leathery taste like the smell but this is a nice start. The smoke has a pleasant aroma of a burning fire.” –Eric (smalls29)
Second Third
Flavor: 87
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“I am very happy that the flavors are staying balanced. The taste of oak and some woods with cinnamon and spice are wonderful. I enjoy the medium to full body and the wonderful smell it gives off. A nice change from the poor ones I have had lately.” –Eric (smalls29)
“In the second I started picking up some woody notes that I had almost forgotten were around at the beginning of the cigar. The spice had calmed on the retro too, giving way to oak and cedar. This cigar really gives up two very different profiles depending on how you smoke the cigar. If you’re a slow smoker this cigar will be quite light, mild in flavor, little bit of wood and the grapefruit notes that I had been seeing. All in all I would say almost delicate.
If you’re a fast smoker you’re going to get a fairly spicy cigar with loads of the capsaicin spice and notes of leather and maybe some dark earth. I found it quite unique in that the cigar can come across two very different ways depending on how you smoke it. The hard part might be finding the pace the keep the flavors you prefer. Since the touch up late in the first third, the burn has been good. ” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)
Final Third
Flavor: 90
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Light-Medium
“The final third of the cigar has remained very smooth and mild and shown one impressive flavor shift. I’m getting a significant salted caramel note to accompany the creamy roasted nut. I’m reminded of a Payday candy bar…one of my favorites! I’m impressed.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“Wonderful is how I would describe this cigar at this point. The flavors are remaining balanced and the oak and wood with cinnamon and spice are tasty. The way this one has progressed has been great. Thoroughly enjoyable.” –Eric (smalls29)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 91
“The draw was a bit tight but not a big problem.” –Eric (smalls29)
Burn: 89
“The burn is excellent in this example of this cigar. Nearly razor sharp and cool from the initial light to the nub.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Construction: 92
“SOLID. No problems with the punch or with the end maintaining its shape between the thumb and forefinger.” –Eric (smalls29)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Light-Medium
Experience Overall: 87
“If the flavor profile, the strength, and complexity all sang in harmony, I could easily overlook the construction and appearance of this cigar…but…I cannot, simply because (to me) this wasn’t an enjoyable blend. Very one dimensional and not exciting. It could very well be that I had a bad one out of a very good batch but, there’s just no way to be sure.” –Jeff R. (JR)
“I am not a fan of mild cigars…they generally don’t keep my attention. This was an exception. The occasional flavor transitions, plus the excellent initial flavors were interesting and worthy of my time. This is something that I would highly recommend to any new smoker, or someone looking for a change of pace. Also, a perfect way to start a day. This cigar is one where the totality of the experience is greater than each of its parts…well done.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“Very nice. That is how I would describe this smoke. The pre-light smells of leather was a great start. The taste of oak and other wood were the highlight of this cigar. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and would enjoy some of these in the humidor. I wonder how it would pair with a scotch or good latte. A wonderful experience in my book.” –Eric (smalls29)
“The thing that intrigued me the most about this cigar was the fact that it was a very different cigar depending on how you like to smoke. It was a true Jekyll-Hyde. Slow smokers will get mild, delicate even, wood and citrus notes and fast smokers will have a spice bomb. If you pick your pace, you’ll get one flavor from start to finish, which I find boring.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 72
|
Reviewer
|
Appearance
|
Aroma
|
1/3
|
2/3
|
3/3
|
Draw
|
Burn
|
Constr.
|
Overall
Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff R. | 83 | 87 | 83 | 85 | 78 | 100 | 100 | 78 | 85 |
| Jason H. | 90 | 87 | 92 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 92 | 95 | 95 |
| Eric | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 85 | 90 | 92 | 90 |
| Isaac M. | 85 | 87 | 88 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 88 | 85 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.