LFD Double Ligero Especiales Oscuro Natural

This is my first attempt at a review, but I couldn't resist attempting to describe this stick.

Just finished smoking one of these that I got a couple days ago.
It is a 6 7/8 x 49 with a double pigtail. Looked pretty neat and you wonder how the rollers can tie the end like that.

It was firmly rolled and had that wonderful, slightly sweet aroma of the oscuro natural wrapper. The oil almost dripped of the stick. The prelight draw was firm, just as I like. It lit easily and produced a lot of nice smoke. It burned absolutely evenly right to the nub with a good ash that was gray/white and stayed on for at least 2 inches.

The slight earthy sweetness of the oscuro natural wrapper stayed with the smoke to the end. There were woody flavors that came in about half way, but never any harshness and I nubbed this cigar. Got some pepper/spice in the last half.

I think that I am becoming am LFD whore with these oscuro natural wrappers.
I think that these may be better than the L300s with the oscuro natural wrapper.

Great review, Lou. I absolutely love the LFD Ligero Oscuro Naturals...have not smoked the Double Ligero Especiale. My guy down here does not have them. I think all of these oscuro natural wrapped cigars are going to age very nicely.

Take my advice: buy two boxes, one of which you put away and age for at least 3 years. I'm betting you will be richly rewarded.

Spoke to Paul at AtlanticCigar last week and they don't have the Especiales yet. Gave Ron at SeriousCigars a call and he is planning an LFD evevnt for the store; so, he just got a few bundles of the Especiales in for the event. After a little cajoling, he agreed to send me one of the bundles. I think that moki has it right; so, more of these (L300 and Especiales) will be going into the humi!

What does LFD stand for?

Pyre said:

What does LFD stand for?

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La Flor Dominicana... the cigar company owned by Litto Gomez.

Check website JackSchwartz and found out a box of 20 (mind you, not the usual 25) run 150. Too darn rich for my thin blood. Whoosh by SeriousCigars and it is a little better - 135 - but OOS. I guess I will be patient like an eagle waiting for a sale and swoop in to catch me that big fish...

Draper's has them for $8 a stick. Not sure on the box price.

The x00's are the same wrapper and line; why not get in on our group buy?

Welllll, they are not exactly the same line. The x00s are the Ligero series and the Especiales are the Double Ligero series. It appears that the wrappers and binders are different between the two lines. I think that there are also differences in the blends of the filler used for each, but I haven't been able to find any info on that yet. I have a vague recollection of reading a review/interview, but I can't find it. The older you get, the fewer neurons you have that still connect :sign:

LouieD said:

Welllll, they are not exactly the same line. The x00s are the Ligero series and the Especiales are the Double Ligero series. It appears that the wrappers and binders are different between the two lines. I think that there are also differences in the blends of the filler used for each, but I haven't been able to find any info on that yet. I have a vague recollection of reading a review/interview, but I can't find it. The older you get, the fewer neurons you have that still connect :sign:

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Ah, i didn't realize the especialles were DOUBLE ligero. I stand corrected.

LouieD was kind enough to send me a few of the LFD Double Ligero Especiales Oscuro Natural cigars that he cajoled the guys at SeriousCigars into selling him. Thanks, Lou. I went down to my local tobacconist's, got comfortable in the lounge, and lit this cigar up. Here is what I thought.

LFB Double Ligero Especiales Oscuro Natural

Just as Lou described, this is a beautiful cigar. The dark Ecuadoran wrapper practically drips with oil. The cigar was rolled seamlessly and the double pigtail was expertly applied (How do they do that?) There was one major vein that ran the length of the cigar, but it just seemed to add to the overall appearance of the stick. The prelight nose was very earthy with strong coffee and some sweetness mixed in. The pre-light draw was slightly firm, but promising.

I put the cigar to the torch and it lit very easily. The draw immediately opened up to the open side of firm...just about right for this length cigar. Each puff coaxed mouthfuls of thick smoke from the cigar, just perfect for smoke rings . I am constantly amazed at how even these dark, oily wrappers burn. Straight as an arrow throughout. Had one instance where the cigar went out one me and one instance where the wrapper did not want to burn following ashing. Quick doctoring with the torch and I was in business again. The ash was a very light gray color and firm, staying on the cigar an inch to inch-and-a-half at a time. The cigar got a bit hot near the back end and I was only able to smoke it to about 1 1/2 inches. Well constructed cigar, though I believe age will improve the burning properties of the oily wrapper even more.

The taste, now this was something else. Upon lighting, I got the most intense pepper flavors I have EVER experienced on a cigar. My mouth literally felt as if someone had poured Tobasco in it. This cigar had an incredibly spicy beginning and did not let up until about 1/2 into the smoke. Once it did, it mellowed out into some very intense espresso flavors...much like a triple shot. There was earth mixed into the flavors as well, but it just seemed to add a raw sweetness to the profile. The flavors began to fade a bit near the mid-point, the espresso dropping off a bit as the smoke mellowed. Near the end, it picked up a stronger earthy component, but the heat tended to mask many of the finishing flavors.

I just not sure about this cigar. I can see moments of brilliance trying to come forward, but it just couldn't quite get there. I think some time in the humidor is going to vastly improve this cigar's flavor profile and should help with the minor burn problems that I experienced. I think something worthy of noting is that these came in a bundle to be used for a cigar event and were packed in cellophane. The Ligeros are not and I don't think these will be sold in this manner. That alone kind of points to the youngness of the cigars. For now, I must rate this cigar on its own merits, not on what I believe it will become. Between the intense spice (and I like spicy foods, etc.) and the burn problems, I rate it a B-. That said, I can't wait to smoke another in about 3-6 months, once they've had time in the humi. :thumbs:

Scot, another great review. I'm going to go smoke one on the deck from the bundle this morning.