cuppajack
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2006
- Messages
- 741
I recently discovered a new Tobacconistl; The Big Easy in the sub-valley enclave of Studio City (on Ventura Blvd across from Carnies for all the Angelinos.) I’d heard rumors that this joint had both regional releases from the Tatuaje Havana VI line, and not only was this true, but They had EVERY production Tat in ample supply. BOXES of RC184. Gran Conojus. Everything. As I pillaged their stock I noticed a large display of red-banded La Flor Dominicana sticks that I hadn’t seen before: the ‘Premium Line.’ This shop’s humidor was full of helpful hints and tips printed on P-touch tape a stuck next to the Prices on the boxes. Stuff like “Not for the weak” on the RC184 box and something snarky on the PAM boxes. There was a box of the LFD Especiales #3 that was labeled as “the best maduro in the humidor,” and with that kind of statement to which I could not say no. I think I paid $6.95 for the Dominican-made smoke, which felt like quite a bargain after dropping a c-note on elusive Tatuaje vitolas.
I pulled it out yesterday to see how it stacked up to some of my other favorite maduros and what a treat! I didn’t have my camera as I wasn’t expecting to review the smoke (when will I learn,) but the stick was a very nice size for an early evening smoke: about 5 inches long with a firm box-pressed just-sub 50-ring girth. The wrapper was a dark and oily brown with some veining and a perfect craftsman-quality roll. Clip and pre-light revealed some subtle sweet-tones and a high-note of spice. My mouth was watering as I torched it up.
The draw was perfect and the smoke plentiful and cool. The flavors were complex and very pleasing with notes of spice, coffee, earth, and molasses sweetness. It reminded me of a cross between a Mexican hot-cocco and and Hoyo Dark Sumatra and I loved every minute of it. The smoke reminded me of the Chiselito maddies that I’ve smoked, but with the ligero-tingle replaced with a creamy smoothness. It was an exceptionally silky medium-bodied smoke that delivered that LFD nic punch in the last 3rd and paired very well with my Sierra Nevada Summer Ale.
How’d it live up to it’s “best maduro in the humidor” promise? It was certainly damn-fine, more complex that the LGC Serie-R or Reserva lines, more robust and flavorful that the any of the AF green-bands, and I like the coffee-and-spice profile better than the Pepin blended 601 maduros. But what about the big-guns? The humidor didn’t include any Hemingway maddies so they don’t get to be compared, but I imagine that the PAMs and the ‘26s would be preferred by a lot of people. Of course you might pay twice as much for a PAM exclusivo and I think I’d rather smoke two of the LFDs. But Value wasn’t a part of the P-touch label’s claim… For my money I’d rather smoke an Ashton Aged Maduro, but regardless the AAMs and PAMs are great company to be in, and I would firmly put the LFD Premium Maduros amongst those pinnacle examples of maduro cigars.
I pulled it out yesterday to see how it stacked up to some of my other favorite maduros and what a treat! I didn’t have my camera as I wasn’t expecting to review the smoke (when will I learn,) but the stick was a very nice size for an early evening smoke: about 5 inches long with a firm box-pressed just-sub 50-ring girth. The wrapper was a dark and oily brown with some veining and a perfect craftsman-quality roll. Clip and pre-light revealed some subtle sweet-tones and a high-note of spice. My mouth was watering as I torched it up.
The draw was perfect and the smoke plentiful and cool. The flavors were complex and very pleasing with notes of spice, coffee, earth, and molasses sweetness. It reminded me of a cross between a Mexican hot-cocco and and Hoyo Dark Sumatra and I loved every minute of it. The smoke reminded me of the Chiselito maddies that I’ve smoked, but with the ligero-tingle replaced with a creamy smoothness. It was an exceptionally silky medium-bodied smoke that delivered that LFD nic punch in the last 3rd and paired very well with my Sierra Nevada Summer Ale.
How’d it live up to it’s “best maduro in the humidor” promise? It was certainly damn-fine, more complex that the LGC Serie-R or Reserva lines, more robust and flavorful that the any of the AF green-bands, and I like the coffee-and-spice profile better than the Pepin blended 601 maduros. But what about the big-guns? The humidor didn’t include any Hemingway maddies so they don’t get to be compared, but I imagine that the PAMs and the ‘26s would be preferred by a lot of people. Of course you might pay twice as much for a PAM exclusivo and I think I’d rather smoke two of the LFDs. But Value wasn’t a part of the P-touch label’s claim… For my money I’d rather smoke an Ashton Aged Maduro, but regardless the AAMs and PAMs are great company to be in, and I would firmly put the LFD Premium Maduros amongst those pinnacle examples of maduro cigars.
