Rustic and almost mean-looking, today we will be smoking the limited edition La Flor Dominicana N.A.S., which falls into the cheroot vitola category. Cheroot derives from the French word ‘she-root,’ meaning a roll of tobacco — these small smokes have a cylindrical shape, and both ends are clipped during manufacture.
These cigars were released in November 2013, when only 50 boxes of 20 were made available. This little powerhouse comes cloaked in a coffee bean-colored Ecuadorian wrapper and is packed with an all-Dominican Pelo De Oro Ligero blend.
The inspiration behind the N.A.S.’s name is not so subtle — rumor has it the cigar’s creator Litto Gomez referred to the N.A.S. as “Nasty A** S***” during the fine-tuning of the blending process.
Rarity lies in the cigar’s individualistic band — a departure from La Flor’s typical approach, which sees only a few different band styles rolled out across their lines. The basic red and black contrast makes the ‘LFD’ difficult to read against the dark background, but the wrapper’s scattering of veins and exposed seams add a certain charm.
Some might compare the primitive look of the LA Flor Dominicana N.A.S. to a boxing journeyman. It’s had to weather a few storms and looks to have taken a few punches, but it refuses to budge, gallantly standing and swinging. Could it deliver a knockout smoking experience, or would it leave a nasty taste in my mouth?
Brand Overview
Founded in Santiago, Dominican Republic by Litto and Ines Gomez, La Flor Dominicana Cigars caught the flames of the cigar boom in the middle of the 1990s. Known for their innovative shapes, they pride themselves on offering some of the Dominican’s most full-bodied and full-flavored cigars.
Expertly handcrafted at La Flor’s factory, they use tobaccos grown on the company’s farm in nearby La Canela. Their rich flavors and inventive attitude to the cigar industry have seen this highly-respected boutique brand receive multiple awards.
The highlight is the La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull, landing the number one spot in Cigar Aficionado’s coveted top 25 selection in 2016. Bold and savory with potent hits of hickory and leather, it’s another La Flor to add to your ’must-try’ list.
Cigar specs
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Strength: Medium-Full
- Wrapper: Ecuador
- Binder: Dominican Republic
- Filler: Dominican Republic
- Smoking Time: 55 minutes
- Sizes Available: La Flor Dominicana N.A.S (5.5 x 38)
Cold draw
The tip of the N.A.S. is pre-cut, enabling me to get to the chase by enjoying a few dry draws. While the wrapper has a whiff of leather, the cold draw delivers woody and grassy notes in great harmony, while white pepper laces the lips and tongue.
First Third
The prominent nicotine blast during the first third quickly substantiated that this wasn’t a smoke for an empty stomach. There’s no time to brace yourself as the Ligero tobacco black pepper created a strong, spicy opening. The tobacco is rich in every puff, with lighter tones of earth and a cedar sweetness kicking in after around 10% of burning.
Like the pre-light draw, white pepper lingered on the finish, awakening my tastebuds even further.
Second Third
Things got even sweeter in the second third, but the pepper spice remained. The draw was excellent — not too loose, not too strong, with full flavors of coffee, cedar sweetness, leather, and black pepper delivering a mighty middle.
There was a nib of nuttiness on the nose as the N.A.S. continued to deliver flavor and strength.
Final Third
A creamy sweetness topped off my N.A.S. smoking experience, which clocked in at just under the hour mark. A bitter green leafy quality caused intrigue, with bountiful notes of black cherry, earth, coffee, and spice.
The pepper hits were still lurking in the shadows, most notably on the finish and retrohale.
Conclusion
Once you know you can stomach its strength, the La Flor Dominicana N.A.S. is an impressively flavorful smoke. Although I wouldn’t recommend it for everyday puffing, it’s complex and delicious enough to revisit from time to time.
If your palate is craving a spice bomb elevated by its generous surprise of sweetness, this cheroot cigar is perfect for lighting up after a hearty meal.
Limited-edition cigars this good don’t hang around for long, so don’t hesitate to pick up a box of 20 La Flor Dominicana N.A.S. from cigars.com today.