La Flor Dominicana (LFD) Solis Review

La Flor Dominicana, known affectionately throughout the cigar world by the LFD acronym pervasive in its packaging, is without doubt one of the most successful tobacco companies in the world when it comes to the release of special edition and limited production cigars. One need only cite the example of the Andalusian Bull, a cigar that even years after winning Cigar Aficionado’s prestigious cigar of the year award remains almost unobtainable due to overwhelming consumer demand.

Behind the Bull, however, are many other special offerings that pad out LFD’s portfolio. Among these is the LFD La Nox, a delightfully dark Brazilian-wrapped cigar for which the author of this blog possesses an unapologetic affinity. The La Nox also started a family tradition, as it was created by brand founder and patriarch Litto Gomez’s son, Tony Gomez.

Now, LFD has released what could be called a complement blend to the La Nox, dubbed the La Flor Dominicana Solis. The brainchild of Gomez’s younger son, Litto Jr., the Solis is supposed to be everything the La Nox isn’t. Brighter, more spice-forward and draped with a sun-grown Habano wrapper, the Solis is clearly intended to be the day to the La Nox’s night (a metaphor that is quite evident in the name chosen for the cigar). Even the Solis’ box echoes the extremely unique round box that houses the La Nox.

Needless to say, I’m quite excited. While I doubt I’ll enjoy the Solis as much as the La Nox due to the fact that the latter just fits my flavor preferences better, I have high hopes for the cigar on its own merits.

Critical Stats

• Vitola: Toro
• Size: 6.5×50
• Wrapper: Sun Grown Ecuadorian Habano
• Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
• Filler: Dominican
• Strength: Medium bordering on medium-full at times
• Smoking Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

First Third

Beginning this La Flor Dominicana Solis review with a cold draw, I find a fairly indistinct flavor. A bit of pepper and leather, but nothing really coming through clearly. What is pretty apparent is that the draw is quite tight. This remains true even after making a second cut, so I go ahead and light the cigar up to see if it will loosen as it smokes.

The initial puffs do bring that vague leather note from the cold draw into much clearer resolution, accompanied by a bready background and spice notes consisting of both pepper and cloves. Not a bad start, though I can’t say I’m overwhelmed. In large part, this is due to the fact that I can’t get a decent draw. Not long into the cigar I try a third cut, but find no benefit from doing so.

Approaching the middle of the first third, the LFD Solis really begins to struggle in terms of both its draw and flavor. I’m starting to get some unpleasant bitter notes, and getting smoke to come through the cigar to my mouth is turning into a real chore. The good news is that the sharp bitterness does recede pretty quickly, and the flavor resolves into a mix of toast, creamy coffee and that seemingly consistent pepper. I pull my cutter out once more for a fourth cut. The reader will, I’m sure, be shocked to learn that this does not produce the desired result.

From here on, the bitter tones come and go, though they never get as sharp as they were when they initially showed up. Absent these odd moments of bitterness, the cigar doesn’t have an unpleasant flavor at all. I would, however, describe it as pretty simplistic. The pepper at this point is fading into the background a bit, while cream, bread and an undefined woodiness make up the central taste of the cigar. Again, not bad, but hardly what I would have expected from a special release from LFD.

Very near the end of the first third, things finally begin to come together. The draw opens up somewhat, though its still far from what I’d call an easy smoke. At the same time, the bready note takes on a much more discernable brioche-like quality that’s fairly pleasant. Coffee also comes to the forefront, and the pepper provides a nice balance between these flavors. It’s still a long way from what I’d call a complex smoke, but at least we’re moving in the right direction.

Second Third

The notes as described at the end of the first third largely describe the second third of this cigar. Brioche toastiness continues, but the coffee note gradually fades until it becomes almost imperceptible toward the end of the second third. The pepper, likewise, also continues its gradual march toward the back of the line. Some cedar and a modest hint of tobacco sweetness do show up, but without much else to offer, the cigar’s flavor becomes dull and honestly fairly boring.

I also continue to struggle with the draw. It’s better than in the first third, but I never really feel like I’m getting a good smoking experience here.

Final Third

In a Cigarchive first, I have taken no notes on this third because effectively nothing changes. This leaves me feeling that this La Flor Dominicana Solis review is somewhat incomplete, but the cigar itself presented me with nothing new to report. That dull flavor from the tail end of the second third remains, and I’d be lying if I said this last third was at all engaging.

La Flor Dominicana Solis Review and Final Thoughts

Flavor

Excluding the bitterness in the first third that I’m pretty sure had something to do with how hard I was having to work to smoke the cigar, the Solis doesn’t have an unpleasant flavor. Bread, pepper, leather, coffee and some cedar make for a decent combination. The flavor is, however, quite dull. I can think of many other cigars that accomplish basically the same thing, and there’s really nothing about the Solis that stands out to me. This cigar also struck me as extremely simple, as the second and especially final third offered virtually no variation to keep me engaged.

Construction

This is easily where the Solis is weakest. Granting that the cigar I smoked for this review was probably worse than most, I’ve talked to a couple of other people who’ve tried this release and heard somewhat similar complaints. Even after cutting the cigar four separate times and massaging the hell out of it in between, I found myself unable to get anything I could describe as a decent draw.

Value

The Solis isn’t terribly expensive. The cigar I smoked for this review was a little over $13, which is far from a bad deal for an LFD special release. Even in these days of rising cigar prices, however, I expect better for that amount of money. With a fairly flat flavor profile and poor construction, I can’t really say I got my money’s worth on this one.

Final Verdict

3/10

The fact that I’m ending this La Flor Dominicana Solis review by giving it such a low rating honestly shocks me. I pretty much knew I wouldn’t love it as much as the La Nox, but the Solis proved to be a major disappointment. The biggest problem by far was the exceptionally tight draw, which made the cigar very, very difficult to smoke. Even ignoring the construction and value issues, though, the flavor profile was quite flat and never presented me with anything to really pique my interest. This is one I may revisit to give it a second shot at a better rating. For now, the Solis earns a 3/10 by falling short of the mark in every rating category.