La Flor Dominicana
Oscuro Especial

{by David Savona, reprinted in part, Cigar Insider: February 22, 2005}

La Flor Dominicana has created a new way to treat a tobacco wrapper leaf, which naturally darkens and sweetens Ecuadorian Sumatra. The leaf is being used on one cigar already and will soon be appearing on several sizes of La Flor Dominicana cigars.

"The taste is more intense. There's a new level of taste I've never tasted in Ecuador Sumatra," said Litto Gomez, the creator of the process and the co-owner of La Flor Dominicana. I visited Gomez's factory in Tamboril , Dominican Republic , in early February and watched as Gomez and a supervisor showed me the process, which they requested I keep secret. What I can tell you is that it darkens the color of a tobacco leaf, turning what once was a light, reddish brown to a near black hue, and evens the color as well as intensifies the oils. It also changes the flavor.

"The spiciness goes," said Gomez, sitting in his office. "It becomes all sweet."

 

The first cigar made using this process that you can buy is the La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Especial , which is only available at La Flor Dominicana rolling events. The cigar measures 7 inches long with a 48 ring gauge, and has a suggested retail price of $7.50.

Gomez first started selling Especials in November, but they didn't have the new wrapper style and looked more like his Double Ligeros. A few weeks later, he started doing events with the cigar in the darker wrapper, which he has dubbed Oscuro Natural. (The original Especials are no longer being sold.)