La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Maduro TAA Exclusive
The Tobacconist Association of America was founded in 1968 with the goal of providing an open forum of communication and problem solving for tobacconist. The requirements to become a member of the TAA are so rigorous that only select shops in the nation meet the criteria. One of the benefits of being a member of this exclusive organization is access to limited release cigars. One of these exclusive cigars is the La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Maduro. While the traditional Airbender is readily available in other cigar shops, The Maduro variety of the cigar is a very limited release. The Torpedo size of the Air Bender Maduro is only available to members of the TAA making it a very exclusive cigar. Since Emerson’s Cigars is a member of this illustrious organization, we are able to get our hands on the delicious La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Maduro.
Pre-light notes: From the beginning, this cigar earns the right to be an exclusive. The Brazilian Maduro wrapper immediately entices the smoker with its dark chocolate shade. The construction of the cigar is perfect with minimal veins and no soft spots. Upon cutting the Air Bender Maduro and testing the draw, I am greeted with an easy draw and subtle note of pepper and dark chocolate.
First Third: Upon lighting the cigar my taste buds are immediately hit with the La Flor signature of strong pepper notes. The pepper notes in the beginning wake up my taste buds so that I will be able to truly enjoy the subtle complexities that are sure to come out of the cigar. After the initial pepper shock, I begin to pick up earthy and coca notes with a slight dark chocolate finish on the retohale. The ash is solid with a beautiful shade of grey and the burn is nice and even.
Second Third: By this point, the notes of pepper have dissipated out of the cigar leaving me with a very rich, smooth and complex smoke. The earthy and coca trends that presented themselves at the end of the first third have become more pronounced. The flavors of the cigar have also become more concentrated, which can be attributed to the torpedo shape of the cigar.
Last Third: The flavor profile of the final third of the cigar is very similar to the second third. All of the flavors found in the second third of the cigar are found in the final portion of the cigar.
Overall the LFD Air Bender Maduro is a superb full bodied cigar that deserves to be a TAA exclusive. The cigar contained all of the qualities that have made La Flor Dominicana a staple in most humidors; while the Brazilian Maduro wrapper makes it stand out from the rest of the line as a unique smoking experience.
The La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Maduro is available at all five Hampton Roads Emerson’s locations, as well as online at emersonscigars.com.
