La Flor Dominicana 1994 Rumba

My Christmas break has officially begun and it is already off to a hectic start. We will be celebrating my first child’s sixth birthday this evening and then quickly moving into a long line-up of Christmas festivities. Before things get too crazy, I am squeezing in one last review for the year. Closing out the year for me at Casas Fumando, I bring to you the La Flor Dominicana 1994 Rumba.

The name of the cigar, “1994”, comes from the year Litto and Ines Gomez entered the cigar industry. However, it wasn’t until 1996 when La Flor Dominicana would open its doors in the Dominican Republic. According to La Flor Dominicana’s website:

We have set aside tobacco for years in anticipation of this very special blend to commemorate our 20th anniversary. The complex and powerful flavors of the 1994 originate from the best fillers and binder grown on our farm in the Dominican Republic and are complemented with a sweet and savory Mexican San Andrés wrapper. This blend is as special as the occasion it serves to commemorate and is symbolic of the quality and pride with which La Flor Dominicana has built its name.

Showcased at the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show, the 1994 is produced in Santiago, Dominican Republic in four regular production vitolas: Conga (5 by 52), Rumba (6 1/2 by 52), Aldaba (6 1/2 by 58), and Mambo (7 by 54). Additionally, a special edition beer stein was released containing twenty 6 by 54 cigars. Only 5000 beer steins were produced. Unlike the regular production cigars, the 1994 Beer Stein features a Mexican San Andres Maduro leaf.

THE FACTS

Price: $7.80
Vitola: Rumba
Size: 6 ½ by 52
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican

PRE-LIGHT

La Flor Dominicana’s 1994 wears a dark brown Mexican San Andres wrapper with a deep red hue. The leaf is full of dark splotching and tiny crisscrossing veins. There is really only one really noticeable vein that is stitch-like. The cigar is hefty in the hand and to the touch it has a cardboard feel to it. There is a very light layer of oils on this rock solid cigar with no soft spots to be found.

Bringing the La Flor Dominicana 1994 to my nose, a pungent aroma of vinegar greets me, followed by cherry and chocolate notes. The foot aroma is delightful with big notes of chocolate and graham cracker. Very dessert like. Cutting through the double cap, a draw with more resistance than preferred brings forward more of the chocolate flavor, a rich cedar, and a cinnamon spice.

FIRST THIRD

Medium to full flavors open up the 1994. Notes of musk, pencil shavings, and a bright pepper are the introductory favors. There is a strange fizzy sweetness that is reminding of the bottle cap candies and an unique floral essence. The cigar is burning with a minor wave as a white, layered ash is being formed. As I move the smoke through my sinuses, the pepper is intensified.

MIDDLE THIRD

The cola, fizzy sweetness is carrying the cigar along. The earlier flavors remain as a yeasty flavor has joined in that I find after I let the cigar rest for a few minutes between puffs. The floral essence is adding an edge to the flavors, but it nicely rounded out by the sweetness. A small section of the wrapper is lagging behind the rest of the burn. 

FINAL THIRD

The sweetness has departed the profile as I pull into the final third of the La Flor Dominicana 1994. There is now a strong pepper and char flavor. The floral essence can be found beneath these more dominant flavors. A small section of the wrapper is lifting from the cigar, which is probably due to the sub-zero temperatures outside, making my smoking area rather cold and dry. A quick touch-up is necessary to get the wrapper to burn in-line.

WRAP-UP

When the 1994 was first released in 2014, I was super excited about getting my hands on one. But like many other cigars, this one slipped between the cracks and it would be two additional years before I would finally get to light one up. Not only does the 1994 diversify the La Flor Dominicana’s portfolio, I found it to be a cigar that brings something new to the market. Sure, in appearance, it just looks like a typical cigar. But once lit, the 1994 delivers medium to full flavors with a very attention grabbing profile. The fizzy sweetness and floral essence add a level of depth and complexity to the cigar. Only one minor touch-up in the final third was required, which did not detract from the smoke. And a $7.80 price tag on the Rumba makes this a very approachable cigar and one that I would highly recommend.