One of many things I can say about Francisco Almonte, owner of Dominican Big Leaguer (DBL) Cigars, is he knows how to make some awesome looking cigars. The man was trained by some of the best in the industry before he branched out on his own a number of years ago. Besides his core line of cigars, he has been well known in the industry for making baseball bat vitolas which shows his love for the game and the art of creating a cigar itself.
The company describes its mission as:
“Our mission is to craft premium cigars that will exceed the expectations of today’s most discerning cigar smoker. DBL by Francisco Almonte is about Passion, Love and Experience”
At the 2019 PCA trade show, DBL Cigars showcased the latest in craftsmanship, the DBL Tamo Lindo El Amarillo Fancy Belicoso. Based off the original Amarillo blend, the Fancy Belicoso is just that – Fancy. It’s a box pressed belicoso with a barber pole double wrapper of San Andres Maduro and Connecticut Shade, that is expertly constructed and beautiful to look at. So beautiful, you may not even want to turn it to ash. The term “Tamo Lindo” translates into “we are beautiful”.
The full blend of the DBL Tamo Lindo El Amarillo Fancy Belicoso is described as:
- Wrapper – Mexican San Andres and USA Connecticut Shade
- Binder – Dominican
- Filler – Dominican
Expressed in a single 5.625 x 54 box pressed vitola, the DBL Tamo Lindo El Amarillo Fancy Belicoso comes packaged in 20-count boxes and carry’s an MSRP of $8.95/cigar.
Pre-Light Examination
As I mentioned, the DBL Tamo Lindo El Amarillo Fancy Belicoso is a gorgeous cigar and looks alone are enough to impress you when you see this cigar on a shelf. It has a tan and dark brown brown barber pole style wrapping and the box press has crisp edges. The cap is expertly applied using both the San Andres and Connecticut leaf in a thin strips. I found no soft spots along the barrel and it seems to be well packed with a decent weight in the hand.
There are two bands that adorn the cigar. The primary band uses a red, gold, and cream motif, with the DBL logo prominently displayed in the middle and the phrase “By Francisco Almonte” underneath. The secondary band is just below and declares this a the “AMARILLO”
As I turned on my aroma sensors, I picked up a DBL Cigars signature cinnamon raisin note along barrel and the foot exuded cinnamon and butter toast off the foot. It reminded me of the breakfast toast my mother used to make for us when we were kids. Thank you Francisco for bringing back a memory of my mother.
I sliced the cap with a double blade cutter at a 45 degree angle, as I do with all belicosos and torpedo style vitolas, and drew in a few cold puffs. The draw was spot on with restriction and offered enticing notes of raisin and spice. I could cold puff this for quite a while.
It was time to fire it up and I did so by using a dual flame torch lighter. The foot took to the flame well and the journey to turn this one to ash was on its way, with initial notes of butter and spice.
Cigar Review Notes
- Right off the first puff I picked up butter and spice
- Floral aromas are already filling the air around me
- The draw was a tad tight so I adjusted the cut a notch
- Full volume of smoke was filling the palate
- A light grey ash forms on a thin and straight char line
- Coffee notes enter near the end of the first third
- Moving into the second third a mouth watering citrus note entered
- Caramel apple notes follow along
- Aroma shifts to more fruit
- Long ash finally falls revealing a well defined burn cone
- A mild wave in the burn starts midway
- Sweet cream notes enter deep in the second third
- Burn evens out with no touch up
- Profile slowly morphs into a savory spice in the final third
- A small crack in the wrapper appeared at the end
- Mild to Medium in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 15 minutes down to the nub
Overall, the DBL Tamo Lindo El Amarillo Fancy Belicoso is an excellent line extension to the highly rated Amarillo series from the company. Starting with the excellent craftsmanship to the smooth and enticing flavors and aromas from the foot to the nub. It did develop a slight wave in the burn midway but that eventually corrected itself and there was a small wrapper crack in the final third. This is most certainly box worthy and I rate this a 96. It is a perfect morning cigar to pair with a sweet cup of espresso.
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild Wave Midway; (-1) Small Wrapper crack in final third
Bonus Point: (+1) Buy a Box; (+1) Long Ash
Great cigar