Dominican Big Leaguer (DBL) – Formula – Cigar Review

What if Litto Gomez from La Flor Dominicana and Carlos Fuente from A Fuente were to collaborate on a new cigar from the Dominican Republic? You would get Dominican Big Leaguer (DBL) cigars – a cigar company forged from Passion, Love, and Experience. Now of course Litto and Carlos are not collaborating on a cigar, at least not that we know of, but Francisco Almonte is. Who is Francisco you ask? Well he is the founder of Dominican Big Leaguer cigars and had the distinct honor of working with two of the biggest cigar makers that we have come to revere over the years. He learned a lot from both and now has taken that combined knowledge in the formation of his own cigar company – Dominican Big Leaguer. So is the sum of the parts greater than the whole? Read on and you shall get the answer as Stogie Press reviews the new Formula 1 blend from Dominican Big Leaguer.

I was introduced to Dominican Big Leaguer cigars today by my friend  Jack Smink. Jack is the local independent representative for DBL and La Hoja cigars. He was excited about this new line and the new blends and wanted to get my view on them. I gladly accepted his invitation and we met up at one our local Brick and Mortars here in Melbourne, FL – Executive Cigar Lounge. As he showed me the presentation of the DBL cigar line,  he didn’t have to twist my arm to select a blend to smoke with him. I looked them over and selected the Formula.

The final game of the latest Red Sox/Yankees series was on the big screen so I had plenty of time to sample this new stick and what better way to enjoy a DBL cigar than to watch the Big League boys play as I relax with fellow Brothers of the Leaf. 

First and foremost, the Dominican Big Leaguer Formula is a power house of strength and flavor. It is not a cigar I would recommend to smoke on an empty stomach. The Formula is currently available in 1 vitola, the 6 1.8 x 54 Formula. I am told that DBL will be releasing a new vitola each year for 5 years though.

The DBL Face Book Page notes:

Our factory is located in Tamboril, a small town where its main activity is the manufacturing of cigars and perhaps most of the cigars rollers in the Dominican Republic come from this town

Before firing up the engine on the Formula, I did a complete examination of it. It is wrapped in a smooth dark brown Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and a grassy hay and red pepper scent on the foot. Looking under the hood I am told that it is constructed with a Dominican filler and binder.

The band is classic in nature and shows the definite influence of Francisco’s mentor – Litto Gomez. Instead of going through a description I will just show a photo of it since it easily was removed from the cigar which is something I personally like. It is finished with a red satin foooter band to round things out.

I sliced the cap and prepared it to be fired up. It was time for a few test run dry draws which offered a well rolled draw and a sweet fermented tobacco flavor that blended well with a red pepper tingle on the lips.

Now that the Formula  has passed all the pre-checks, it was time to fire it up and take it for a spin. I warmed the foot with my single flame torch lighter and then drew in the first few puffs that hit me with heavy pepper and an undertone of coffee,  The pepper hits the throat and nasals to start clearing the nose for the flavors that are about to develop.  The pepper is does not diminish quickly and stays strong through the first inch or so of the burn.The ash is medium gray and on the first lap the ash held for just over an inch.

The pepper finally begins to settle down as the ash fell and there is this sweet aroma coming off the foot.

As it goes through the second lap the Formula offers up a cedar note that stays well through the 2nd lap along with a touch of spicy fruit flavors that come and go as if it was shifting back and forth through gears on the turns.

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The cedar comes back in for the final lap while the spice continues to deliver a consistent background flavor component.  The ash this time has stuck solid for most of the burn and I have to say both Jack and I were impressed.  The flavor profile remained for the rest of the burn with cedar, spice, and fruit  dancing on the palate. The strength slowly inched up throughout the burn and was a solid full throttle by the end giving me a bit of a woozy feeling from this amazing ride.

Overall the Formula is a winner in my book and is surely one to contend for the 2015 Stogie Press top 25 at the end of the year. I look forward to sampling the additional blends from Francisco Almonte and Dominican Big Leaguer.