Earlier this year I spent a month in Germany enjoying the country and the people from Nuremberg to the mountains on the french border. Yes it was cold and many nights it was hard to enjoy a good cigar. When I had time after work I would find myself in the Casa Del Habanos shop in Nuremberg and enjoyed quite a few Cuban varieties. One particular night though, I chose to fire up a Litto Gomez Diez Vintage 2015 Chisel that I received from La Flor Dominicana last year.
The Litto Gomez Diez Vintage series is a cigar that La Flor Dominicana releases every year using 4 year vintage Dominican tobacco. It is a true puro with Dominican Wrapper, Binder, and Filler. The La Flor Dominicana website states:
In 1999, we challenged ourselves to produce a cigar made entirely with tobacco grown on our farm. We knew it was a difficult task because it implied growing our own wrapper. The investment was big and the risk too, but the most difficult part was the waiting. The process of fermentation and aging took longer than expected, but the result was great. Today we can celebrate this great achievement. Every year we create a new vintage edition of our LG Dominican Puro, with four year old tobacco. The flavor and complexity of the LG’s are everything we anticipated. Enjoy these great cigars!
The 2015 vintage is available in 5 vitolas:
- Americano (5 3/4 x 46)
- Chisel Puro (5 1/2 x 54)
- Cubano (5 x 50)
- Lusitano (6 x 52)
- Oriental (4 7/8 x 38)
For this review I sampled the Chisel Puro, a cigar that is classic Litto from head to foot with a silky smooth, light brown toothy wrapper. There is just a few veins and the seams are noticeable. It is finished with the patented La Flor Dominicana chisel head. Using the proper pinch technique, taught by Litto, I open up the head and gave it a few cold draw puffs. Tasty fruit and earth address the palate.
I settle into the red leather, wing back chair in the lounge, and toast the foot with the house torch lighter. As it develops a a perfect orange glow I look around the lounge and think to myself how much I really like the atmosphere of the Casa Del Habanos lounge here in Nuremburg. It is one of those places I miss when I go home to Florida.
The opening draw, which is a bit tight to start, entices my palate with butter cream flavored smoke and a black pepper retro-hale as a solid medium grey ash develops. There is a bit of strength already rearing itself and all I can think of is; oh my another Litto power bomb. The ash held on for about an inch before falling and the burn is perfect so far.
Litto Gomez Diez Vintage
The foot of the Litto Gomez Diez Vintage is filling the air with a pleasant nutty aroma as a light spice enters the flavor profile. The strength continues to build as the draw opens up delivering an increased volume of smoke by the middle of the second third. Flavors have developed well by this point with notes of oak, cocoa, and coffee all wrapped up in a syrupy sweetness.
As it moves through the final third, the strength is peaking the meter. Damn it Litto! You did it to me again. I have smoked Cubans all week and this not only stands up to the best of those, but the Litto knows how to construct one strong cigar. Looking at this on the shelf you may think it is a mild smoke but don’t be fooled. Even if you are one who can handle strength you may want to eat a steak dinner before firing this up.
The flavors remain fairly consistent through the rest of the burn with a touch of earth entering near the end.
Overall, the Litto Gomez Diez Vintage 2015 is certainly a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The flavors are well-balanced and they transitioned nicely. The burn was perfect with no issues. This is a perfect cigar to enjoy after dinner with a nice dark espresso.
Litto Gomez Diez Vintage
A glass of GlenDronach 12yr. Was the perfect pairing. Great smoke, flavor and burn.