Leaf Speak
December 2020
La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull
Vitola: Figurado (6 ½, 64 RG)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Origin Country: Dominican Republic
Average Price: 15 USD
Visual / Pre-light Draw
The Andalusian Bull sports a beautiful, milk-chocolate colored wrapper and a nice oil sheen. The band is a gorgeous dark green with gold trim that would be right at home in a room full of rich mahogany and leather-bound books (thanks Mr. Burgundy). No defects are observed during the visual inspection, and the cigar feels like its construction is on point. The shape is interesting, and its size forces me to set aside around two hours to fully enjoy this beauty; something I intend on doing as the Andalusian Bull is critically acclaimed; it won the #1 Cigar of 2016 from Cigar Aficionado, and is not the easiest to come by (at least around my parts). Notes of leather, cereal, and wood dominate the pre-light draw and excite my senses as to what the body of the cigar has in store.
First Third
I begin to toast the foot and an enjoyable aroma fills the room, lighting up my olfactory senses like a dry Christmas tree. As I take my first draw, the creamy earthiness of a lightly roasted coffee bean touches my palate and I find myself nodding my head in agreement with something, but I’m not quite sure what. Notes of leather, wood, lightly roasted coffee, and grains encompass the first third and combine to make an enjoyable introductory experience.
Second / Final Third
I had high hopes for the second third as I expected a more complex demonstration of the notes present in the first. I was sadly disappointed. There was little to no change in the intensity or complexity of the notes and a feeling of boredom began to overtake the session.
The closing of the cigar was much like the opening. The same notes bombarded my palate for the entire session and offered limited excitement and joy beyond the first half hour. I’m not sure if this is a case of hype ruining the experience, but I did not get what I was expecting. For the price and time it can take to hunt down one of these, I do believe both would be better off spent elsewhere, even another LFD blend, as I’ve enjoyed many of their other offerings. In short, I would not buy another one of these and definitely would not purchase a box. But if you enjoy a relatively accessible cigar with limited complexity and a quality burn, this may be for you. As for my requirements, the Andalusian Bull does not meet them.
The Pairing:
I decided to pair the Andalusian Bull with a dram of Oban 14, a delicious West Highland malt. I didn’t think a peaty Laphroaig or Port Charlotte would complement the blend much and wanted to let the cigar do the driving. Notes of dried fruit, light smoke, brine, and honey hit the palate with each sip and the whisky complemented the body of the cigar quite well. While the cigar was underwhelming, this malt raised the spirits of the session and stole the show. I did enjoy this pairing, but if I ever was to consume another Andalusian Bull, I would enjoy it with a White Russian or black coffee made with exceptional beans.