Origin: Dominican Republic
Format: Chisel
Size: 6.5 x 54
Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
Filler: Dominican Republic
Binder: Dominican Republic
Price: $8.50
La Flor Dominicana owner Litto Gomez has become known as a cigar maker that eagerly bucks tradition with his nearly unbridled creativity. The Air Bender Chisel is no exception with its flattened and tapered head that never fails to remind me of my clarinet playing years in high school.
Appearance: 4/5 stars
The deep brown Ecuadorian wrapper has a nice oily sheen with a few medium sized veins. Tapering in smoothly without any visible folds or buckles, the head of the cigar looks very neat. Oil from the wrapper visibly rose to the surface and formed a very slight bead as the flame licked the foot.
Construction: 2.5/5 stars
Perhaps the most interesting attribute of this cigar is its heft. This cigar is densely packed with tobacco and has no apparent lumps; however, the draw remained slightly restricted even after enlarging the opening on the head. The tapered head concentrated the smoke as expected, but smoke production was lacking slightly.
Flavor: 3.5/5
The Air Bender Chisel has an aggressive flavor and body from the first draw. Dark roasted coffee, cocoa, and spice pierce the palate, leaving an oily and robust pepper finish that doesn’t fade. The flavors are crisp and fresh; however, the abundance of spice made the task of discovering nuance nearly impossible.
Value: 4/5
The chisel burns slowly and provides ample enjoyment to the smoker for eight dollars. As any cigar in this price point should, the Air Bender burned cool until the last few inches without turning bitter.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 stars
The La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Chisel offers vivid and pleasantly crisp flavors along with a full body. It’s a perfect cigar for admirers of clean bold flavors that leave no guesswork for the smoker; however, the slightly labored draw and superfluous spice make this a cigar lacking depth.