Flor del Valle is a line of cigars introduced by Warped Cigars at the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show.  Flor del Valle marked the first venture that Warped Cigars would collaborate with Casa Fernandez’s TABSA factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.  As a part of this collaboration, Warped Cigars would also be able to use Casa Fernanez’s Aganorsa tobacco to produce a Nicaraguan puro. Earlier this year, Warped Cigars announced a special limited production off-shoot of the Flor del Valle called the Sky Flower.  The Sky Flower differs from the rest of the Flor del Valle line in that it incorporates some of Aganorsa’s prized high priming medio tiempo primings into the blends.  Recently, I’ve had an opportunity to sample the Flor del Valle Sky Flower. Warped Cigars has certainly been a company on the rise in the past 12 months – and the Sky Flower is another outstanding release that certainly validates what Warped is doing.

Medio tiempo one of the highest priming leafs that only grows on a small percentage of tobacco plants. Being medio tiempo is a high priming leaf, it is a leaf that gets the most sunlight and nutrients, so it tends to produce a fuller strength, fuller-bodied cigar.  Given this grows on a small percentage, this leads to a limited production of the Sky Flower.

Without further ado, let’s break down the Flor del Valle Sky Flower and see what this cigar brings to the table.

Blend Profile

The Flor del Valle Sky Flowe uses a similar profile to the rest of the Flor del Valle line, but as mentioned, it incorporates the high priming medio tiempo.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Jalapa Corojo 99
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan Corojo 99 and Criollo 98
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (TABSA)

Vitolas Available

The Flor del Valle Sky Flower will be a 5 5/8 x 48 Gran Corona. It will be packaged differently from the rest of the line in that it will come in 10 count boxes (as opposed to 25 count boxes for the other frontmarks in the line).

For reference purposes, we list the other three vitolas of the Flor del Valle line, but these do not use the high priming medio tiempo.

Las Brumas: 4 1/2 x 48
Cristales: 6 x 42
Gran Valle: 5 1/2 x 50

Appearance

The Sky Flower’s Corojo 99 wrapper has a mix of dark caramel and colorado red coloring.  There was a light coating of oil on the wrapper’s surface.  Overall, I considered the surface of the wrapper to be smooth. There were also some visible veins, but most of the wrapper seams were well hidden.

The Sky Flower shares is similar to the rest of the Flor del Valle line.  It is a band of mostly gold and black design with some sky blue mixed in.   Sitting on the center of the band is a black ring.  Going around that ring is the text “FLOR DEL VALLE HECHO A MANO”.  There are also two sky blue seashell like designs on the left and side.  Each has a gold stripe with the text “WARPED” on it.

Preparation for the Cigar Experience

Before I fired up the Sky Flower, I went with my usual selection of a straight cut to remove the cap.  Once the cap was removed, I proceeded with the pre-light draw.  The dry draw delivered a mix of cedar sweet-spice, oak, nut, and some pepper spice.  Overall I considered the pre-light draw of this cigar to be excellent.  At this point I was ready to light up the Flor del Valle Sky Flower and await what the smoking phase would deliver.

Flavor Profile

The start to the Flor del Valle Sky Flower provided a mix of red pepper, natural tobacco sweetness, and nut.  There also was a subtle mesquite woody note present.  It wasn’t like a fire-cured note, but it definitely created an interesting dynamic in the flavor profile.   Meanwhile the retro-hale provided a mix of black and pepper.

During the first third the natural tobacco sweetness and nut were the primary notes. I found the both of these flavors to alternate in intensity.  The red pepper notes were a close secondary note while the mesquite notes remained on the subtle end – and distant

Late in the second third, the nut flavors morphed to more of wood and oak flavors.  Meanwhile, the natural tobacco notes remained in the forefront.  Going through the final third, these notes continued, but the red pepper increased.  As the cigar came to a close, while the red pepper was more prominent, it never overpowered the palate.  In addition, there was no harshness at the end of this cigar.  The Sky Flower finished with an ideal nub – firm to the touch and cool in temperature.

Burn and Draw

The construction of the Flor del Valle Sky Flower was top notch.  This is not surprising because last year, we awarded the Casa Fernandez operation (which includes TABSA) the 2014 Cigar Coop Factory of the Year award.  The burn and draw reflected this excellent construction.

The burn remained on a straight path with a sharp burn line for most of the cigar experience.  There were some occasional touch-ups along the way.  The resulting ash had a silver-gray color to it.  The ash was firm and came off the cigar in nice clean chunks.  The burn rate and burn temperature were ideal.

The draw was also excellent.  It had a touch of resistance – something that I think makes the draw ideal.  Most importantly, I found this to be a low maintenance cigar to derive flavor from.

Strength and Body

Overall, I did find the incorporation of the medio tiempo to impact the strength and body of the Flor del Valle Sky Flower blend.  What I also loved is how both attributes progressed throughout the smoking experience – while at the same time maintaining a nice balance.

The Sky Flower started out as a medium strength, medium-bodied cigar.  By the middle of the first third, this cigar was in the medium to full range for both attributes.  Gradually both attributes continued to built up, and by the last third, both crossed into the full range.

Final Thoughts

The Sky Flower was an excellent cigar from start to finish.  It delivered a nice mix of flavors – and I really enjoyed how the strength and body evolved along the way.  I’ve tasted other Casa Fernandez offerings that utilize medio tiempo in the blend.  Cigars such as the Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva and Viaje Exclusivo Leaded are just two cigars that have showcased the richness that the medio tiempo has to offer.  Now Warped Cigars’ Sky Flower can be added to that list.

The addition of the Sky Flower puts a fuller cigar in terms of strength and body into the Warped Cigars’ portfolio.  As a result, I’d probably steer this to a more seasoned cigar enthusiast.  As for myself, this is a cigar I’d easily smoke again.  It is easily worthy of a box purchase.

Summary

Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium (Start), Medium to Full, Full (Last Third)
Body: Medium (Start), Medium to Full, Full (Last Third)
Finish: Excellent
Assessment: 4.0 – Box Worthy
Score: 92

References

News: Flor del Valle Sky Flower to be Launched by Warped Cigars
Price: $12.50
Source: Gifted
Stogie Geeks Podcast: Episode 145
Stogie Feed:Flor del Valle Sky Flower by Warped Cigars