Late in 2019 came word of a new installment of the La Flor Dominicana Small Batch Series. The Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch series was first introduced by La Flor Dominicana back in 2006. This was a limited release Dominican puro that used the concept of taking the best tobaccos from company owner Litto Gomez’s La Canela farm from a single crop year. When the cigar was announced it was branded the Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch 2019 edition. However, on the box it is packaged in, it is labeled Litto Gomez Small Batch No. 7 (which is the next number in the sequence of the release). To make it a little more confusing, this is technically the eighth release of the line (there was a Small Batch No. 4 and a Small Batch No. 4 Oscuro).  Today we take a closer look at Litto Gomez Small Batch No. 7.

When we reviewed the Small Batch No. 4, we compared how taking tobacco from a single crop year is similar to what is done in the wine industry:

The idea of blending from a single farm’s crop from a single year is something that is commonly done in the wine industry.  It also is something that has had precedence in the cigar industry – namely harvesting the tobaccos from a single farm from a single year to produce a cigar blend.  There are other cigar companies that have done this – most notably Tatuaje with the La Verite series and Torano’s Single Region cigar.  La Flor Dominicana actually was one of the first companies to do this as they originated the concept in 1999 and released the first LG Diez Small Batch in 2006.

The Litto Gomez Small Batch No. 7  is the first Litto Gomez Small Batch offering since the late 2015 release of the Litto Gomez Small Batch No. 6. That is a cigar that went on to land #3 Cigar of the Year in 2016, and the #17 spot on The Decade List.

Without further ado, let’s break down the Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 6 and see what this cigar brings to the table.

SPECIFICATIONS

Blend, Origin, and Vitolas

Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 7
Wrapper: Dominican Pelo de Oro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera La Flor
Vitola: 6 1/4 x 52
Release Year: 2019

As in the past, the Small Batch No. 7 will be packaged in 105-count crates. Production was limited to 250 crates. Pricing is set at $23.20 MSRP per cigar or $2436.00 MSRP per box.

For historical purposes, here are the other releases of the Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch series:

Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 1
Wrapper: Dominican Sumatra
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera La Flor)
Vitola: 7 x 52
Release Year: 2006

Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 2
Wrapper: Dominican Sumatra
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera La Flor)
Vitola: 6 1/2 x 54
Release Year: 2007

Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 3
Wrapper: Dominican Sumatra
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera La Flor)
Vitola: 7 x 52
Release Year: 2010

Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 4
Wrapper: Dominican Pelo de Oro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera La Flor)
Vitola: 7 x 52
Release Year: 2011

Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 4 Oscuro
Wrapper: Dominican Pelo de Oro Oscuro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera La Flor)
Vitola: 7 x 52
Release Year: 2012

Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 5
Wrapper: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera La Flor)
Vitola: 6 3/4 x 52
Release Year: 2013

Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 6
Wrapper: Dominican Pelo de Oro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera La Flor)
Vitola: 6 3/4 x 52
Release Year: 2015

Appearance

The Dominican Pelo de Oro wrapper of the Small Batch No. 7 has a dark cinnamon color to it. Upon closer examination, some mottling could be seen on the surface. There was a light coat of oil on the wrapper. There were some visible veins and visible wrapper seams on the surface of the wrapper.

The band of the Small Batch No. 6 is similar to what is seen on the Litto Gomez Diez LG 2015. The band features a red background that has a gradient effect from the center where it gets darker on the edges. The center of the band has a large scripted gold-colored “LG” surrounded by gold adornments. Below the text on is a small dark-colored “10” on one of the adornments. The lower part of the band features the text “Litto Gomez” in a gold cursive-like font. There are gold adornments (with a little red mixed in) across the top and bottom of the band.

PERFORMANCE

Pre-Light Draw

A straight cut was used to commence the cigar experience smoking experience of the La Flor Dominicana Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 7. The dry draw gave a mix of baker’s spice and a slight fruit note. Overall, this was enough to deliver a satisfactory pre-light draw experience. At this time, the foot of the La Flor Dominicana Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 7 was toasted and it was time to proceed to the smoking experience.

Tasting Notes

The Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 7 started out with notes of natural tobacco, baker’s spice, fruit, bread, and nut. Early on the natural tobacco moved into the forefront. There was a caramel component present with the natural tobacco. Meanwhile, the baker’s spice, fruit, bread, and nut flavors settled in the background. On the retro-hale, there was a layer of black pepper that was present.

By the latter part of the second third, the bread notes joined the natural tobacco/caramel combination in the forefront. There also was a layer of black pepper that surfaced in the background with the baker’s spice, fruit, and nut flavors. During the second third, the caramel component of the natural tobacco slowly diminished, while there was a gradual increase of the pepper notes.

By the last third, the natural tobacco and bread notes remained in the forefront. The caramel component had dissipated. The pepper notes were more prominent now than at any other point in the cigar. There still were notes of baker’s spice, fruit, and nut rounding out the flavor profile. This is the way the La Flor Dominicana Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 7 came to a close. The resulting nub was slightly soft to the touch and cool in temperature.

Burn

The Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 7 needed some touch-ups to maintain a straight burn line and straight burn path. There was some maintenance needed to keep the burn line and path straight and the touch-ups did the trick. The resulting ash was firm with a near-white color to it. The burn rate and burn temperature were ideal.

Draw

There were three cigars smoked for the assessment of the Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 7. One of the cigars had an ideal draw with a touch of resistance (which is something that I like). On the other two samples, the draw was a little more snug than I prefer at some points of the cigar. This wasn’t a case where the cigar was plugged, just a cigar that needed to have its draw worked a little more.

Strength and Body

The Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 7 started out with medium strength and medium body. As the cigar experience progressed, the cigar stayed in the medium range for both attributes. Just before the last third, there was a slight increase and both attributes crossed into the medium to full range. Both the strength and body balanced each other nicely with neither attribute overpowering the other.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

In terms of flavor, the Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 7 is one of the best cigars to be released in the past year. This cigar seemed to fall under the radar and given the track record over the years with this series, I really don’t understand why. Yes, there were some slight point deductions for burn and draw, but the positives of this cigar far outweigh the minuses. The previous release, the Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 6 was one of the most decorated cigars on Cigar Coop, and the Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 7 definitely earns its place right beside that. At over $23, its not an inexpensive cigar, but it’s still a must recommend for any cigar enthusiast. It’s a cigar I would smoke again – and it’s worthy of a fight with Chuck Norris.

Summary

Key Flavors: Natural Tobacco, Caramel, Bread, Fruit, Pepper, Nut, Baker’s Spice
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Very Good
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium (1st 2/3), Medium to Full (Remainder)
Body: Medium (1st 2/3), Medium to Full (Remainder)
Finish: Very Good

Rating

Value: Fight Chuck Norris for Them
Score: 92

References

News: Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch Set to Hit Retailers
Price: $23.20
Source: Purchased
Brand Reference: La Flor Dominicana

Photo Credit: Cigar Coop