La Flor Dominicana

La Flor Dominicana stands as one of the most respected boutique-style premium cigar brands in the industry, renowned for its innovative shapes, full-bodied blends, and commitment to quality craftsmanship. Founded by former jeweler turned cigar maker Litto Gomez and his wife Ines, the brand has earned acclaim for producing cigars with complex flavor profiles ranging from mild Connecticut-wrapped offerings to powerhouse ligero blends. The company's dedication to controlling every aspect of production, from growing tobacco on their own Dominican farms to manufacturing in their Tamboril factory, has established LFD as a benchmark for artisanal cigar making. Their reputation for bold experimentation and consistent excellence has garnered numerous high ratings from Cigar Aficionado and positioned them among the top premium cigar brands in the United States.

Background

La Flor Dominicana was founded in 1996 in Santiago, Dominican Republic by Litto Gomez, a former jeweler turned cigar maker, and Ines Lorenzo. The brand's origin story is dramatic - Litto Gomez was running a jewelry shop called Pekin's on Miami's North Beach when armed robbers held him at gunpoint and stole $400,000 in jewelry. The traumatic experience changed his life completely, leading him to put the store on the market the next day and never reopen, ultimately pivoting to what would become one of the top cigar brands in the United States. The company initially operated under the Los Libertadores brand name, but after a dispute with an investor, Gomez and Lorenzo took over the company in 1996 and renamed their cigars La Flor Dominicana. The name was inspired by the flower of the tobacco plant, and from the beginning, they wanted to produce their own cigars in their own factory where they would have total control over the quality of their products.

History

La Flor Dominicana cigars were first produced in Santiago, Dominican Republic in 1996, and the company currently operates its factory in Tamboril, located in the Dominican Republic. The timing of the brand launch coincided perfectly with the cigar boom of the 1990s, when tobacconists were clamoring for cigars. The company's production grew significantly over the years, producing about 2.5 million cigars in 1999, then experiencing fluctuations with 1.5 million in 2004, 1.9 million in 2005, and 2.9 million in 2006. A major milestone came in 1999 with the creation of the prestigious Litto Gomez Diez line, which was later released in 2004 to celebrate La Flor Dominicana's 10th anniversary.

Reputation

La Flor Dominicana has earned significant acclaim from cigar tasters year by year, with their Coronado by La Flor Double Corona being ranked second-best cigar of the year in Cigar Aficionado. The brand has earned ratings as high as 93 percent in Cigar Aficionado, establishing it as truly one of the finest overall brands in the premium cigar industry. La Flor Dominicana cigars are known for their innovative shapes and their use of tobaccos grown on the company's farms in the Dominican Republic, with the brand portfolio including core lines such as Ligero, Double Ligero and Cameroon Cabinet. The company has achieved the rare feat of producing 100% Dominican blended cigars, joining the ranks of few cigars that have successfully accomplished this alongside prestigious brands like Arturo Fuente Opus X and La Aurora 100 Anos.