La Flor Dominicana

#ffffff;" />inch or so of this cigar worthy of its warrior name.
Air Bender cigars, another offering of Litto Gomez;The flavor spectrum includes a black peppery
feature such a powerful profile that he named thempiquancy in the back of the throat with some
after the classic Kung Fu movies in which powerfulroasted nuts and caramel flavors and an underlying
warriors “bend the air.” Each vitola istone of “dry” leather flavor also
named after either an ancient warrior or character inpresent.
one of these movies. Litto and his wife, Ines,From its powerful beginning, the Air Bender mellows
maintain a superior level of quality in their cigars byinto a medium to full-strength cigar in the second
growing their own leaf, running their own factories,third. The spice mellows out as the caramel taste
and carefully selecting those who stock their cigars.departs leaving the characteristic strong earthiness of
Thanks to its Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, the Airtobacco. Just as it seems the flavors have fizzled
Bender has one of the finest presentations in theout, they make a stunning reappearance as the Air
cigar world. The medium to dark brown wrapper isBender reaches the final third. Here, the strength
extremely smooth with no veins, and the mediumcontinues medium as the flavors deescalate back into
amount of oil gives it a lovely sheen, with nary a softthe caramelized sweetness and leather that
spot. Very solid and dense, the Air Bender has a nicecharacterized it earlier.
weight to it.This milder vein lasts through the final third of the
The straight line running from cap to foot is visiblecigar as it puts out lots of full-flavored leather and
evidence of its having been in the press and can becaramelized sugar enhanced with a delicate woodsy
seen through the wrapper. A variety of differentlyundertone.
shaded tobaccos are perceptible at the foot. AsThe Air Bender lives up to its name, as Litto once
tightly packed and firm as this cigar is, far from beingagain presents us with a solid and stalwart cigar. With
tight, the draw is well-nigh perfect from light to finish.the strength of heroes who “bend the
The burn is exceptional, requiring only one or twoair”, encased in a smoothness one
minor touch-ups.can’t help but appreciate, the Air Bender is
Upon lighting, the Air Bender assails the smoker withNOT for the novice, the casual smoker, nor the lover
untrammeled primitive power. Right from the start, itof mild cigars with delicately seasoned gourmet meals.
is evident that the Air Bender is powerhouse of aRather, it is a cigar for the mature palate after a
smoke. The earthiness often found after a potenthearty meal of meat and potatoes.
cigar reaches its zenith is apparent within the first