Info:
1994 was the year that Litto and Ines Gomez left the jewelry business and started in the cigar industry. It is not the year that La Flor Dominicana was born, so this is not a 20th anniversary cigar. Instead, this particular cigar is to commemorate the beginning of what I would deem has been a successful run in the cigar industry. 1996 is when the LFD brand came into existence. Hopefully, we will see an anniversary cigar released by them in a couple of years as well.
LFD is a brand that I always enjoy. Though many people smoke them on a regular basis, it is not one of the brands I see receiving the lions share of hype. Maybe its because they are not the new kid on the block. Whatever it is, my personal experience has been that they produce consistent, quality cigars that usually stay north of medium in the strength and flavor categories.
The 1994 comes in four sizes: Conga, Aldaba, Rumba and Mamba. Prices range from $7.50-$8.30. There is also a commemorative LFD beer stein that comes with 20 of a special edition version of the 1994. That release is a 6 x 54 toro with a San Andres maduro wrapper.
I picked this (and several others) cigar up at a recent LFD event at a local shop.
Looks:
The LFD 1994 is a traditional looking cigar. What I mean by that is it has a nice milk chocolate wrapper with a few veins and no visible seams. The band is what really says traditional. It is dark red with black and gold trim, gold print and the “flor” in the center of a circle. The cigar looks to be solid and possibly a bit toothy.
Function:
I must say this LFD 1994 feels a bit too solid. It doesn’t have any give when I squeeze it. I do not detect any soft spots. The wrapper is a bit toothy as well.
The aromas on the foot are molasses and cocoa. The barrel has a faint hint of molasses but nothing else.
I clip the cap and test the draw. The airflow is very good. I get a taste of molasses and earth on the draw.
Smoking:
I would say the LFD 1994 did pretty well in this category. It does take a minute to get it lit, but I am able to do so evenly. The burn is mostly even throughout the cigar. It does get wavy in a few spots but it always seems to correct itself. It does go out in the last inch, so I went ahead and relit it. I must’ve been enjoying it!
Like during the prelight test, the draw was great. I was able to get a good amount of smoke on each puff.
The ash was not the greatest but not bad. It was a little flaky. The first one didn’t make it to the 1” mark. It fell off on its own a little before that. It was mostly gray with some white and black.
Flavor:
Like I mentioned earlier, La Flor Dominicana is known for making some rather strong cigars. The LFD 1994 Conga looks like it will probably follow suit. Only one way to tell!
The first third starts out with mostly earth. There is a faint black pepper as well, but it is in the background. Soon, some molasses, wood, and slightly savory notes appear. The pepper surface more and more with each puff. Overall though, this cigar is slow to put out a ton of flavor or strength. It definitely takes time to build.
The second third shows the black pepper more so than before. It settles in with some earth and wood. The savory and sweet notes are a little more faint at this point. Some coffee and cocoa emerge as well. As this section winds down, I am getting more coffee and wood with a nice tanginess on the finish.
The final third enters with a delicious blend of pepper, wood, molasses, coffee and earth. The tangy/savory notes are also there, just a little subdued. Near the end, the lead flavors take turns. First, I get mostly wood and cocoa. That segues into meaty savoriness and sweetness, maybe like beef jerky. It is a really nice way to finish the cigar.
The LFD 1994 Conga is medium full in flavor and strength, though it ventures into the full category for both in the final third. However, it takes a little bit to get going, so don’t worry if it doesn’t hit you right away. Total smoke time was 1 hour 40 minutes.
Would I Buy It Again?
Absolutely!
Is It An Everyday Smoke?
If you like cigars that are on the stronger side, then yes.
Would I Buy a Box?
Most likely.
Conclusion
The LFD 1994 Conga is a hearty, satisfying cigar that I recommend for an after dinner treat. Though I had it after a less than hearty lunch and was fine, that may not be the case for a beginner or someone who does not usually smoke strong cigars. Whatever the case, I think this cigar presents a nice mix of what I consider “darker” flavors, like black pepper, earth, coffee and molasses. Plus, the price is really good, especially for a commemorative cigar. My recommendation is that you pick some up soon and give em a try!
