My First cigar review is going to start with a gem that was recommended to me by the fine folks at Davidoff of Geneva in my adopted home town of Tampa, Florida. The La Flor Dominica La Nox Petite is darker than my usual smoke, and uses a smoky and oily Brazilian wrapper instead of my favored Nicaraguan. The humidor representative at Davidoff said that while it was indeed considered to be a full bodied dark cigar, that the oils in the wrapper would temper it to my peppery tastes and he was completely on target. I started with the small La Nox, and love the design on the ring. While I live in the Sunshine State, I have a strong appreciation for The Night, as the heat and humidity during the day in this area can be overbearing.
The La Nox smoked very smoothly and evenly, and while I could definitely feel the weighty dark wrapper, the Dominican fillers made this a really delightful heavyweight that felt more like a dancer than a fighter. The draw was smooth, and the first part of the stick was bitter but pleasantly so. The smoke had a faint floral note to it towards the middle of the cigar, and it finished very peppery. This became an instant favorite.
While I did love the petite, for some reason the larger sized toro had a very difficult time staying lit. Maybe it’s because I have tiny lady lungs, but this did not seem to want to keep its light at all. The flavor was just as nuanced and enjoyable as the petite, but I could not get to the end of the cigar, as the midpoint was just stubbornly going out. I will still try the toro again, as maybe this was just a bad go on a super humid day.
I smoked this at Davidoff Tampa, and I did enjoy my usual favorite adult beverage, double Tito’s on the rocks with a lime. The acid in the lime and vodka complemented the darkness of the La Nox. It had been a stormy weekend, and we were sitting outside under the generous canopies of Davidoff’s location near the International Plaza Mall. My only complaint about this location is something wholly out of their control– the parking in that plaza is a bit tough sometimes. However, any frustrations with trying to put one’s vehicle in a spot is instantly vanished when you get inside the Lounge area. It’s certainly one of the prettiest cigar lounges I’ve ever seen, and the staff are attentive, informative, and nearly always on point with their recommendations. The lounge and bar area are generously appointed with comfy chairs and couches, with an eye for small tables to hold plentiful ash trays. To my eye, there’s been every effort to make the Davidoff of Geneva and extremely desirable spot to enjoy a cigar.
