Video review HERE.
(Description taken from Cigar-Coop.com website)
At the 2017 IPCPR Trade Show, La Flor Dominicana released its first Factory Press cigar in four years.
The Factory Press distribution is unique in that the cigars are shipped to retailers in an actual unit used for box pressing cigars. This gives the cigars a well-defined box press shape.
This year’s release is simply called “Factory Press”. It is a 6 1/2 x 58 vitola with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and Dominican fillers. It is the first Factory Press to use an Ecuadorian Habano.
Factory Press (2017)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Dominican
Vitola: 6 1/2 x 58
The cigar is a sharp box press overall but in my particular sample from the midpoint to the foot is a little relaxed. It may just be this sample due to sitting in my humidor for a month or so but who really knows. The cigar is a medium to dark brown and very well made. It is somewhat oily and has a very dense feel in the hand.
After cutting the minimum from the cap the test draw was perfect. The initial flavors were a very pronounced cedar, brown sugar, lots of cinnamon, buttery caramel, and a light black coffee base. The buttery caramel takes some of the sharp notes from the elevated cinnamon. There was white pepper which I rated at a 6 1/2. The cigar is not that peppery. The finish is a dry oak, cream, and a dash of caramel with an average amount of lingering white pepper. The cigar is medium bodied at this point but I expect it to move up.
At about 1 1/2 inch (33 minutes) the flavors are changing a little. The cedar is rather dry but it has a tangy citrus attached to it. The brown sugar notes have really come out. The cinnamon remains very high. The caramel notes are there with their buttery notes. The cigar is still medium bodied and I'm quite shocked. The finish has a lot more caramel notes now and there is still a small amount of dry oak. The addition of the tangy citrus notes were a good change. The elevated brown sugar notes are also a good change. I also like that the caramel is elevated on the finish. The first quarter score is 89.
At the midpoint (1 hour 6 minutes) the cigar has moved up to medium to full bodied and very close to full bodied. The cigar is very smooth. The buttery notes are not overly rich but they give the cigar an overall smoothness. The finish is unchanged. The flavor notes, by and large, are unchanged. The biggest changes at this point; the cigar is medium to full bodied and it's very smooth. In fact, the tangy notes are not as sharp due to the increased smoothness. Due to the overall smoothness and the primary flavors staying the same I am bumping the midpoint score up to a 90.
The 3/4 point (1 hour 31 minutes) has the cigar at a definite full bodied status. I did not have as much of the tangy notes at this point. I still had a nice, sweet cedar, brown sugar, lots of cinnamon, light caramel with buttery notes, which still give the cigar an overall smoothness, and a light coffee and cream base. The finish is unchanged. The cigar is equally as good as the midpoint so I am keeping the score at a 90.
The cigar lasted an impressive 1 hour 56 minutes. The cigar has reached a very full bodied status. Make sure you have something on your stomach when you have this cigar. I lost more of the tangy notes in the final quarter. I still had plenty of cedar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. I still had some of the caramel notes but the coffee notes increased taking away some of the sweetness and buttery notes. With the loss of the tangy citrus and buttery caramel the final quarter score decreased slightly to an 89. This is a very good cigar but be warned it is very full bodied from the midpoint on. If a beginner sees this cigar in the shop just keep moving. This cigar is for the seasoned cigar smoker. An impressive, full bodied cigar.
Overall score: 90
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