LaFlorDominicana

Exclusive Interview with La Flor's Litto Gomez

Filed under: Cigars

cigar The past year has been exciting for fans of La Flor Dominicana. Between El Museo and the Salamones, Litto Gomez has released two of the most noteworthy cigars of 2009. While the rest of the industry has struggled with the effects of the recession, Gomez tells me that La Flor hasn't been hit (and that he is grateful for this fact). He cites the quality of his cigars and loyalty of his customers as reasons, but there's more to the story than that. There are plenty of great cigars on the market, and their smokers bring plenty of zeal to each purchase.

Beyond Litto's assessment, there are two reasons for La Flor's success this year: the new cigars and Litto himself.

This year hasn't been mind-blowing for new cigars. Doubtless, there have been some gems. The Avo Campanero certainly impresed, as Avo's annual limited edition cigar always does. And, Camacho has done a great job with the Room 101 and Connecticut sticks. The norm, however, has been silence, an obvious result in a tough economy. Litto made two bold moves with El Museo and the Salamon, bringing two expensive cigars to smokers at a time when they are less inclined to spend. Clearly, it worked.

Gallery: La Flor Dominicana's Litto Gomez in Manhattan

Litto Gomez and De La Concha's Jore Vazquez

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The Museum-Quality Cigar

by Amanda Gordon (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

For a certain type of man and woman, one of summer's greatest pleasures is puffing on a cigar on a steamy evening, gazing at the stars, reflecting (or not) on a day well spent at leisure. Now you can have that pleasure with some added panache. Cuban-born artist and illustrator Ruben Toledo -- perhaps you've seen his work in Vogue or Visionaire, or on the walls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Momu in Antwerp -- has created a limited edition cigar box (only 2,000 were made) featuring La Flor Dominicana cigars from the Dominican Republic described as having a "full-bodied smoke" with "sweetness" and "complexity." The box is white lacquer featuring a Toledo illustration of a woman; another illustration, also of a woman, is featured on the wrappers.

These are some beautiful cigars, and for a beautiful cause, too: all profits of the project will be donated to El Museo del Barrio, the New York museum devoted to Latin American and Caribbean art. Toledo and his wife, Isabel Toledo -- who designed First Lady Michelle Obama's inauguration day outfit and is the subject of an exhibit at Fashion Institute of Technology on view now -- are major fans and supporters of the museum, and are responsible for turning the museum's annual gala into one of the most festive benefits in Manhattan. "This is a project with so much meaning for both my wife and I. El Museo is a symbol of pride for Latinos, and cigars are such a potent symbol of our heritage," Toledo said. The price is $782.10 a box (including tax). To purchase, call 646-243-2675.

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