Flor Del Todo (or Flor Del Doo Doo, depending on who you ask)

[OldSquidRoy]

Per Cigars International, the only folks I know who carry this line of cigars:

A delicious and modestly priced gem from Puros Indios.

If you enjoy Puros Indios cigars, then Rolando Reyes Sr.'s Flor del Todo is the perfect everyday cigar. Indeed, this brand is one of the best values on the market. A classic "Cuban sandwich" cigar, it's densely packed with Brazilian, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers, and draped in a thick Ecuador Colorado wrapper leaf - one so hearty you could practically chew on it all day. It's medium-bodied with a pleasant, gratifying aroma, and mouth-watering, creamy, nutmeg taste. Loaded with flavor....and less than a buck each! That's why Flor del Todo is the top volume brand on our regular monthly "auto-ship" program. A good cigar at an even better price!

The CI propaganda on this one is mostly accurate. About 10 years ago, I used to smoke these a lot. What the CI write-up here doesn't mention is that these are offered as a "2fer" offer - buy a bundle for about $40USD, and get a bundle for free. The problem I found with them 10 years ago was that the construction was off, and about half of them burned unevenly and felt squishy... and flavor-wise they tasted like an ashtray had been dumped own your gullet about half the time. However, when you got a good one (about half the time) then they were pretty good. Not Earth-shattering good, but pretty damn good for a buck or so.

Anyhows, I just ordered some and they came in the mail the other day. Still offered on a "2fer" basis, but the construction seems to have improved. I've smoked two so far. Good construction on both, and the burn was even. They also seem on have improved on the flavor front, and I'd have to say that they're pleasant. Not spastasmagorical or life changing, just nice. Nothing Earth-shattering here, and nothing that is gonna bring you that moment of Cigar Zen... just a decent smoke. The CI propaganda is still mostly accurate, except for the "so hearty" part. Don't know if I'd say these are hearty, but they do have a pleasant enough "creamy" taste to them. Not too sure I'd say these qualify as "gems" either, unless you think those "five for $1.00" rocks they sell at tourist shops are "gems."

But, if you're looking for a good fishing or a yard work smoke, these might be up your alley. Looking for a non-complicated end of the day smoke but you can't really figure out what you want smoke, then they might also be up your alley. Or, if you just want a cigar and don't want to focus on nuance and all those other complicated flavor profile/formal cigar review type words then this might also be up you alley. Want to smoke a cigar, and don't want to spend much more than a buck on it... or if you're a serious cigar addict like Sigmund Freud and smoke 20 a day? Definitely up your alley.

They're still up my alley, and they pair nicely with a cold bottle of porter. Throw in a pleasant breeze and the first fire flies of the season, and it becomes a little slice of Heaven. Now that I think about it, that Flor Del Todo I enjoyed the other night did bring a moment of Cigar Zen...

[Tombstone]

Porter and a cigar. That is my kind of pairing.